Wallpaper has been making a comeback in the past few years. But don’t worry, it’s not the wallpaper we all remember from the 70’s and 80’s! Now, instead of cutesy borders, people are using murals and abstract patterns in their homes. Here’s everything you need to know about how to use wallpaper in your home. Plus, I’ve got a few tips for installing wallpaper in your home!
How to Use Wallpaper in Your Home
There are a lot of rooms and areas in your home that you can use wallpaper in. The most common room for wallpaper is the bedroom. When you add wallpaper to a bedroom it instantly changes the mood of the room. I love using wallpaper in bedrooms because of this!
Ocean Wallpapered Modern Boy’s Bedroom
While I love to paint and create visual interest with painted accent walls, using wallpaper allows me to do so much more to change the mood and overall feel of a room! For instance, I have been working on my son’s bedroom recently and I found this amazing wallpaper that feels like an ocean. (Check it out here.)
Once I started putting the wallpaper up, the feeling in the room immediately shifted. It was instantly more calm and relaxing! I’ve mentioned before that my boys are on the Autism spectrum so any time I can create an area that helps them to feel calm and safe, I’m all over that.
Floral Girl’s Room Makeover with Wallpaper
In my niece’s bedroom, I went a different direction with my wallpaper choice. For her room, I partnered with a few friends to create a fun and happy space that matched her personality. Isn’t it so cute? I love how the bright flowers run around the room and help you to feel like you’re in the middle of a garden.
You can see how wallpaper doesn’t have to be an all-over pattern from the ceiling to the floor. This wallpaper only has flowers along the lower half of the panel. The ocean-y wallpaper I used in my son’s room is more of an all-over pattern. Both types of wallpaper are beautiful, but they definitely create different feelings in the rooms!
Hogwarts-Inspired Great Hall Dining Room
The dining room is another room in your house that is perfect for wallpaper. Did you know that you can get removable wallpaper? In my dining room, I wanted to create a Great Hall inspired by Harry Potter for Thanksgiving. My boys LOVE Harry Potter!
To create the feeling of Hogwarts in my modern home, I needed to add some ‘brick’ to my walls. Since this was a temporary change to my dining room, I didn’t want to install brick tiles (like I used here). Instead, I turned to peel and stick wallpaper! This allowed me to have the look and feel of old stone walls without the commitment. It made a big difference in the overall look of the room! This is also a great option for anyone who is renting. Because this kind of wallpaper is essentially a big sticker for your walls, it is easy to peel off without damaging the walls underneath.
My Top Tips for How to Use Wallpaper In Your Home
When you’re just starting out with wallpaper, it can seem overwhelming. There are a lot of things to think about! My first step whenever I’m learning how to do a new DIY skill is to do a little research. I check out YouTube tutorials, ask my Dad and my Instagram DIY friends for their advice, and then I dive in. So much of what I know how to do is from just trying things!
That being said, here are a few tips for anyone that wants to learn how to use wallpaper in your home. First, do your research and take it slow. You may think you are measuring too much, but if your wallpaper pattern repeats a lot from panel to panel, you want to make sure you won’t end up with a weird spot that doesn’t match up correctly. Your eye will immediately go there instead of to the rest of the room that looks gorgeous. So measure once, twice, even three times!
Next, you need to have the right tools for wallpapering. If you are doing peel and stick wallpaper, you’ll need fewer tools than if you are doing traditional paste wallpaper. In general, plan on needing a smoothing tool, a sharp blade for cutting, a level/ruler (to help you keep the panels lined up correctly), and a lot of patience!
Finally, enlist some help! Trust me when I say that hanging wallpaper (even the removable kind) is trickier by yourself. So call a friend, your spouse, or even a professional to help you hang your wallpaper. This is especially important if you are new to hanging wallpaper or if your pattern is extra tricky to match up between panels.
How to Use Wallpaper in your Home
Now that you’ve seen how I’ve used wallpaper in my home, are you ready to try it out? If you aren’t quite ready to make a permanent change to your walls, try one of the many peel-and-stick wallpaper options that are out there. There are so many fun patterns to choose from. My favorite brands that I’ve used are Anewall and Loomwell. And I can’t wait to try Spoonflower on a future project!
Remember, my motto is to stop pinning and start doing! DIY is all about having fun and making your home your own. That’s part of why I love it so much. For more on my newest projects, be sure to follow me on Instagram @angelarosehome. I share what I’m working on in real-time on that account!
