Color, pattern and texture – oh my! The versatility of wallpaper makes it easy to find a design that complements the room in your house, no matter what style you are looking for.
Did you know wallpaper is a key trend this year? Hand-painted wallpapers are very much “on trend” and growing in popularity. Wallpaper helps us to individualize our rooms and make them cozier, which makes sense after staring at the same four walls for quite some time throughout the pandemic.
Although wallpaper has tended to be more common in living spaces and bedrooms in the past, today’s technological advances have allowed for the creation of many designs able to tolerate humid conditions. As a result, there are many suitable options for kitchens and bathrooms.
Ten Creative Wallpaper Ideas:
- Double Trouble: Who said you can’t use the same design in two different colors? Not us! In fact, we encourage you to give it a go. When you use the same print in two contrasting colors, it really adds design detail and maximizes the magic of one’s wallpaper. Try this for the perfect way to give some edge to your space in need of a renovation.
- Spruce Up Your Entryway: The entryway of your home is your first opportunity to set the tone and style of your home, so be sure to not overlook this space and give it the personality it deserves. Wallpaper is a fun, easy, and relatively inexpensive way to brighten things up when you first step into your home! Entryways are often a narrower space that sometimes get overlooked, so it may be worth considering embracing the fun patterns and color that wallpaper has to offer in this space. A repetitive pattern will create a rhythmic motif that helps to widen and elongate the smaller space typically found in an entryway. Consider wallpaper that features a good stripe; the linear quality will help add character to your entryway. This design also helps to add height if the lines are vertical or space if the lines are horizontally placed.
- How to Soften Busy Wallpaper: There’s nothing wrong with being bold and featuring “busy” wallpaper, however many get nervous at the thought. A simple way to break it up? Consider painting the woodwork surrounding the “busy” wallpaper in a color that matches the wallpaper design. Don’t forget: It is best to stay away from oversized prints in rooms where windows, mirrors and pictures are frequent. Choosing smaller repeat pattern in an area where such items are breaking up the design is best.
- The Perfect Way to Add Personality to Your Home Office: Re-imaging the walls of the office at your 9 to 5 job may not be on the table, but the possibilities are seemingly endless when it comes to your own home office! Busy, patterned wallpaper may be too distracting in a home office where you are likely wanting to concentrate. Opt for gentle, impressionist-style wallpaper to add interest to your space while creating a feeling of Zen.
- Use the Same Print on An Accent Wall and Piece of Furniture: A simple concept that can leave a big impact! It’s as easy as getting an armchair upholstered in the same print as the wallpaper you are using on an accent wall near the furniture piece. Using only an accent wall instead of every wall in the room will keep you from overdoing it with the same design and really leaves a WOW factor.
- Make Various Shades Your Friend: Consider using one color across three individual pieces through different shades. Doing this adds depth while also creating harmony and cohesion through all individual elements.
- Don’t Forget the Ceiling: Sometimes it’s as simple as looking up! There’s no rules when it comes to wallpaper. Who says you can’t wallpaper the ceiling?! Whether this means including the ceiling as you wallpaper the four surrounding walls or only wallpapering the ceiling to really make a dramatic pop, you’ve done it right.
- Wallpaper Things You Normally Wouldn’t: No rules apply here; think outside the box! From wallpapering your staircases to your headboard, the possibilities are endless. Such spaces are great opportunities to finally put wallpaper scraps that may be laying around to good use. Interior doors and closets are another great place to try. Coating your closet doors with the same wallpaper as the walls of the room can trick your eye into making the closet disappear and essentially opening up the room.
- Experiment With Your Powder Room: Small rooms, such as your powder room, are great places to start with a bold, fun wallpaper. Why? If your taste changes down the road, it isn’t the most expensive area to redecorate given the small space of a powder room. Pro Tip: Go for bold large-scale prints in these small spaces. Don’t be afraid to choose something dramatic that you absolutely love but know you couldn’t live with forever in a well-trafficked hub like the living room.
- The 411 on Relaxing Wallpaper: If you are looking for the most relaxing options, try wallpaper with a fabric-look! These create a feeling of enclosed comfort. Textured wallpapers like cork, grasscloth, or paper backed silks add depth, along with a touch of luxury. You can never go wrong with pastel and neutral shades for the ultimate relaxation. Stay trendy with walls that embrace floral and foliage prints. Wallpaper with vivid colors like reds and yellows may be too stimulating to promote rest.
The History of Wallpaper:
Wallpaper has been elevating rooms as early as 200 B.C., where it is believed Ancient Chinese would glue rice paper onto their walls. Egyptian papyrus, the earliest known for of “paper,” was first introduced around 4000 B.C. in China.
By the 10th century, Arabians were creating a finer sheet of paper through higher quality materials like bamboo and wood, and during the 12th century papermaking spread throughout Europe.
A French engraver by the name of Jean-Michael Papillon is credited with inventing wallpaper as we know it today in 1675 when he started making block designs in a matching, continuous pattern. It wasn’t until 1739 that wallpaper made its way to America when Plunket Fleeson started printing wallpaper in Philadelphia, PA.
In the roaring ‘20s wallpaper took the spotlight with some 400 million rolls being sold during this period, which became known as “the Golden Age of Wallpaper.” After World War II, plastic resins revolutionized the industry, offering stain resistance, washability, durability, and strength.
Today, advances in digital, photo and printing technologies make wallcoverings much more affordable, and it is easier for companies to replicate wallpaper styles from any period of history.
The start of the new year often inspires people to renovate and make some changes, whether in their routine and habits or their living spaces. A home renovation is a big undertaking, so it is best to not rush into. That’s where the color of the year can come into play. Paint is an easier, cheaper way to spice things up in your home. A little bit of paint can go a long way in transforming a space without having to worry about the hassle of completely remodeling your space. Since it requires less commitment – both in time and money – this is a great alternative if you are not yet ready to tear down your walls or have your home fully under construction. Here are some creative DIY ways to animate your walls:
Color of the Year:
Pantone’s color of the year was announced on December 9 as Pantone 17-3938 Very Peri. Described as a “symbol of the global zeitgeist of the moment and the transition we are going through,” the Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, Leatrice Eiseman, explains how the color “brings a novel perspective and vision of the trusted and beloved blue color family” while also displaying a “spritely, joyous attitude and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expressions.” Be sure to check out the four color palettes Pantone has created to help bring the color of the year into your designs here.
October Mist was reported as the 2022 color of the year by Benjamin Moore and Breezeway was announced as the color of the year by Behr. Both colors having tones of green are perfect for the new year since green represents new beginnings. October Mist brings life to a room through being an earth shade of green. Green is meant to represent health, prosperity, and wealth. This color is said to make you feel optimistic and refreshed. Breezeway induces feelings of coolness and peace and is very similar to October Mist, as it is also a silvery green shade with cool undertones.
More color trends of the new year from Benjamin Moore include:
Paint Stencil Rollers:
One way to draw attention to your walls is to take a stencil roller to them with the color of your choice. These rolls come in all different designs and patterns, and you can find them on cheap sites like Etsy, Amazon, or Wish. This is great way to add a custom pattern that stands out without having to invest in wallpaper. Typically, standard wallpaper runs between $25 to $50 per roll, which covers about 30 square feet. Given this, you can expect to pay between $1 to $2.50 per square foot. If you are in the market to buy designer or custom wallpaper, these options can run as high as $5,000 per roll. In comparison, stencil rollers can cost anywhere from $5 to $30. Best of all they are reusable, making them very cost-effective.
Accent Walls:
If you are in love with a certain wallpaper or paint color but don’t want to commit to the cost of decorating the entire room with it, you can always opt for creating an accent wall. Accent walls have made a comeback once more. They not only give you the chance to show off the wallpaper or paint color you love, but they also function as a way to help define your living space.
For example, you can use an accent wall to indicate different zones. Designer Emily Henderson recommends making sure your “accent walls are done with a purpose.” Check out her ideas for making this happen here, where she shares great tips such as recommended sticking to a light color accent wall to keep your space from feeling smaller. “Accent walls painted or wallpapered in dark colors can make walls visually advance, which can make them feel smaller,” she explains.
DIY Painters Tape Designs:
Using painter’s tape to create designs and bring your wall to life has become a huge trend in the past couple years. It is a low-cost, good looking, and fun way to give a room an instant lift. According to Bob Vila the best overall painter’s tape to use is Scotch Blue Original Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape. This also would be a fun project for the whole family to get involved in. For example, you can have the kids help choose where to put the painter’s tape or paint within the lines.
Interior Wall Paneling
Wall paneling is used to decorate walls and give the wall a bit of texture. Who knows… This could be what is missing from perfecting your wall. Finding wall paneling is easy as well. It’s at almost any home improvement type store including Home Depot and Lowes. Paneling has been around since the 1950s and still popular and used today. Some trending wall paneling today includes shiplap, board and batten, bead board, raised panels, and many more.
We hope these tips provided you with some ideas for your own home as we enter the new year. One of the most difficult steps to creating your dream wall is narrowing down your color options. It is important to consider what the right color can do to a room. Color Psychology, or “the study of hues as a determinant of human behavior,” can play a huge roll in this. Learn more about what mood and feelings each color can invoke here. For example, if you are looking to make your at home office more relaxing to counteract those stressful Zoom calls, consider painting your office a shade of green since it is “regarded as the most restful and relaxing color for the human eye.” Symbolizing harmony, tranquility, and peace, this color helps to enhance stability and endurance – great options for those looking to stay motivated during long WFH hours.
What’s your DIY goal for the New Year? Do any of these trends to boost the look of your walls catch your eye? We’d love to see the visions you bring to life in your living space.