Usually, when homeowners think of beautifying or refurbishing the walls of their homes, their minds tend to go to whitewashing, painting, and spraying colors. Only a few think of wallpaper.
However, wallpaper now comes in a variety of exciting and elegant patterns and colors, a brilliant distinction from what was available in centuries past.
Durability, cost-effectiveness, safety, and its ability to enliven any room and various surfaces are some features that make wallpapers a preferred choice.
Perhaps, the most interesting fact about wallpaper is that they are for everyone. Regardless of who you are, what your design style is like, or how your home looks, there is a wallpaper out there that is right for you.
How to use Wallpaper at home
Most people assume that wallpaper is exclusive to wall usage and you can’t blame them, even its name suggests so. True, wallpaper is mostly used to transform walls, but it can also be applied on other surfaces.
- Cover the walls in different ways
The most common use of wallpaper is to cover all the walls in a space. The trick to making this work is to erase the memories of the garish patterns of the 1970s and the delicate floral of the 1980s and embrace contemporary colors, patterns, and styles.
Using graphic wallpapers with vivid patterns and colors to cover all the walls in a room gives a bold outlook, while a simple pattern or texture create a subtle impact.
Another common approach to covering walls with paper is to either place the wallpaper on the top or bottom half of a wall. Ideally, the space between the papered and non-papered halves should be separated with some type of architectural molding like a chair rail. This style ensures that you achieve the desired look without overwhelming the space.
If you are aiming for a more bold look, opt for covering the top half of a wall with one paper and the bottom half with another. Remember that the patterns should complement instead of fight with each other.
Lastly, you can create a feature wall. A wallpapered feature wall is a great way to either create or amplify an already existing focal point. The key to pulling this off is installing the wallpaper on spots that the eye is naturally drawn to like behind the TV or fireplace.
- Wallpaper on the Ceiling
The ceiling, or fifth wall as some like to call it, offers an excellent opportunity to have some fun with wallpaper and create a distinctive look. If you’re going to take this route, you may as well go all out and choose highly decorative or daring designs. Don’t waste the effort on subtlety. You might however need to contact an expert for this type of installation.
- Decoupage Furniture
If you are thinking of up cycling an old piece or adding a little flair to plain furniture consider applying wallpaper to it. This works brilliantly on pieces that have clean lines and simple silhouettes, – not too many curves -, such as chests of drawers or console tables. The paper you intend to use doesn’t have to have a pattern; sometimes a textured wallpaper such as seagrass adds just the right amount of interest.
- Decorate the Inside of a Bookcase
Wallpaper can also be used to add a little decorative flair to an open bookcase and thus complement your room’s design. An easy way to decorate shelves with pretty-patterned paper is to cut out pieces of foam core that fit each nook and apply the wallpaper directly to them. That way you can avoid applying paper directly to the piece of furniture and you can easily take it out.
- Hang Wallpaper as Art
Having a sample piece framed and hanging it on the wall is a great way to incorporate the pattern into your room without the effort or expense of traditional applications. Another similar method is to hang a long piece and install dowels at either end so it looks like a scroll. Perhaps, the best thing about these types of wall hangings is that they require minimal effort and provide instant transformations.
Benefits of Wallpapers
- Versatility
Unlike painting or tiling, using wallpaper offers homeowners a wealth of choices when it comes to designs and colors. There is wallpaper for every room in the house. If you have kids, you can choose lively and fun wallpapers that complement their living environment; or if you prefer your home to be in classic style, there are thousands of classic pattern wallpaper to choose from which match your dream house space and the furniture within. Wallpaper also allows you to constantly follow the latest trend in home design and accommodates all kinds of preferences.
- Easy Maintenance
Using and maintaining wallpaper is relatively easy and does not require special skills or expensive materials. To clean most wallpaper, all you need is a piece of cloth, sponge, and detergent. Paper wallpaper can’t be washed with water but can be wiped with a clean cloth or soft brush. Some wallpapers can be cleaned with a damp cloth, and washable wallpaper washes easily with water and a simple detergent solution, making it ideal for spaces like living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms. Some wallpaper are scrubbable, which means that they can withstand scrubbing with a brush and a specific detergent solution. Wallpapers in this category are usually more durable than washable wallpaper and are most useful in heavy wear areas such as a kitchen, bath, or laundry room.
- Hides Imperfections
If you live in an older house, you know how unsightly cracked walls can be. Fortunately, wallpaper can help to mask a variety of imperfections including cracked, damaged, uneven, or not perfectly squared parts of a wall. Both paint and wallpaper are known to enliven bland spaces but wallpaper goes a step further with its ability to disguise flaws which can be much less time-consuming and tedious than fixing all the little or big imperfections throughout the wall.
- Simple Installation and Removal
Many people avoid using wallpaper for their interior decorations because they are worried about the installation process. However, this is no longer the case, thanks to paste the wall wallpaper. This type of wallpaper has made installation and removal easier than ever and can be just about as easy as paint. Installing this new wallpaper involves applying paste directly to the wall and hanging the wallpaper dry, making it easier to work with as opposed to the traditional papers which you must soak in water and hang while wet. When you are ready for an update or tired of the paper simply pull up a corner and pull the entire wall covering strip off the wall; no tools, no hassle.
- Durable and Long Lasting
Another exciting benefit of wallpaper is that it durable and long-lasting, thus meeting the needs of different lifestyles and applications, and holding up to the wear and tear of children or conditions in high traffic areas. In fact, lifecycle experts suggest that wall coverings can now last five times longer than paint under typical usage conditions.
Most wallpaper will have a lifespan between 10-15 years making your work last a long time once it is installed. Whereas, painted wall chips and cracks over time, and will likely require repainting after only a few years and in turn need more work.
Best Wallpaper for Home Design
If you’re certain a wallpaper is what your house needs to liven up but you are having difficulty in choosing the best wall covering for your space, these designs can help. Below are various wallpaper types from quality brands.
Decorating a room with blue wallpaper luxuriates that space. You can expect the same impact with blue arrowhead wallpaper. This navy blue wall covering gives a vivid and regal look and can be perfectly stitched together. It is a moderately thick self-adhesive paper which means you don’t have to worry about buying additional glue. An interesting feature of blue arrowhead stick and peel wallpaper is that it can be applied to any object with a smooth surface, such as walls, glass, tables and chairs, kitchen counters, bedside tables, bookcases, handicrafts, etc. Also, cleaning and removal are super easy and tidy. The wallpaper can be removed without damaging your walls or leaving a mess and cleaned by simply wiping with a wet towel.
If you’re not into bold and vivid looks but prefer a neutral scheme for your home or room space, then you should consider white wallpaper. But not just any white wallpaper, Brewster Destinations by The Shore Beadboard. Why this brand? This wallpaper is bold enough to be noticed but subtle enough not to take over space. It is also easy to install and use and prepasted with a strong adhesive. The wallpaper is also washable and strippable.
One of the unique features of white wallpaper is its versatility. So, if you find Brewster’s wallpaper too plain, you can always go for something a bit more striking like Nuwallpaper white brick wallpaper. This wallcovering allows you to fake the exposed brick look and it looks impressively realistic. It also sticks easily to any flat surface and is safe for walls.
Often, people install gold wallpaper to incorporate a dramatic effect on their space. However, Tempaper Marrakesh is different as it is mild and less dramatic. Similar to the previously mentioned products, this wallpaper is also self-adhesive thus requiring no paste or glue. This ready-to-use paper is repositionable, making patterns easy to align, DIY friendly, and steam and moisture resistant.
It can be used to decorate an accent wall or entire room as well as furniture, bookcases, stair risers, drawers, and so on. Spruce up your bathroom and kitchen with this gold wallpaper.
- Pink Self-Adhesive Wallpaper Film Stick Paper Easy to Apply Peel and Stick Wallpaper Stick Wallpaper
Contrary to popular belief, pink wallpaper is not for children’s spaces alone, it can also be used to decorate other parts of the house. In fact, pink wallcovering like PracticalWs plain pink can have a highly positive impact on your space, creating feelings of calmness, helping to alleviate stress and tension. Fortunately, it calls also be used to transform your gift, cabinets, walls, shelves, drawers, and crafts. Cut, peel, and stick according to the gridlines to install – easy right? To avoid bubbles ensure you apply on smooth, clean, and dry surfaces.
If you’re looking for a more daring effect with wallpapers or an extravagant, stylish, and even a little mysterious interior, then black wallpapers should be your choice. Black wallcoverings like Graham & Brown’s easy crocodile black wallpaper tests your sense of taste and style. As a general rule, black wallpaper shouldn’t be used in large amounts in small rooms and even when it is applied to a larger room, it shouldn’t be used to cover all the walls. Also, black wall covers must be combined with light decoration and furniture, glossy and shiny elements, greenery, bright accents to avoid turning the space into a gloomy sight.
This is a floral patterned vinyl wallpaper. The great about this beautiful wallpaper is that it’s durable, washable, and can be used in rooms with high humidity. It also doesn’t fade in the sun or shrinks. This wallpaper is the perfect choice for anyone who wishes to make a masterpiece out of their room but lacks artistic talent. With this floral patterned wallcovering, you can easily turn a simple room into a work of art.
How To Install Wallpapers
This a simple guide on how to install self-adhesive or peel-and-stick wallpaper, like those mentioned above on walls. First, you need the following supplies:
- Sponge or cloth
- Mild cleaner
- Measuring tape
- Straightedge
- Pencil
- Peel-and-stick wallpaper
- Plastic smoothing tool
- Utility knife
Now, down to business
Step 1: Wipe the wall’s surface with a damp sponge or cloth and a mild, non-abrasive cleaner and wait at least 24 hours to allow the surface to dry completely.
Step 2: Measure the width of your wallpaper, then transfer that measurement to your wall using a pencil. Along your marks, draw a line from the ceiling to the baseboard or the length of the area you’d like the cover using a straightedge and level. This guide will enable you to apply the first strip of wallpaper in a straight line.
Step 3: Starting from the ceiling, apply about 12 inches of your peel-and-stick wallpaper, and be sure to line it up with the lines on the walls. Press and smooth the wallpaper, from top to bottom. Run a plastic smoothing tool downwards to remove air bubbles. Once the entire strip adheres to the wall, use your straight edge and a small utility knife to carefully cut along the baseboard and remove any excess.
Step 4: When installing subsequent pieces, line up the wallpaper’s pattern to ensure a seamless look. Place the second piece to slightly overlapping the first and run the smoothing tool along the seam to make it lay as flat as possible.
Step 5: if you notice any remaining bubbles, use the tip of your utility knife or a pin to create a small hole in the middle of the bubble. Then press down to release the air trapped inside and smooth the wallpaper.
Conclusion
For an instant decoration, line your room with wallpaper. Paper can push boundaries beyond what paint can do – from blah to bold in a matter of hours. With a variety of textures, patterns, and colors, wallpaper is suitable for every room in a home including bathrooms. What’s more, they are not limited to walls, you can also use wallpaper to beautify your furniture, shelves, ceilings, and lampshade. Plus, it masks minor imperfections, too.
