Choosing wallpaper can feel like a huge commitment, but interior designers follow a few key principles that take the guesswork out of the process. Their secret isn’t about following strict rules but about being thoughtful and deliberate. By learning how they approach pattern, color, and scale, you can also make choices that give your home a polished and cohesive look. Here are seven tips that professionals use to get wallpaper right every time.
1. Always Test a Large Sample A tiny swatch online or in a book can be misleading. Pros never skip ordering a large sample—at least two by two feet—and testing it in the actual room. Tape it to the wall and observe it for a few days. Notice how the colors shift with the natural light in the morning versus the artificial light at night. This step ensures there are no surprises and that the paper works with the room’s unique lighting conditions.
2. Consider the Room’s Architecture A designer looks at the entire space, not just four flat walls. Pay attention to the room’s architectural features. Does it have low ceilings? A pattern with vertical stripes or a climbing floral can guide the eye upward. In a room with awkward angles or lots of windows, a smaller, more forgiving pattern might be easier to work with than a large mural that could get cut off in strange places.
3. Don’t Fear Large Patterns in Small Rooms It might sound counter-intuitive, but a large-scale pattern can work wonders in a compact area. While tiny, busy patterns can sometimes make a space feel cluttered, a bigger motif can actually fool the eye and give a sense of depth. Using a bold wallpaper is one of many clever tricks for a Small Living Room or powder room to make it feel more intentional and interesting.
4. Think Beyond Four Walls Professionals know that wallpaper isn’t just for standard walls. For an unexpected touch of pattern and personality, consider wallpapering a “fifth wall”—the ceiling. Other great spots include the back of a bookcase, the interior of a closet, or the wall space inside a decorative wall niche. This gives a custom, high-end feeling to your home.
5. Match the Paper to the Room’s Function The type of wallpaper you choose should suit how the room is used. A delicate, hand-printed paper is fine for a low-traffic guest bedroom, but a busy hallway needs a durable, scrubbable option. A playful Tropical Wallpaper design can offer a fun, escapist feeling in a home office or laundry room. Similarly, successful Styling with Bathroom Wallpaper means selecting a material designed to withstand humidity.
6. Pay Attention to Undertones This is a subtle tip that makes a big difference. The undertones in your wallpaper’s background color should align with the other fixed elements in the room, like your flooring, trim paint, and large furniture pieces. If your trim is a creamy white, a wallpaper with a stark, cool white background might clash. Matching undertones helps the wallpaper feel like it truly belongs.
7. When in Doubt, Start with One Wall If you’re nervous about committing to a bold pattern, remember that you don’t have to paper the entire room. An accent wall is a fantastic way to get high impact with less risk and expense. The wall behind your bed or sofa is a perfect candidate for a feature wall, giving the room a clear focal point.
