How to Choose the Best Wallpaper

Choosing the right wallpaper can be overwhelming. Just by checking the offers online, you can see how many different styles and colors there are. And the thing is, you can’t just put any wallpaper in any room. You should first consider what the room is for before, then decide on a style, color, texture, and pattern. Although this sounds daunting, you don’t have to be an interior design expert to figure it all out. Take the time to read this article and you’ll be better able to make wise decisions.

Think About the Room

Begin by thinking about the room you want to wallpaper. Wallpapers made for the bathroom, kitchen, and other rooms where there’s moisture are different from those made for regular rooms such as bedrooms, dining rooms, and the rest. Also, you’re free to choose any pattern and style you like for whatever room you’re working in. However, keep in mind that some designs and colors are better for your bedroom than the hallway. So, think about the room and what you use it for. Think about the lighting and where exactly you want the wallpaper. Is it on one wall only? Or you want to cover all walls? Once you have an idea of what you want, you can go on and explore different styles and patterns. Having a vision of what you want makes it easier to choose among as many wallpapers.

Think About the Process

There’s more to wallpaper than just choosing the design and color. Although the end result is important, you need to think about the process as well if you want the result to look good. If you don’t have as much experience, you may want to avoid continuous pattern designs. Why? These require more skill to align neighbouring pieces of wallpaper, compared with wallpapers that have plain edges. Also, think about the tools you’ll need.

Some designs have a sticky backing paper, while others require soaking in water. Old-school wallpapers actually required glue be applied to the back separately, so count yourself luck if you don’t have to do this. Either way, expect to make a mess, especially if you’re working with glue.

Have some newspaper sheets on the floors, some cloths, and your vacuum cleaner ready. The folks over at CleanThatFloor talk about some of the best vacuum cleaners that can help you with cleaning up this mess.

Choose the Style

Look for wallpaper that matches the rest of your décor. Formal wallpaper would probably not go as well with the casual interior, and vice versa. Here are the different styles:

Casual: This is ideal for enhancing your décor, especially if you feel that the room is a bit bland. These come in a floral, plant, and textured prints. And, since casual is pretty relaxed and outgoing, you can even find some playful and colorful patterns.

Formal: This is elegant and refined. It’s a great way of enhancing the beauty of your elegant furniture. Some of the best options are the damask and hand-painted designs.

Glam: Like the name suggests, this includes crystal- and glitter-embedded, flocked, embossed, and dramatic reflective designs.

Rustic: This includes textured wallpapers such as grasscloth, plaid, or even a wildlife pattern.

Country: You might want to go for gingham or a plaid pattern here. Some rustic and floral designs may also fit well.

Modern: This is the usual choice of minimalists and people who like the one-color décor approach. This type of wallpaper includes abstract and geometric patterns that stand out against the furniture.

Victorian: Baroque floral damask is just one of the many options.

Choose the Color

Color, much like the style, should fit the overall theme you have going on. Make sure that it matches your flooring and window treatments. Of course, it should also match your furniture. Here are a few more tips to help you:

You can go for bold wallpaper that features a pattern a few shades lighter. The unique color saturation will give an elegant look to nearly every room. It’s also a good choice for a bathroom. As I said, you should go for a color that matches the rest of your décor. Think about the color palette you have going on, and pick a color for your wallpaper from it. It’s best if your wallpaper color matches the color of the wall. This is especially important if you’re going for light colors. Click here to learn about an amazing electronic device that helps you choose complimentary colors to go with furniture or paint.

Plain or Pattern?

This is usually the trickiest for people to choose. Patterns are fun and exciting, but can be a bit difficult to match with the rest of your room. Or, at least that’s how most people feel. Plain wallpaper is a safe choice, but the pattern often looks better. However, the trick is in finding the right size and color. The best way to figure this out is by looking at your upholstery and draperies. Here’s how:

If your draperies and upholstery are patterned, you should go for a textured wallpaper of a similar tone. Try to find a similar pattern that matches the fabrics. However, make sure that it’s either larger or smaller and not the same as what’s on your draperies and upholstery. You may want to go for a plain design if you already have lots of patterns going on. It can actually look nice against the heavily patterned décor, offering a calming visual break.

Size of Pattern

If you decide to go for a pattern instead of plain wallpaper, you have to figure out the best size. Many people think that small patterns go in small rooms, and big patterns go in big rooms. Not necessarily. While you can do that if it’s what you like, the choice may make the design a bit bland. Instead, go for a large pattern if you have a small room. The result is far more dramatic and can make your room look more alive. A small pattern looks the best in large rooms because it creates an excellent visual with the hints of color broken up by doors and windows.

Adding Depth

Let’s say you already have all your furniture and décor in place. You’ve found the prettiest lamps that match your bedding, and everything else is in place as well. But, you still feel like something is missing. In most cases, what’s missing is depth. This usually happens with walls that are plain regardless of whether they’re light or dark. To break this up and create some depth, you should go for textured wallpaper.

Select one wall to add visual texture to, keeping in mind that the design should match the rest of your walls and décor. Choose a wall that’s behind your desk or bed. Don’t place it behind a large closet or many paintings and pictures. You want this texture to be seen. The best way of creating depth is going for a dramatic design for that one wall. An art deco design, stripes, or even an animal print may work well. Keep in mind that even plain wallpaper can create depth. Choose different shades of the same color to achieve the same effect.

Play With the Paneling

If you have chair rail trim or wainscoting on your walls, you can combine them with wallpaper to highlight the décor even more. Place the wallpaper below or above chair rail in your dining room or a hallway. It’s a great way of breaking up the space by adding warmth and depth.

You can combine the approach with paint, too, or just mix different wallpaper patterns for below and above the chair rail. Still, keep in mind that mixing different patterns, in this case, can easily look a bit tacky. It’s a much safer choice to paint the wall under the chair rail, placing wallpaper above it. Placing wallpaper above the wainscoting is another excellent way of highlighting your bedroom, kitchen, or dining room. Go for similar color and pattern that matches well the rest of your décor and color palette.

Most Importantly – Take Your Time

As I said, choosing the best wallpaper is a bit overwhelming because there are many designs and colors available. You can easily get carried away by all these options. This is especially important if you’re moving to a new house and you still don’t have any furniture. This means you don’t have any existing patterns and designs to combine the wallpapers with. If that’s the case, try to have an idea of the overall theme you’re trying to achieve before you commit to any particular wall paper. And remember, take time and choose without self pressure. There’s a greater chance you’ll choose the best wallpaper if you take the time.