10 Creative Ways to Use Wallpaper

Thinking Anew

Drop any preconceived notions. There are numerous designs available, both classic and new. You are sure to find a style that appeals to you and meshes with your interiors.

Playing with Patterns

Don't be afraid to incorporate additional patterns into wallpapered rooms. Upholstery and window treatments are fair game, but be judicious -- you don't want the room to hit pattern overload.

Easy Aging

Wallpaper can help establish a feeling of age and history in a new house. Classic patterns are especially effective.

Fix the Flaws

It's often appropriate to cover walls and ceilings in a single print. If a room has architectural challenges, wallpaper's unifying properties can erase the weird angles.

Bring in Texture

Textured papers lend a layered look to walls and an overall perception of depth to rooms.

Plan It Out

Paintings and prints hung on wallpaper can add visual energy and create new planes of interest. Just be sure to plan your groupings carefully -- "oops" holes in paper can be difficult to conceal.

Just A Bit

If your room needs a little boost, consider framing panels or hanging wallpaper in bookshelves. This way you can minimize the commitment but still bring in color and pattern.

Busy Body

Patterned wallpaper tends to be busy. To make the most of its impact, use it in low-traffic rooms such as entries, powder rooms, and dining rooms.

Do Your Homework

There is an art to hanging wallpaper. If you plan to install it yourself, do a little homework and get the process down in advance. There is nothing worse than mismatched panels or puckered paper.

Unexpected Style

Think outside the box. Everyone expects to see striped paper placed vertically, for example. Consider hanging it horizontally instead.