Need fresh prints this season?
Wallpaper in vibrant prints and brilliant hues seems to be the star attraction in the rooms. Little wonder: The right wallpaper can establish the ambience and theme of a room more vividly than paint. Especially for those who prefer sofas, tables, and other major furnishings in solid, neutral tones that transcend trends, papering a room—or even just a wall or the back of a bookshelf—instantly introduces pattern, color, and most important personality.
That said, adding bold wallpaper to a space can seem daunting. Below are some tips to help minimize the risk and maximize the likelihood that you’ll love your new walls.
• Go with the flow. A large-scale geometric print might look fabulous in your living room, and a dramatic floral paper could be ideal for your dining room—but if each room is visible from the other, you don’t want the two wallpapers don’t clash. “I would avoid pairing two large wallpaper prints in the same room or in spaces that flow from one into the next, “You want to create a subtle flow.”
• Consider using wallpaper to define zones. In a large open space that serves as, say, living room, dining area, and home office, you could use wallpaper to create a sort of room within the room.
• Maintain balance. “When it comes to picking color and pattern, think about the other pieces in the space. “Mixing a large-scale print with a small-scale print is a good rule to follow.” Selecting a wallpaper with a palette that encompasses prominent colors in the room’s existing furnishings also helps ensure balance.
• Think about texture as well as color and pattern.While boldly patterned papers are commanding the lion’s share of attention right now, don’t overlook how subtler grass-cloth wallpapers can introduce welcome texture to your room.
• Be mindful of materials. In a kitchen or a frequently used bathroom, opt for vinyl wallpaper, which can handle appreciable moisture. And in kids’ rooms, hallways, or other spaces subject to heavy traffic, spills, fingerprints, and such, consider papers that can be wiped clean and are scratch-resistant and tear-resistant.
• Ignore the “rules” about not using large patterns in small spaces. Large-scale wallpaper can actually make a petite space feel bigger; the sheer drama of the print makes you forget that the room is small. What’s more, a wallpaper that might be overwhelming on a large expanse of wall can bring just the right amount of wow to a smaller area.
• Use vertical stripes to make ceilings feel taller. It really does work!
• Don’t forget the “fifth wall.” “You always have the ceiling as an added surface. “I love a small print on the ceiling of a nursery for added interest and depth.”
