How to Choose the Right Wallpaper for Your Home
Gone are the days of the bright yellow wallpaper you remember from your grandma’s house. It’s time to give wallpaper another shot as an alternative to paint. Here’s how to choose the wallpaper that will look the best in your home.
The thought of wallpaper makes some feel nostalgic. and pain for others. Removing wallpaper can be a difficult process that leads people to abandon wallpaper forever. Or they only think of wallpaper as large and vibrant floral patterns that are more casino-like than home-style. But wallpaper is making a comeback and there are designs and styles to suit just about anyone’s taste.
It is much easier to add a little whimsy to your home by using wallpaper accentuated by a cheeky or ironic subject. Paint just doesn’t convey the message so easily. Traditional wallpaper designs can instantly convey a serious and formal mood.
Find the right design
Bold wallpaper prints grab attention and grab the attention of homeowners looking to present their walls as art. But these types of designs can become outdated and lead to remorse for buyers.
Sleek designs and those that mimic organic items have more stamina and are less likely to clash with furniture or wall art. Be careful when choosing small patterns as it can be difficult to line up wallpaper panels next to each other.
Wallpaper with a more textured and patterned look can help hide imperfections in the wall surface. They work best in a casual room such as a den or bedroom.
Flat and sleek wallpapers offer a more sophisticated look and are best suited for a formal setting such as a hallway or dining room. If you want a flat look but your walls are too rough, use a wall cladding that will provide a smooth surface to your wallpaper.
Here are some more tips for choosing a wallpaper design:
- Horizontal stripes will widen the room and make the ceiling shorter.
- Vertical stripes add volume to the room and make the ceiling appear taller.
- Wallpaper with a light background will make the room appear larger, and conversely, darker wallpaper will make the room smaller.
- A larger wallpaper pattern makes the room smaller, best suited for a single wall in a large room.
Choose your material
Vinyl wallpaper is the most common wallpaper, and is the easiest to hang and clean, making it ideal for aspiring DIY wallpapers.
There are two common types of vinyl wallpaper you will find in homes. Vinyl-coated wallpaper can be cleaned with soapy water. It has a paper backing and a paper surface that is covered with liquid vinyl when installed.
On the other hand, solid vinyl wallpaper is completely waterproof and ideal for kitchens and bathrooms. However, this type of wallpaper can be more difficult to remove than other types.
There are other special types of wallpaper, such as flocked and foil, that look great when applied correctly. But they are more expensive than vinyl and are best used sparingly.
Measure your space
The hardest part of buying wallpaper is choosing the style you want. Determining how much you need to buy should be much easier. By following this basic formula for buying wallpaper.
- Measure the walls and multiply the height by the width of each wall in feet.
- Add up all the wall sizes to get the total square footage.
- Subtract all windows and doors.
- Examine the roll label for the square footage of the roll and make sure it is larger than your total wall square footage.
- Buy an extra roll to make sure you have enough. Mistakes can happen, and it is better to have an extra roll (which can be returned) and then fight for more that may or may not be available in the future.