Wallpaper Chic: Decorating Ideas & Best Uses

Trending for 2022, once again, is wallpaper and with good reason. Wallpaper is a stylish way to add personality to your room. Whatever your needs and taste may be, there are unlimited options from which to choose. Selections range from traditional to contemporary and everything in between. Let’s look at some of the wallpaper design techniques I share with my Fairfield and Westchester clients.

The Basics

If you want to open up your space, opt for wallpaper with light tones. This will make the room feel more spacious. On the contrary, a dark color will give the room a moody vibe, but is a wonderful option if you want that cozy feeling.

These same considerations come into play when choosing a pattern. Large patterns tend to make a room feel smaller, while small patterns tend to make a room feel more open. Whatever the design, make sure it is something you can live with and will not tire easily with the pattern.

Another way to make your space appear larger is to incorporate metallics as they reflect light.

Feature Walls

Accent walls can turn a space from ordinary to polished and wallpaper can make your room downright exciting. Create your feature wall on the room’s existing focal point. Behind the fireplace mantel, the wall with your tv and behind a bed are all ideal places to add a feature wall with wallpaper.

from kellydesigns
from kellydesigns
from kellydesigns
from kellydesigns
from kellydesigns
from kellydesigns

Bookshelves

An easy way to upgrade your room’s decor is to add wallpaper to the back of a bookshelf or built-ins. This is an excellent use of grass cloth which adds dimension and looks elegant and understated. For a big splash, use patterned wallpaper, as long as it compliments and does not overpower the rest of the room.

from Decor pad Kristen Biagini Design
from Decor pad Kristen Biagini Design
from Decor Pad Morgante Wilson Architects
from Decor Pad Morgante Wilson Architects

Ceilings

Adding wallpaper to the ceiling is an unexpected way to add interest to a room. The ceiling must be flat (no popcorn or texture) and it’s best to have crown molding to differentiate the ceiling from the wall.

from kellydesigns
from kellydesigns
From elle decor.maureen stevens design
From elle decor.maureen stevens design

Chair Rails

Wallpaper can be placed above and below a chair rail and looks great in a Dining Room, Bedroom and Bath. If you do not already have a chair rail, install the wallpaper first, then add the woodwork on top.

From Decorpad
From Decorpad
image2
From kellydesigns
From kellydesigns

Wallpaper is a fun design element that can be used in unusual places to spice up your decor. See how this pool house takes on a totally different look with this wallpaper placement.

image10

This laundry room went from bland to chic simply by using wallpaper instead of paint.

From kellydesigns
From kellydesigns

Selecting the perfect wallpaper for your space can be daunting. If you want help incorporating wallpaper into your space, this makes a great E-Design project and as always kellydesigns is here to help.