How to Choose the Perfect Wallpaper
Match the wallpaper to the decorating style of the room.
First, you have to decide which decorating style you want for your room. If it’s a traditional style room, try stripes or an elegant floral pattern wallpaper. For a more modern look, go for a bold geometric pattern with metallic accents.
Choose a pattern that compliments the size of your space.
Patterns affect the size and shape of the room. Vertically lined patterns can make your room appear taller because it causes the eye to move upward, perfect for a small space, like a bathroom. Horizontal patterns can create an intimate and cozy environment, great for a reading room or nursery. If you have imperfections on the walls, textured wallpaper can help hide them. The patterns on textured wallpaper will blend with your popcorn or orange peel walls.
Depending on how many walls you want to cover, will also determine which design of wallpaper will look best in the space.
If you cover all four walls, a simple and large-scale design will give the room an updated and contemporary look. If you want to cover only one wall, a mural wallpaper or a brighter, more intricate pattern wallpaper can enhance the design of the space. For example, in a home office, putting wallpaper on the wall behind the desk and chair will give your office a modern and sophisticated design.
Measure your space to determine how much wallpaper to purchase.
If you are covering the entire room, measure all walls and multiply the width by the height of each wall in feet. Then, add all measurements to get the total square footage. Don’t forget to subtract windows and doors. Always order one roll extra than what you need, incase of any mishaps!
Non-woven versus woven wallpaper.
Non-woven wallpaper is backed with paper and easily strippable which is a great option to have when you don’t want anything permanent on your walls. It’s also a fairly easy application, first you apply the paste directly onto the wall with a roller, and then you hang the wallpaper dry.
Woven wallpaper is backed with fabric and is recommended for high traffic areas because it’s more resistant to grease and moisture, and it can be wiped down with a damp cloth. Depending on the brand, there are two ways to apply woven wallpaper, the “paste-the-wall” or the “paste-the-paper’ method. The latter is harder to apply on your own, so it’s best to have a couple of friends help out or hire a professional.
