We all love our home and consider it our safe place where we enjoy spending our free time. But sometimes we get bored with the interiors and want to change something. We often think about extensive renovations, new furniture, rearrangements, and spending a lot of money to achieve the desired effect. But there’s no need to break the bank to spruce up our living space. One way you can do this is by installing the right wallpaper.
Wallpapers have been around for a long time, and people have never lost interest in them. They changed, shifted and accommodated the new styles and designs to fit every home and interior. Sometimes choosing a suitable wallpaper can be overwhelming because of the number of colours and patterns available. But by doing your research and knowing what you want, you’ll figure it out very fast.
What to Consider Before Buying?
There are a few factors to take into consideration before buying the wallpaper. Things like the smoothness of the walls and their size, colour patterns of the room and its size, the mood of the room, your budget, do you want it temporarily or for a long time, can you do it yourself? It would be best if you answered these questions before starting this adventure.
Style
The first thing you need to know is that your home should reflect your personality. You shouldn’t follow the trends if you don’t like them or they don’t reflect your lifestyle. Be true to yourself. For example, if your interior is formal, large-scale geometric patterns with some drama in the colours will fit perfectly. If the theme is cheerful and bright, you should go for small-sized prints, because they’ll open up the space. The kids’ room is where you can’t go wrong; kids wallpapers are fun, creative and whimsical. Here are some of the most existing wallpaper styles.
- Formal – elegant such as hand-painted or damask;
- Glam – glitter, crystal, embossed or flocked;
- Casual – plants, floral or textured;
- Country – plaid or gingham;
- Rustic – grass, plaid or wildlife scenes;
- Victorian – baroque floral patterns;
- Modern – geometric and abstract patterns.
Colour
Colour has the power to make or break a room on its own. It sets the mood and creates the desired atmosphere. Cool colour tones such as violet, blue or green will trick the mind into seeing the room as larger and taller than it is and make it seem more tranquil. On the other hand, bright, fiery tones like orange, red and yellow will light up the room and make it feel warmer. Many people living in cold climates choose these colours to add warmth to the place.
If you decide for darker tones, you have to know that they’ll close up the room and make it look smaller than it is. They are hard to pull off, except if you have very big rooms that will allow some sizing down. Take your windows, furniture and flooring as inspiration for the wallpaper. This way, you’ll get a compatible colour pallet that complements the whole room. You can repeat a few shades for a smoother transition between the colours.
One Wall or the Whole Room?
This depends on the size of the room and your personal preference. Larger and taller rooms allow for wallpaper on every wall. You can go bold with colours or choose a more soothing pattern; every option is available. If you’re afraid it won’t work and complement the room, you can always go with just one wall. In this case, the accent wall could be around the fireplace, behind the sofa, across the dining table, anywhere you want. Accent walls are often regarded as a piece of art because people choose eye-catching designs and patterns that resemble art pieces. This most commonly happens with wallpaper for kids. With its picturesque scenes, fun shapes and bright colours, you can turn the kids’ room into a movie scene.
Which Rooms to Wallpaper?
Let’s start with the entryway. This is the first place you see when you come home, and the first place guests see when they visit you. Because of this, you should create an open and welcoming environment for an excellent first impression. Light pastel colours or repeated patterns will work best. You can combine blue and violet with some not so thick lines or wave patterns. Or, if you have some plants in the room, you can complement them with some simple floral designs. Living rooms can take up any style and pattern you want; you can even mix and match them – don’t make the room overwhelming.
Kitchens require less wallpaper and fewer distractions. Choosing warm and straightforward designs will work best. Your child’s room is just a blank canvas for this. The opportunities are endless. Kids wallpapers can be anything you want – from big geometrical shapes, nature murals, and flowers, to asymmetrical cuts and stripes. You can even have the ceiling covered with a moon and stars theme. They can also be interactive, and kids can colour on them as they wish. Bedrooms look best with just one accent wall. This gives the space elegance, tranquillity and refinement. Light colours and smooth textures will do the trick.
Dining rooms can handle almost anything, from bright colours and heavy patterns to soothing shades and minimalist details, it all depends on your personal style. Bathrooms have a calming vibe around them, and the wallpaper should reflect this in its way. Wavy patterns, floral murals or leafy themes will fit perfectly.
Can You Do It Alone?
Hanging a wallpaper requires a bit of practice to make it perfect. You could start in the garage or any other space that won’t require a lot of precision. To avoid air bubbles forming, always wipe down the surface of the wallpaper with a damp cloth or a sponge after you’ve hung it. This way, any excess air will get released from the edges. Use a picture of the pattern in front of you as a sample of how should it look and match. It will be easier for you, and mistakes will be minimal. If you happen to make a mistake, don’t panic, there are always ways to take off the wallpaper, and you can try again. At the end of the day, if you’re not sure you can do it, hire professionals – they’ll take care of it.