Decorating Guides
14 Ways to Make the Most of Your Wallpaper
Bring What You Love About Your Wallpaper Into the Rest of Your Room
So you’ve made the decision to commit to wallpaper, chosen the perfect one and are now standing in your newly papered room. The paper may be up, but the process has only just begun. Next step: making the most of your wallpaper by means of décor.
Wallpaper isn’t simply a colorful or textural background, it’s an element that should interact with the overall design, and your décor decisions should reflect that. The task can often feel daunting or overwhelming, but I’m hoping these following pictures will give you the confidence to the tackle the project successfully (while also having some fun). Before you know it, visitors will be ooh-ing and aah-ing at your fabulously wallpapered room (and begging you for design wisdom!).
Wallpaper isn’t simply a colorful or textural background, it’s an element that should interact with the overall design, and your décor decisions should reflect that. The task can often feel daunting or overwhelming, but I’m hoping these following pictures will give you the confidence to the tackle the project successfully (while also having some fun). Before you know it, visitors will be ooh-ing and aah-ing at your fabulously wallpapered room (and begging you for design wisdom!).
Think bold color. Don’t be afraid to complement boldly colored wallpaper with separate bold color in the décor. This floral purple paper pops against these red contemporary dining chairs. Balanced with a metallic light fixture, the dining area becomes the focal part of the room.
Pull out colors of the wallpaper. Really incorporate the paper into your space by furnishing the room in the same colors found in the wallpaper. The green chest and neutral sink bowl and accessories make this bathroom feel unified.
Try a pattern in a complementary scale. If you have patterned wallpaper, make it pop by upholstering the furniture in a pattern of complementary scale. The key word here is scale: Notice how the pattern on the chairs is smaller than that on the walls, therefore balancing the two as an eye-appealing pair.
Consider neutrals. Make your wallpaper the statement piece by furnishing the room in neutrals. The soft, organic feel of these pieces is calming against this floral paper, resulting in a peacefully chic sanctuary.
Re-create elements of the wallpaper. Have wallpaper with distinct shapes or designs? Reflect them in your design. The circular shape of this very unique hood pulls out the circles from the paper while also giving this contemporary kitchen a sculptural element.
Match the wallpaper’s mood. The bursts in this paper have a playful, party vibe, and paired with these crystal sconces give this bathroom an understated feel of glamour and sophistication.
Find furnishings with smaller-scaled designs. Fabric isn’t the only element to consider when pairing patterns; furnishings will also do the trick. As always, scale is everything. Try a mirror with a smaller-scale Greek key pattern with this green bamboo paper for a bathroom that is both funky and fresh.
Find furnishings with larger-scaled designs. Scale goes both ways: Furnishings with a larger scale will work just well playing off paper with a smaller scale, like these dining chairs, also in a Greek key pattern.
Use the wallpaper’s pattern within the room. If you’re really stuck on how to incorporate the paper, simple pull in the same pattern through an accessory. Throw pillows are a great option — create custom pillowcases and you’re good to go!
Work in bold, graphic patterns. If your wallpaper can be categorized in the black, white, gray or neutral families, then you’ve got a great opportunity to inject color and a sense of playfulness through bold, colorful prints. It’s a no-brainer for kids’ rooms, where fun is always welcome!
Go monochromatic with pops of color. If your wallpaper is made up of essentially one color or different hues of one color, consider fusing all elements of the room by choosing furnishings in the same color. To avoid it feeling overly overly monochromatic, incorporate one bold color through accessories, placed intermittingly throughout the room.
Hang colorful frames. Because frames have a fairly intimate relationship with the wall, they’re a great opportunity to add some extra life to wallpaper. Bold colors pop against the paper, or even antique gilded gold frames for rich colors like purples and blues. If you look closely at this picture, you’ll realize this designer pulled an especially interesting trick with the red-framed piece: Instead of inserting artwork, he left it empty, essentially framing the wallpaper. Yet another way to cleverly enhance the paper!
Have some fun with it! This dreamy, forest-like wallpaper wouldn’t be complete without a googly-eyed gargoyle keeping watch. The unexpected is what makes design unique.
More:
Decorating Secrets: How to Layer Patterns Right
DIY Project: Wallpaper Goes Mobile
More:
Decorating Secrets: How to Layer Patterns Right
DIY Project: Wallpaper Goes Mobile