Decorating Guides
3 Hardworking Rooms You Can Make Happier With Wallpaper
Try beautiful patterned papers in these unexpected spaces to lift spirits and make daily chores more pleasant
As a designer who can’t get enough of using wallpaper in design, I find it exciting to explore the ways in which it can be used to not only beautify but increase the overall enjoyment we feel in our more functional home spaces.
While you may be accustomed to seeing wallpaper used primarily in traditional living spaces, such as the family room, dining room and bedroom, here are three other places in your home to consider wallpapering to beautify your surroundings and lift your mood.
While you may be accustomed to seeing wallpaper used primarily in traditional living spaces, such as the family room, dining room and bedroom, here are three other places in your home to consider wallpapering to beautify your surroundings and lift your mood.
It’s a place — if we’re being honest — we don’t like to be for longer than we have to, and the only reason we’re there is to finish household chores.
But because we have to spend time here, shouldn’t we make it a space that makes the chore more bearable? That’s why I often look at wallpaper to refresh the room and bring in more cheerful energy.
Wallpaper: Thibaut T35110 Russell Square in Green
But because we have to spend time here, shouldn’t we make it a space that makes the chore more bearable? That’s why I often look at wallpaper to refresh the room and bring in more cheerful energy.
Wallpaper: Thibaut T35110 Russell Square in Green
If you can make it a joyful space, you might even enjoy the task of laundry and decrease your stress, as we all feel more calm and happy when we are surrounded by things we love.
Wallpaper: Kandy, Élitis
Wallpaper: Kandy, Élitis
This makes picking a laundry room wallpaper a fun “chore” to take on.
While many clients feel the pressure of picking the perfect wallpaper for a living room, entryway or dining room, where everyone will see it, they relax and find freedom in laundry room wallpaper. They explore their playful side and go bold, choosing wallpaper purely for their enjoyment, instead of worrying about what others might think. However, you’ll probably end up loving it so much you won’t be able to help yourself from showing it off to your friends.
While many clients feel the pressure of picking the perfect wallpaper for a living room, entryway or dining room, where everyone will see it, they relax and find freedom in laundry room wallpaper. They explore their playful side and go bold, choosing wallpaper purely for their enjoyment, instead of worrying about what others might think. However, you’ll probably end up loving it so much you won’t be able to help yourself from showing it off to your friends.
Whether you do a single, small feature wall or wrap the whole room in a beautifully bold pattern, choosing to incorporate wallpaper in your laundry room design will transform your experience of doing laundry and make you feel more happy in your home.
Wallpaper: Feather, Serena & Lily
Wallpaper: Feather, Serena & Lily
Pro tip: Wallpapering your laundry room might seem like an expensive addition for some, but it could be an investment worth making. I recently had a client (a mom of four kids) tell me that she loves doing laundry now, because she feels so happy and peaceful in her beautiful, newly wallpapered space. I’ve had many other clients who echo that sentiment. They have large families and kids, so this is a well-used space, and they’ve found their level of stress regarding laundry is drastically decreased thanks to a more inviting space.
Wallpaper: Hummingbirds, Cole & Son
Browse the most recent laundry room photos for more inspiration
Wallpaper: Hummingbirds, Cole & Son
Browse the most recent laundry room photos for more inspiration
2. The Closet
The closet is another functional area in our homes that gets the short end of the stick when it comes to design — and for the most part that makes sense because we don’t spend much time there.
But the truth is, our closet is connected to the bedroom, the essential personal space where we rest, relax and rejuvenate. So why wouldn’t we want to feel happy and relaxed in all of its corners?
The closet is another functional area in our homes that gets the short end of the stick when it comes to design — and for the most part that makes sense because we don’t spend much time there.
But the truth is, our closet is connected to the bedroom, the essential personal space where we rest, relax and rejuvenate. So why wouldn’t we want to feel happy and relaxed in all of its corners?
While most of us love spending time and money designing our bedrooms, our closets often remain bland, disorganized and cluttered.
As a designer, I feel strongly our personal spaces, such as the closet, are just as important as the main living space. That’s why I invite you to step into your closet and find a way to incorporate it into your bedroom’s design.
As a designer, I feel strongly our personal spaces, such as the closet, are just as important as the main living space. That’s why I invite you to step into your closet and find a way to incorporate it into your bedroom’s design.
I also find that by intentionally considering a room’s design, clients are more apt to keep it organized and clutter-free. The wallpaper makes the space feel like a real part of the house, not just a place we throw our clothes.
Once we’ve put in the time and money to install beautiful wallpaper, it’s human nature that we want to keep it looking good.
Wallpaper: Clarence House
Once we’ve put in the time and money to install beautiful wallpaper, it’s human nature that we want to keep it looking good.
Wallpaper: Clarence House
Whether you have a big closet or a small, compact one, wallpaper can make a positive impact on your life as you use the space daily.
Browse the most recent closet photos for more inspiration
Browse the most recent closet photos for more inspiration
3. The Mudroom
Most traditional homes will have a back or side entrance area of the home that is used just as much as, or even more than, the front entrance. This space is often known as the mudroom.
Mudrooms are often where we drop our stuff when we walk in the door, and because of this, they end up disorganized, cluttered and relatively unenjoyable locations.
Wallpaper: Lotus, Galbraith & Paul
Most traditional homes will have a back or side entrance area of the home that is used just as much as, or even more than, the front entrance. This space is often known as the mudroom.
Mudrooms are often where we drop our stuff when we walk in the door, and because of this, they end up disorganized, cluttered and relatively unenjoyable locations.
Wallpaper: Lotus, Galbraith & Paul
The fact they are called mudrooms also implies they may not be the prettiest spaces in our homes. But don’t discount this space; instead, integrate it into your home with a little wallpaper.
Wallpaper: Lacarno, Harlequin
Wallpaper: Lacarno, Harlequin
Wallpaper can be the ideal addition to anyone looking to gussy up their mudroom. Because this space is often somewhat separate from the central living spaces in the home, you can choose more bold and playful papers than you otherwise would.
In some homes, mudrooms bleed into other kitchen and living spaces, and from a design standpoint this is great.
This means your unique and playful wallpaper choice in the mudroom can tie in (and even enhance) the design of connected living spaces. This creates cohesiveness with the rest of your home design.
Wallpaper: Richmond, Osborne & Little
This means your unique and playful wallpaper choice in the mudroom can tie in (and even enhance) the design of connected living spaces. This creates cohesiveness with the rest of your home design.
Wallpaper: Richmond, Osborne & Little
Pro tip: Similar to the closet and laundry room, when adding wallpaper to a mudroom, I find clients often feel inspired to make nd keep things more organized, so it stays looking pretty, calming and clutter free.
After all, there’s no point putting wallpaper up if you won’t be able to see it beyond the junk.
Wallpaper: Schumacher
After all, there’s no point putting wallpaper up if you won’t be able to see it beyond the junk.
Wallpaper: Schumacher
That’s one added (and unexpected) perk of redesigning your home. With the beautifying process, you naturally get more organized.
Organic reorganization is always a helpful byproduct of the design process, which further amplifies the calming and energizing effects of the wallpaper design itself.
Wallpaper: Russell Square Raspberry, Thibaut
Organic reorganization is always a helpful byproduct of the design process, which further amplifies the calming and energizing effects of the wallpaper design itself.
Wallpaper: Russell Square Raspberry, Thibaut
Interior designers often incorporate organization into home design to increase functionality, enjoyment and ease. If, however, you need more help with your home organization, a professional organizer could be money well spent. An organized and peaceful home environment can profoundly affect how we feel in our home as well as in our life.
Wallpaper: Jane Churchill
Browse the most recent entry photos for more inspiration
Wallpaper: Jane Churchill
Browse the most recent entry photos for more inspiration
Your turn: Have you added wallpaper to a functional room in your home? Share a photo of it in the Comments!
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More
Lovely Laundry Room Invites You to Stay Awhile
5 Things to Know Before Adding Wallpaper to Your Room
Find wallpaper to add to your hardworking spaces
The laundry room might be the last place you’d think to add the beauty of wallpaper, as traditionally it’s one of the least enjoyable rooms to spend time in.
Wallpaper: Harlequin