The wall covering you choose will define the personality and mood of your living space. American consumers today are exposed to a super abundance of patterns, textures, and colors when it comes to nearly everything including choice of wallpapering. Finding great wallpaper for your project is the fun part. Consider how the room is used and how often is the key when choosing the wallpaper patterns. Here are tips to make choosing the right wallpaper simpler.
-
Patterns with strong colors. Color can set the mood in a room. The more intense the color, the more excitement it will give to a room. Choose wallpaper patterns with warm colors such as yellow, orange, and red whenever a room needs to feel cozier. Choosing classic colors like white and blue or neutrals will bring a touch of sophistication to any formal setting.
-
Patterns for a dark area. For a windowless room, a north-facing room, or a dark hallway, look for wall coverings that will reflect light around the room. Patterns with light colors, patterns with smooth surfaces, and those with metallic or iridescent ink will reflect maximum light. Darker colors absorb light making walls appear closer and the room smaller. Textured surfaces also tend to make a wall look darker.
-
Patterns with vertical stripes or horizontal lines. Stripes or other vertical patterns emphasize height and add vitality, formality, and dignity to a room. Patterns or motifs with U or V shape will make a ceiling appear higher. Horizontal patterns accentuate the width of the room; it suggests quietness and repose and makes narrow rooms appear wider.
-
Pattern scales. Small-scale patterns suggest spaciousness while large-scale designs create a feel of intimacy in a room. To make an empty room look more furnished, select large-scale pattern with bright colors and dark backgrounds. If you are going for dramatic, hang a bold pattern in an entryway, where it can make an impact without taking over a room. High impact-pattern should be used in an area that you are not in on a regular basis such as hallway, closet, guest bathroom, laundry room, mud room, or even a single wall. To give a flat walls the look of depth, try a large open dimensional pattern such as a trellis design.
-
Mix and match patterns. When mixing stripes, floral, or plaids in a room or between adjacent areas, select patterns that repeat the same color or hue of that color. A room with too many patterns can feel restless.
-
Patterns with real and thick texture. If you don’t have smooth walls, these wallpapers will hide, camouflage, or cover wall imperfection or flaws such as old outdated papers, paneling, bad cracks, or even cinderblocks. They can add some subtle texture to a wall and create a whole new look for your walls. Patterns with actual tactile surfaces include grass, string cloth, burlap, foil, expanded vinyl, and some fabric. Patterns that suggest a perceived texture are layered designs such as a monochromatic damask design behind a floral pattern; other patterns simulate the look of marble, wood, tile, leather, or even animal skins. Some wallpaper simulates the style of wainscoting; it can add a three dimension vintage look to walls for a fraction of the price of carpentry.
Wallpaper can give an instant personality to a room. Along with many home-improvement stores and paint centers, now, there are numerous designers and small companies that produce some exquisite wallpaper. Wallpaper trends today emphasize sophisticated patterns, contemporary designs, Old World craftsmanship and even fabrics that simulate upholstered walls. If you have the time, learning to hang wallpaper is a smart skill to acquire and the benefits are sure to exceed your expectations; if not, hire a local interior designer to help you with your wallpapering project and let the creative process begins. |
Tweet this Article 
Share Article on Facebook 
Digg Article