Talking Walls: Wallpaper
Embark on a journey of inspiration and reimagine your home's walls as a conversation starter, telling your story with every brushstroke and pattern choice. Wallpaper and paint are powerful elements that can redefine your space, reflecting your unique style and making every room a canvas for self-expression
I loved this wallpaper that we put in our entry way in our mid-century bungalow in Noe Valley. Meghan Nohr Designer
When it comes to infusing your home with personality, wallpaper reigns supreme as your design superhero! It's the ultimate tool to turn dull walls into vibrant masterpieces bursting with color, pattern, and pizzazz! Or if you‘re into adding more subtle texture, it’s perfect for that too – the options are endless! Wallpaper oh how I love thee.
Wallpaper 101 - Wallpaper Patterns
Curious about classic Wallpaper Patterns? READ the full article The Ultimate Designer Guide To Wallpaper Patterns
Toile.
“I think of Toile as the blue cheese on the cheese plate,” says designer Chloe Warner of the Oakland, California-based firm, Redmond Aldrich Design, “It’s not for everyone, but it can be so wonderful when done in an enveloping way.” Because toile patterns are generally refined to two colors, it’s a good choice for those who desire an allover patterned wallpaper, but not one that requires that a room be built around it. Another time designers are fond of breaking out the toile? “In rooms where the ceilings have strange pitches, toile can draw the attention away from the angles,” reveals Chloe.
Geometric.
Mid-Century-inspired colors and Pop Art-scale graphics can conjure the power of tile without the hassle of installation. Designers across the board love to employ geometric papers that have a retro vintage wallpaper feel, especially in kids’ rooms. Designer Chloe Warner is partial to using geometrics on a single accent wall of a kid’s room to lend viable oomph. (Insider secret: Chole looped us in that the wall treatment in the cheery playroom above was actually achieved with a stencil and magnetic paint. If wallpaper feels less DIY than you desire, this haute hack may be your calling card.)
Chinoiserie.
Presidential decorator Michael S. Smith, as well as designer entities like AD100 designer Alex Papachristidis, have both chosen to wrap the walls of their own homes in the botanic and avian-splashed papers. Being headquartered in New York, designing bedrooms that are soothing sanctuaries from the city bustle below is designer Kati Curtis’s specialty. Among her tricks for pulling off a bedroom that sedates? Cocooning it in chinoiserie. “The pattern truly gives a room a fantasy-like feeling,” she explains.
Textured.
Textured wallpapers offer a sense of warmth that virtually no other wall treatment can match. Designer Angie Hranowsky is a frequent practitioner of textured walls and counts papers like grasscloth among her go-to’s for rooms where she aims to foster a feeling of intimacy and coziness. “The nuance in tones and the three-dimensional quality that comes with a textured wallpaper is something you can’t achieve with paint or a flat finish,” explains Angie. “Grasscloth and similar papers have the ability to add a subtle texture that paint cannot provide.”
This wallpaper was a great combination of subtle print and texture. Meghan Nohr Designer
Are you ready to transform your living space with the magic of wallpaper? Here are a few resources to help you pick the perfect wallpaper and infuse your space with your unique personality.
Do.
Consider the size of your room, the purpose of your room, and the look you are going for. You may love that big bold print in the entryway because it makes you smile when. you walk in the door, but you might not love it in your bedroom.
Think about lighting – do you have lots of natural light or is your space a little on the dark and moody side? Just like paint, light matters and impacts how the room will look.
Make sure your paint matches your wallpaper – sometimes you may want it to blend in and be subtle, others you may want it to pop and shine. Know the look you’re going for and make sure it matches your decor and overall aesthetic. You do you!
Think about adding some drama by wallpapering your ceiling.
Don’t.
Forget to prepare your walls – skipping essential steps like cleaning, smoothing, and priming the walls can lead to adhesion issues and an uneven finish
Forget to buy the right type of paper – vinyl is great for a kid’s room or bathroom, it’s wipeable. Cheap, low-quality options can peel, fade, or bubble over time. Did you know you can even get acoustic wallpaper?
Hire a professional wallpaperer - hanging wallpaper is no joke, it takes patience to line up prints. Need resources? Just ask
