When it comes to interior design I always tend to stick with a more classic look on things that can't be changed easily; things such as cabinets, counter tops, flooring, etc. that can be a pain in the ass and also cost you a ton of money if you decide you eventually grow tired of them. If you go bold on these things there's always more of a risk of them going out of style, or more importantly that you might get sick of them. I feel like with a beautiful classic "canvas" you can change any space around easily, or add a touch of creativity, by simply changing up some of the decor. One of my favorite ways to do this is with wallpaper.
Although some may not be as easy to remove or replace once up, they do make a good amount of removable wallpaper these days that is super easy to install and won't destroy your walls when/if you decide to take it down.
I decided to share how I used wallpaper in my own home, a comparison of 'pre-pasted' and 'peel and stick' wallpaper, ideas for spaces where you could use wallpaper, some of my personal favorite wallpapers out there right now, and some none traditional ways to use wallpaper as well. I hope this is helpful on your wallpapering journey!
KIDS ROOMS:
My Daughters Room @rockvillecentrebuild
I love to see wallpaper in kids rooms! Gone are the days of your grandmas wallpaper; if you look around there are some really cute ones out there right now. Here is the one I used in my daughters room above. You can use wallpaper to add some big personality to a kids room and you can even let your kids pick one that lets them express themselves (if you trust them enough!) The one I used in her room was of the 'peel and stick' variety and it was really nice not to have to deal with water when wallpapering a bedroom. It came off really easily when I messed up and went right back up, no fuss. It is definitely more money than wallpaper that requires paste and water but I felt like splurging on it in her room was worth it. If you don't want to do an entire room try doing just one wall, or if you're on the fence about an entire wall, try a small nook or inside of a closet to see how you like it first. Linked below are some of my favorite ones for boys and girls rooms:
They also make some really cute decals right now that are a lot easier to install and are great for those not wanting to commit to wallpapering a whole wall. Below are some very cute decals for kids rooms or even play rooms:
POWDER ROOMS:
My Powder Room @rockvillecentrebuild
Powder rooms are another space where its so fun to go bold! Everyone's definition of "bold" is different obviously but for me it was just finding a pretty pattern that matched my existing color scheme and breaking up the monotony of plane painted walls. Being a neutrals lover I don't tend to steer too far out of my comfort zone but I do gets lots of compliments on the wallpaper in my powder room. But I know lots of people will pick really fun patterns with bright colors and I love a bright and bold powder room as well! There's really no right or wrong way to do it; just pick something you love and won't get sick of looking at! Here is the link for the one I used in my powder room. They have a bunch of color options to help fit in your space;I used the gray not the beige just FYI.
And here are a few more that I really love for powder rooms:
DINING OR LIVING AREAS:
The Beautiful Dining Room of @lifeoncedarelane
I didn't wallpaper my own dining room (although I may be tempted to soon!) but above is one of my favorites from the beautiful home of @lifeoncedarlane. I really love the way she used wallpaper above the raised panels and think it adds such a rich look. Using a textured or geometric wallpaper is also a great way to add some dimension/texture to a room that might just need a little something extra to make the room feel finished. My dining room below is a great "Before" example of that because although I think it's beautiful, I still feel like it's missing something. I might change my mind once we get a mirror up but I also think a textured wallpaper would help that a lot as well. (also yes @lifeoncedarelane and I have the same chandelier!)
My Dining Room @rockvillecentrebuild
Below are a few of my favorite textured and/or geometric wallpapers that I've been eyeing:
INSIDE A CLOSET OR BEHIND SHELVES:
Lovely Closet by @marieflaniganinteriors
Some people may be nervous about using wallpaper for the first time, or you might have to work around a spouse or roommate that might not love the idea. The good news is there are so many fun ways to incorporate wallpaper into your home design that might now always be the most obvious and may feel like less of a "risk". Inside your own closet is a fun way to add a touch of femininity to your space, just like the beautiful closet above designed by @marieflaniganinteriors. Or even inside your child's closet like the picture below from @katiebethlamb.
Little Girls Closet by @Katiebethlamb
Another idea I love is incorporating wallpaper behind shelves like a bookshelf or in a pantry. I love the bar space below with the use of wallpaper behind their shelves (to be 100% honest I'm not positive that this is wallpaper and not tile, but you get the idea!) Using wallpaper in this way is also a really great way to spruce up an old piece of furniture too - think anything with a blank open back, front or even top!
This Lovely Bar Space by @puresaltinteriors
Keep in mind that all the wallpaper I shared in this article can obviously be used in any space, I just thought it would be nice to break ideas down room by room and suggest some of the wallpapers I love in hopes of inspiring others. Also regardless on where you actually purchase your wallpaper, Wayfair has a really great tool for measuring the amount of wallpaper you will need for your space. All you have to do is go into one of the wallpaper product pages and enter the dimensions of your room and they will calculate your square footage for you!
Happy wallpapering!
