Wallpaper - how to choose the right style for you
For anyone who knows us here in the Studio, you’ll know how much we love the transformational power of wallpaper! It can immediately bring a focal point to a room, create a tangible emotional response (we’re aiming for good!), while bringing a fabulous dose of style. It can in one glance, direct the entire design of the space.
With the endless options available, it can be overwhelming trying to make the right choice – large scale or small scale, textured or not textured, warm colour or cool colour, bold pattern or subtle pattern... Here we look at a few key considerations to assist with the decision making process.
The first step is to review the space it will be going into and, if there is already a prevailing style,this will help direct your decision. The architecture and detailing of the space will also lend itself to a certain style – for example in a modern, pared back apartment, something simple and textured would work well as opposed to a ditsy traditional floral motif.
The size of the space will also help you with scale. A large room can be transformed by a beautiful mural style wallpaper or a large scale botanical print, while a small scale or detailed print can create great impact (and be a fantastic conversation starter) in a sweet powder room. If you do choose a small scale print for a large space, just remember that it can give a busier over-all look if it’s detailed, or it may provide more of a soft background if the colours and details aren’t too bold.
Consider also if you are planning just one wall, where the wallpaper will be the feature, such as a bedhead wall or if the entire room will be completed, in which case you don’t want to over-power the space (unless you are a total maximalist and therefore should go for it!). Some people find too much colour and pattern overwhelming, so if you fall into this camp and are planning to wallpaper the entire room, look at something soft and subtle or even something with a texture rather than a pattern, like a grasscloth.
This brings us to the substrate of the wallpaper. High traffic areas and spaces that may get a splash of water (laundry, powder rooms etc) would suit a vinyl or something that is wipeable. Low traffic spaces could take a non woven, such as dining rooms, bedrooms and walk in robes. Then natural fibres such as grasscloth, bamboo or sisal which can not be wiped clean and are also vulnerable to moisture in the air, make them not ideal for humid locations. Good to note, there are now many alternatives to grasscloth that still look and feel natural, but are vinyl and much more durable.
When it comes to pattern and colour, I say let your heart decide. We find clients are immediately drawn to a certain style once we begin showing them some options. So do your research, begin browsing and you’ll find yourself drawn to certain colours, patterns and subject matter. We highly recommend requesting some samples so that you can view them in your proposed space before making your final decision. When it comes to installing, well personally, we love our wallpaper installer as he is a master of perfection! But with many peel and stick options now available, even renters can enjoy the transformational power of wallpaper.