Maybe you’ve heard and seen it all over – wallpaper is back with a vengeance not seen since the 80s. We are personally thrilled that clients have been requesting wallpaper of all sorts for the past few years (instead of us having to *gently* nudge them toward adorning their walls with something other than paint and artwork) as we have always adored wallpaper, and the truth of the matter is that sometimes paint just doesn’t cut it.
However, it does seem that many are still scarred by cow print borders or Anaglypta at grandma’s house. There are also those of you out there who have had to remove rooms and rooms of paper and vowed to never again let glue touch drywall – we get it. But we’re here to tell you that you CAN get over your fear of wallpaper and let it take your style to new heights.
Ok, so maybe you’ve warmed up to the idea of wallpaper but can’t imagine the whole room covered in it. So, let’s just incorporate an accent wall to dip a toe into the paper pool, right? Well, to be perfectly honest, it’s not always our favourite option. Of course, a well executed accent or feature wall can make a fabulous statement. However, more often than not, they end up looking bit underwhelming, random, and sometimes draw attention to all the wrong places.
So, here are 3 of our favourite ways to use wallpaper for the hesitant! We promise you’ll forget why you were afraid of wallpaper in the first place.
- Powder Rooms
Powder rooms are always a fantastic choice for a bold wallpaper because a they are generally somewhat isolated from the main living areas. This is the place to make a statement, because more often than not, the door is closed. It’s so fun to open up the door to a powder room and be wowed by the walls and some funky lighting choices – like a little jewel box. Of course, it should still relate to the design scheme of the adjacent rooms, but you can definitely afford to step outside your comfort zone (and outside the box!) As a bonus, most powder rooms are relatively small in regards to square footage, so even with a pricey paper, you won’t be blowing your budget with this project.
We had the pleasure of designing this powder room last year for a long time client. Cole & Son’s “Allium” wallpaper brings such a fun, yet sophisticated atmosphere to the space. Using this modern wainscotting visually breaks up the space and makes the bold pattern feel less overwhelming than if it was applied from floor to ceiling. We had originally considered leaving the wainscotting white, but the client had the idea to pull out a green tone from the paper instead, which turned out brilliantly. This is a great example of a floral that doesn’t feel overly feminine or the least bit dated.
This Cole & Son classic “Aquario” has the perfect amount of whimsy without feeling kitsch or juvenile. Using this soft neutral palette makes this space feel very approachable and classic, with almost an old world study feel to it. Thoughtful details such as the mocha painted trim and beige ceiling are what make the space feel grounded and warm – white trim and ceiling would not do this paper justice, and the overall look might have fallen flat.
Here is another example of a floral done in a way that doesn’t scream grandma’s house. This time the paper is “toned down” by white subway tile instead of wainscotting, which helps the space feel a little more contemporary as well, seeing as how this floral pattern veers a little more into the traditional. Green makes another appearance in the form of this simple little vanity, which pops against all the stark white.
We have loved “Rivets” by Phillip Jeffries for so many years, and it definitely doesn’t disappoint in this bathroom by Texan designer Marie Flanagan. Even the most wallpaper averse would have a hard time arguing that this little space looks sharp. The textured background exudes warmth, while the metallic studs that give the paper its name add a subtle edge without feeling the least bit over the top. This paper has a really cool masculine feel to it, especially in the darker colourways, but can take on a completely different personality depending on the application.
2. Textured Paper
Not every wallpaper needs to be an absolute showstopper. Plain, textured wallpaper is a wonderful choice if you want to warm up your space and add depth, but keep the walls soft and subtle – especially if you have some great artwork to showcase. Textured paper offers dimension and a certain je ne sais quoi that paint simply cannot. The classic option here would be grasscloth, beloved for many years (and adorns many of our showroom walls). These days you can get grasscloth in just about every colour, so you’re not limited to natural grass tones, and vinyl options are prevalent, so no need to worry about moisture or cleaning (also a great option for those who don’t like visible seams which are unavoidable – and part of the charm, in our opinion – with natural grass.)
Some other fun textures to consider are silk, cork, flannel, or linen!
This great room is a perfect example of how texture can completely transform a space. Using such a limited and neutral colour palette could have easily caused the room to be a bit, well – boring. Through the use of textured wallpaper which connects with the braided rug, the design of the space is significantly elevated, and feels warm and inviting.
Textured plain wallpaper also makes the perfect backdrop for your artwork. The ocean blue grasscloth chosen for this cozy den could not be more perfect with this set of antique tapestries. While of course a similar effect could have been achieved with paint, it would not be able to match the depth or richness of natural grass.
If you don’t love the look of seams, there are many seamless alternatives on the market these days (but we think it adds so much character!)
3. Behind Built-Ins
A wallpaper treatment adds so much character and a truly bespoke feeling to your bookshelves, wet bar, or coffee bar. It feels very intentional as you are highlighting an area that is already meant to be a focal point (this is where many accent walls fall flat – they feel random and out of place.)
Generally we would recommend avoiding a very large scale pattern that will be cut off or chopped up by millwork, but sometimes these can work, such as using beautiful mural behind a bar with minimal shelving.
“Raphael” by Sandberg makes a splash in behind this quaint little coffee bar, and we love how the bright orange sconces and coffee machine pops against the deep blue.
This reading nook was a really fun little project we had the pleasure of working on in the spring of 2024. The client had recently renovated her basement and wanted a whimsical paper to finish off this space where her granddaughters love to cozy up when they visit. We went with Thibaut’s “Tiger Reserve” which features an array of tigers, bulls, bears, and birds along a river scene – the perfect backdrop for getting lost in a good book!
It’s hard to beat a good botanical print, and this stunning bookcase is no exception. While the built in bookcase would have looked stunning painted entirely in the powder blue, the wallpaper gives it so much more life and personality, as well as provides a beautiful backdrop for a collection of antique books. This wallpaper treatment is neither distracting nor timid – some might say perfectly balanced. Whomever the designer is, they hit the nail on the head with this gorgeous traditional interior.
Why not make your home office an inspiring place to work by adding a subtle abstract wallpaper behind bookshelves? Here the designer has chosen an oceanic theme and colour palette, but this paper could easily still work without going in such a specific direction.
So, if you’re feeling like your home could use a little pick me up – please consider wallpaper! We promise, it’s not so intimidating after all – and of course, we are here to guide you along the way. We carry a huge selection of stunning wallpaper by brands like Cole & Son, Phillip Jeffries, Thibaut, Kravet, Maxwell, JF, & more.
Book an appointment with one of our designers to begin your wallpaper journey.
Showroom Main Phone: (905) 668-3483
