Decorating
How Wallpaper Can Fix Design Quirks
Attic alcoves, odd angles and bland spaces can all be made better. Here are 10 ways wallpaper can come to the rescue
Wallpaper has been around for centuries – and for good reason. Though often thought of as purely decorative, it actually has several practical functions. Wallpaper can hide small wall irregularities or defects, enhance or disguise architectural elements and create separate zones or moods within a room. Here are ways to use this pragmatic and beautiful material, as well as examples of creative wall coverings you may not have considered.
In this small bathroom, you notice the pattern rather than the sloped ceiling. This photo is a great example of how to turn an architectural defect into an elegant accent feature with wallpaper.
Wallpaper softens the corners and angles in this room, smoothing out the space for a gentler feel.
2. Enlarge a small room
Bathroom wallpaper can make the smallest rooms in our homes look great – and considerably more spacious. Here, the verticality of the wallpaper design helps make the ceiling look taller, visually increasing the room size and adding depth.
Bathroom wallpaper can make the smallest rooms in our homes look great – and considerably more spacious. Here, the verticality of the wallpaper design helps make the ceiling look taller, visually increasing the room size and adding depth.
Other patterns can widen the boundaries of the room. The horizontal stripes make this boy’s room look more spacious, especially because they are in light shades.
3. Hide a bumpy wall
Glass fibre wall covering is actually a textile made of glass fibre, with different textures and weaves. It is much stronger than typical wallpaper and can work quite well to disguise wall defects.
It comes unpainted but can generally be painted up to 10 times, meaning longevity and flexibility. Some versions can withstand the moisture of wet areas, such as a bathroom or kitchen backsplash, as long as they’re painted with suitable paint. In kitchens, it’s advised to use a hard backsplash behind the stove and the glass fibre wall covering next to it.
Wall covering: Novelio Wall coverings
Glass fibre wall covering is actually a textile made of glass fibre, with different textures and weaves. It is much stronger than typical wallpaper and can work quite well to disguise wall defects.
It comes unpainted but can generally be painted up to 10 times, meaning longevity and flexibility. Some versions can withstand the moisture of wet areas, such as a bathroom or kitchen backsplash, as long as they’re painted with suitable paint. In kitchens, it’s advised to use a hard backsplash behind the stove and the glass fibre wall covering next to it.
Wall covering: Novelio Wall coverings
4. Create a separate zone
Wallpaper is an easy way to visually separate a room into different functional areas. Here, it defines a small work zone in a bedroom.
Make your office bedroom combo work
Wallpaper is an easy way to visually separate a room into different functional areas. Here, it defines a small work zone in a bedroom.
Make your office bedroom combo work
5. Dress up an outdoor space
We often think of using wallpaper indoors, but it can also work in outdoor spaces. These days, more companies are coming up with techniques to create wall coverings that are resistant to rain, yellowing and smog. Consider using them on your porch or facade for a different look.
Wall covering: Wall & Decò
We often think of using wallpaper indoors, but it can also work in outdoor spaces. These days, more companies are coming up with techniques to create wall coverings that are resistant to rain, yellowing and smog. Consider using them on your porch or facade for a different look.
Wall covering: Wall & Decò
6. Add texture
These days, wallpaper comes in finishes that echo the texture of other materials, such as recycled wood, concrete, brick and stone. The benefit of using wallpaper instead of the true material is twofold. First, the cost can be lower, especially with imitation raw concrete. Second, these coverings avoid the hassle of using raw materials that can be messy.
These days, wallpaper comes in finishes that echo the texture of other materials, such as recycled wood, concrete, brick and stone. The benefit of using wallpaper instead of the true material is twofold. First, the cost can be lower, especially with imitation raw concrete. Second, these coverings avoid the hassle of using raw materials that can be messy.
For example, recycled wood must be checked and processed for moulds, insects and other possible contaminations. A simpler, clean solution can be using faux-wood wallpaper designs.
7. Increase the light
If your room is darker than you’d prefer, why not bring in a bit of twinkle light? Wall coverings like the one pictured incorporate LEDs (light-emitting diodes) into their texture, in different forms and patterns. This one, featuring Swarovski crystals as well, is not only a great accent piece, especially at night, but also a very good source of ambient lighting. It’s hung like a traditional wallpaper, with the added requirement of an electric outlet.
Lattice System Chandelier wall covering: Meystyle
If your room is darker than you’d prefer, why not bring in a bit of twinkle light? Wall coverings like the one pictured incorporate LEDs (light-emitting diodes) into their texture, in different forms and patterns. This one, featuring Swarovski crystals as well, is not only a great accent piece, especially at night, but also a very good source of ambient lighting. It’s hung like a traditional wallpaper, with the added requirement of an electric outlet.
Lattice System Chandelier wall covering: Meystyle
8. Go organic
In certain homes – particularly in cities or in apartments without much green space – textured grasscloth wall coverings can offer a natural, organic touch to an otherwise man-made environment. As a benefit, it’s usually considered an environmentally friendly choice because it is often made from natural, sustainable materials, such as sisal or bamboo.
In certain homes – particularly in cities or in apartments without much green space – textured grasscloth wall coverings can offer a natural, organic touch to an otherwise man-made environment. As a benefit, it’s usually considered an environmentally friendly choice because it is often made from natural, sustainable materials, such as sisal or bamboo.
Here, a bamboo wall covering defines the dining area in this open-plan living room, adding texture and cosiness.
Browse similar open-plan spaces
Browse similar open-plan spaces
9. Go dramatic
Mural wall coverings are a great option when you want the look of dramatic art, but you don’t necessarily have the budget to buy an original piece. Though they aren’t cheap, they generally are less costly than a high-end painting.
Wall covering: Inkiostro Bianco
Mural wall coverings are a great option when you want the look of dramatic art, but you don’t necessarily have the budget to buy an original piece. Though they aren’t cheap, they generally are less costly than a high-end painting.
Wall covering: Inkiostro Bianco
In this bedroom, a wallpaper mural steals the show and drives the colour palette.
10. Make a personal statement
Custom wallpaper printing is a great way to achieve a personalised look, and many companies offer temporary stick-on options. If you want to move your personalised wallpaper, you can just peel it off and stick it up somewhere else. You can try out different patterns for different rooms, or draw on your own designs.
Wall covering: Tempaper
Custom wallpaper printing is a great way to achieve a personalised look, and many companies offer temporary stick-on options. If you want to move your personalised wallpaper, you can just peel it off and stick it up somewhere else. You can try out different patterns for different rooms, or draw on your own designs.
Wall covering: Tempaper
Some companies even offer options that you can paint your own mural on, for an especially customised look.
Wall covering: Tempaper
Wall covering: Tempaper
Bonus tip: Look beyond the wall
While wall coverings can be used on walls to help disguise flaws and to accent elements you want to highlight, their powers can also be used off walls. Wallpaper can be a fun accent for a cabinet or a dresser. Go for something fun and daring that can create a striking feature.
Circus wall covering: Cole & Son
TELL US
What’s your favourite kind of wall covering? Have you used interesting wallpaper in your home? Upload photos in the Comments below.
MORE
See more surprising wall coverings
While wall coverings can be used on walls to help disguise flaws and to accent elements you want to highlight, their powers can also be used off walls. Wallpaper can be a fun accent for a cabinet or a dresser. Go for something fun and daring that can create a striking feature.
Circus wall covering: Cole & Son
TELL US
What’s your favourite kind of wall covering? Have you used interesting wallpaper in your home? Upload photos in the Comments below.
MORE
See more surprising wall coverings
You can use wallpaper to highlight a beautiful architectural feature or to make more of a design statement out of an ordinary, or even off-kilter, one. In this room, the wallpaper follows the angle of the sloped roofline, accenting the cosy attic feel of the bedroom while bringing in a cheery note of colour.
So you want to convert your attic?