Wallpaper isn’t just for covering the walls in your home – it also works beautifully on cabinets, furniture, and even small pieces such as bookcases and open shelves. The design possibilities are almost endless, with a wide array of textures, colors, and patterns to choose from. Many people opt for self-adhesive wallpaper as it is easier and more forgiving than traditional pasted wallpaper, but if you’re ready to commit to a bit of extra work, paste-them-up paper will provide more options for colors, designs, and patterns that will last a long time.
The most important factor in picking a wallpaper is what vibe you want the room to have. While a floral theme works wonderfully in a cottage or country home, it may not look as good in an industrial-style apartment. Once you know what kind of mood or vibe you want the room to have, it’s easy to pick out a wallpaper that will perfectly suit your space.
Besides traditional floral wall papers, there are also geometrics, glass beads, wood grains, metallics, cork, woven grass, and moire. In response to concerns about indoor air quality, many wallpaper companies are now offering a variety of green options that use acrylic coatings instead of vinyl (which can off-gas VOCs) and are free of toxins like heavy metals.
Before you place your order for rolls of wallpaper, take the time to measure the walls, subtracting any doors or windows that you are not going to use in the room. Then, calculate the square footage of the walls and divide that by the roll’s square footage reduced by a yield factor, which takes into account waste and pattern repeat. The number of rolls you need will vary by the size of your room and how much wallpaper is left over after installation.
Another thing to consider is how the room is oriented. If you have low ceilings, you might want to opt for light-colored wallpaper with vertical stripes. This will help make the ceiling seem higher and expand your room. On the other hand, if you have large windows and a lot of natural light in your room, you might want to go for a dark or bolder pattern that will create a dramatic effect.
If you have a small budget and don’t want to do a full room, try putting wallpaper on a single feature wall. You can even have a textured or metallic paper applied to the back of an open shelf or cabinet door for a little decorative flair. Just be sure the wallpaper matches the rest of the room so it doesn’t look too busy. Alternatively, you can frame a piece of wallpaper and hang it over the sofa or bed as a focal point. That way, you can swap out the piece if you ever tire of it. And, since wallpaper is typically easier to clean than paint, it’s a great option for areas that are hard to keep dust-free.