Revamping Your Living Space: Eight Groovy Wallpaper Trends to Embrace
Wallpaper has made a major comeback in home decor, offering a simple yet impactful way to revitalize a space. While it fell out of favor in the '60s and '70s and was seen as a decorating faux-pas in the '90s and early 2000s, wallpaper is now more popular than ever. With an emphasis on texture, color, and personality, homeowners are using wallpaper in innovative ways to add an extra layer of intentional love to their spaces.
"Whether in a powder room for a surprise pop of color and pattern, or wall-to-wall coverage to really make a statement, wallpaper is an excellent way to add an intentional touch to your spaces," says David Quarles, principal interior designer at Studio 417. For texture, grasscloth wallpaper is a great option, providing a tactile experience in any room.
In recent years, wallpaper has been used in various creative applications beyond traditional wall applications. Here are some inventive ways to incorporate wallpaper into your home decor:
- Wallpapering Furniture:
Updating an old piece of furniture typically involves sanding, staining, or painting. However, peel-and-stick wallpaper provides a less labor-intensive option, allowing you to transform your furniture by application to entirely or specific areas for contrast. Says Quarles, "I've started to see friends use peel-and-stick wallpaper to transform their furniture. Whether on the outside door panels of a media cabinet or the interior of a glassware case, adding peel-and-stick wallpaper to your furniture is a way to give it new life."
- Faux Wallpaper Headboards:
One unexpected place to use wallpaper is on a headboard. Apply a striking wallpaper to the space just above your bed to create dimension and add character to your bedroom. The wallpaper can be cut into a curved or rectangular shape, or framed with wood or a crisp paint border.
- Wallpaper on the Ceiling:
Applying wallpaper to ceilings is an unexpected way to add vibrancy or texture to a space. Williams Martinez, founder and principal designer of Casa Martinez, suggests selecting a wallpaper design for the ceiling and complementing it with a neutral color for the walls. "I love surprises, and this is a cool one when looking up."
- Framed Wallpaper:
If original art isn't in the budget, or you're looking for a quick way to add a bold splash of color to your space, consider framing a beautiful wallpaper that complements your aesthetic. Quarles suggests placing it in clean and modern frames or heading to the thrift store to find vintage frames with more pizzazz. "You could even display remnants of wallpaper you may have left over from another area in your home," Quarles notes. "This would be a great way to keep a harmonious conversation happening throughout your home."
- Hand-Painted Wallpaper Murals:
Hand-painted wallpaper murals provide the look of a high-end custom paint job for a fraction of the cost. Williams Martinez of Casa Martinez notes, "Hand-painted wallpaper has become one of my favorites nowadays. There are so many gorgeous hand-painted wallcoverings that can be used as art to transform your walls into amazing backdrops. Make sure you choose something you're obsessed with, and have fun with it."
- Wallpapered Stair Risers:
Instead of installing stair runners, opt for peel-and-stick wallpaper on stair risers. This mimics the look of tiled stair risers, adding color and personality to your space without being too bold. Since this area will get lots of traffic, choose a durable wallpaper that's easy to wipe down.
- Wallpaper Decoupage Projects:
Personalize furniture and small items, such as trays, bowls, or lamp bases, with wallpaper decoupage. Break up traditional wallpaper into smaller pieces to create a layered decoupage look, and consider mixing complementary wallpapers for an extra burst of character.
- Wallpapered Built-In Bookshelves:
Those lucky enough to have built-in bookcases or nooks can take advantage of this wallpaper trend. Apply peel-and-stick or traditional wallpaper to quickly "spruce up a bland built-in bookshelf and create a functional yet beautiful focal point in your home," says Quarles. For added pattern play, frame abstract artwork on the shelves.
By utilizing these creative wallpaper applications, you can breathe new life into your living space while adding a distinctive and personalized touch.
Incorporating the popular home decor trend of wallpaper, Martha Stewart suggests using it to create a faux wallpaper headboard, adding a striking design just above your bed for dimension and character. She also recommends framing wallpaper as an alternative to original art, using it to add a bold splash of color to your space in clean or vintage frames.
