Decorating
Words of Warning: How to Avoid Getting Patterned Wallpaper Wrong
Keep these dos and don'ts in mind when you're searching for that perfect patterned wallpaper to finish off a room
I absolutely adore wallpaper. More often than not, however, a mere mention of the word sends shivers down people’s spines and/or running for the hills screaming in terror. There are hundreds and thousands of different wallpaper types, colours, patterns, and textures – how do you go about finding the right one and what if it looks terrible once it’s up on the wall?
Using a wallpaper is like choosing art for your walls; using it on just one wall is a really simple way to add a lot of dimension to a room. While patterned wallpaper isn’t the only wallpaper available out there, it’s the one that is probably the easiest to get wrong.
Read below for some ideas and great examples of patterned wallpaper that has been used in just the right way.
Using a wallpaper is like choosing art for your walls; using it on just one wall is a really simple way to add a lot of dimension to a room. While patterned wallpaper isn’t the only wallpaper available out there, it’s the one that is probably the easiest to get wrong.
Read below for some ideas and great examples of patterned wallpaper that has been used in just the right way.
DO: Be bold
Using wallpaper is a statement and you should take the leap to push the boundary a little.
DON’T: Be afraid to be a bit quirky and left of centre!
If you push yourself out of your comfort zone, you’ll be surprised at where it can take you!
More: Working From Home? Set Up an Office That Gets You in the Flow
Using wallpaper is a statement and you should take the leap to push the boundary a little.
DON’T: Be afraid to be a bit quirky and left of centre!
If you push yourself out of your comfort zone, you’ll be surprised at where it can take you!
More: Working From Home? Set Up an Office That Gets You in the Flow
DO: Use the correct type of paper in wet areas
While it’s not a crime to use wallpaper in wet areas such as bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens, if the paper type is one that is susceptible to moisture damage, you could be taking it down well before you’ve had a chance to enjoy it.
Always check what the paper you’re planning on using is made of and if it will be suitable for where you’d like to use it. Synthetic wallpapers such as vinyl will usually withstand moisture around them, so these would be more suitable to use in wet areas than those made of natural materials, such as silk or grass.
While it’s not a crime to use wallpaper in wet areas such as bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens, if the paper type is one that is susceptible to moisture damage, you could be taking it down well before you’ve had a chance to enjoy it.
Always check what the paper you’re planning on using is made of and if it will be suitable for where you’d like to use it. Synthetic wallpapers such as vinyl will usually withstand moisture around them, so these would be more suitable to use in wet areas than those made of natural materials, such as silk or grass.
DO: Use it to inspire your decor
If you’re having trouble picking a new colour scheme and decor in a room, why not try to bring a wallpaper in and let it guide you to create your palette?
DON’T: Overwhelm with a lot of different colours
If the pattern is busy or has a lot going on, try to limit yourself to bringing in a few main colours to your decor in a subtle, controlled way.
If you’re having trouble picking a new colour scheme and decor in a room, why not try to bring a wallpaper in and let it guide you to create your palette?
DON’T: Overwhelm with a lot of different colours
If the pattern is busy or has a lot going on, try to limit yourself to bringing in a few main colours to your decor in a subtle, controlled way.
DO: Evoke emotion and atmosphere
The large-scale pattern used here aids in providing a full-stop to the interior and really supplements the remainder of the moody palette. The scale of the pattern is large enough to be interesting from a distance, and detailed enough to appreciate at close range.
DON’T: Overcomplicate patterned wallpaper in bedrooms with intricate bedheads
In cases like this, the wallpaper acts as the punctuation point of the decor in this room and eliminates the need for a bedhead altogether.
More: 12 Decorating Tips to Make Any Bedroom Look Better
The large-scale pattern used here aids in providing a full-stop to the interior and really supplements the remainder of the moody palette. The scale of the pattern is large enough to be interesting from a distance, and detailed enough to appreciate at close range.
DON’T: Overcomplicate patterned wallpaper in bedrooms with intricate bedheads
In cases like this, the wallpaper acts as the punctuation point of the decor in this room and eliminates the need for a bedhead altogether.
More: 12 Decorating Tips to Make Any Bedroom Look Better
DO: Select patterns to suit the room application
Here, the pattern is bright, yet subtle, and aids in providing a fresh backdrop to this child’s bedroom.
DON’T: Use wallpaper that is trying to mimic a natural material to a tee
It’s not timber, it never was timber, and it’s never going to be timber!
Here, the pattern is bright, yet subtle, and aids in providing a fresh backdrop to this child’s bedroom.
DON’T: Use wallpaper that is trying to mimic a natural material to a tee
It’s not timber, it never was timber, and it’s never going to be timber!
DO: Be appropriate with scale
Select wallpapers that are appropriate in their room context. If the pattern is busy it may need to be viewed from a considerable distance to get the full impact of it.
Here the wallpaper has been used in an area that can be seen from multiple vantage points within this home.
Select wallpapers that are appropriate in their room context. If the pattern is busy it may need to be viewed from a considerable distance to get the full impact of it.
Here the wallpaper has been used in an area that can be seen from multiple vantage points within this home.
DO: Have fun!
At the end of the day the choice of using wallpaper is one of personal preference. Have fun when selecting your dream pattern and enjoy it when it goes up on the wall!
YOUR SAY
Do you have a love and/or hate relationship with wallpaper? Share your trials and triumphs in the comments section!
MORE
Roll With It! Creative Ways to Use Wallpaper at Home
10 Tips to Help You Avoid That Wallpaper ‘Doh!’ Feeling
10 Things to Paper Your Walls With That Aren’t Wallpaper
At the end of the day the choice of using wallpaper is one of personal preference. Have fun when selecting your dream pattern and enjoy it when it goes up on the wall!
YOUR SAY
Do you have a love and/or hate relationship with wallpaper? Share your trials and triumphs in the comments section!
MORE
Roll With It! Creative Ways to Use Wallpaper at Home
10 Tips to Help You Avoid That Wallpaper ‘Doh!’ Feeling
10 Things to Paper Your Walls With That Aren’t Wallpaper
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If you’re going to use wallpaper to highlight a small area, like a niche or alcove, make sure the pattern you choose is subtle and understated like this print. While the pattern itself is busy, the tonal changes are subtle and fade into the background of the recess. On top of that, the items on the cabinet in front are positioned in a way that complements the wallpaper, instead of competing for attention.
DON’T: Use wallpapers that are too stark in their contrast or patterning
It can be quite easy for patterned wallpaper to become overwhelming when confined to a small space.