9 Rooms That Will Inspire You to Use Wallpaper in Your Home

These stylish interiors from The Finer Things prove that wallpaper gives any space a fresh update.

By Christiane Lemieux

Photo: Courtesy of Bunny Williams

Through the decades, powder rooms have served as the ideal spot for big prints, allowing homeowners to explore their bolder side without overpowering a space.

Photo: Copyright by Tim Street-Porter/Otto

Interior designer Lynne Scalo transformed the small reading nook of a historical Ridgefield, Connecticut, home with statement wallpaper and feminine finishings—a tufted sofa and low-hanging chandelier. With the somewhat wild pattern framed by formal crown moldings and baseboards, the overall mood skews to the glamorous side of traditional.

Interior design by Lynne Scalo

Photo: Copyright by Eric Piasecki/OTTO

There are no hard-and-fast rules when selecting wallpaper. Case in point: most designers would recommend avoiding small prints in living rooms. But here, a tight chain-link pattern only accentuates the defined lines and modern furniture arrangement.

Interior design by Richard Mishaan

Photo: Eric Piasecki/OTTO

Blue-and-white rooms tend to skew to the traditional; however, this bright den (designed by Gideon Mendelson) manages to flip those expectations on their head with a thorny floral print that tosses off any connotations of convention.

Interior design by Gideon Mendelson

Photo: Copyright by Tim Street-Porter/OTTO

When considering whether to hire a wallpapering professional or attempt the job yourself, take into account the size and complexity of the print. Something like this grass cloth by Phillip Jeffries would be a simple enough first project for the enthusiastic novice.

Interior design by Martyn Lawrence Bullard

Photo: Courtesy of Bunny Williams

Designer Bunny Williams uses bold stripes to accentuate the curving hallway of a Connecticut estate.

Photo: Copyright by Lisa Romerein/OTTO

Designer Benjami Dhong uses a paper that combines subtle texture with a faded print to create dimension behind a simple, elegant vignette.

Interior design by Benjamin Dhong

Photo: Copyright by Benjamin Benschneider/OTTO

One of the most revolutionary inventions in wallpaper manufacturing is the somewhat recent creation of temporary wallpaper. These birch tree silhouettes are printed on peel-and-stick fabric that adheres directly to the wall, no paste required, and pulls off just as easily.

Photo: Copyright by Eric Piasecki/OTTO

Similar to temporary wallpaper, wall decals are another short-term wallpaper substitution. The silhouettes stick to the wall while allowing the designer freedom to play around with placement.

Interior design by Thom Filicia

Excerpted from The Finer Things: Timeless Furniture, Textiles, and Details by Christiane Lemieux. Copyright © 2016 by Christiane Lemieux. Reprinted by permission of Clarkson Potter, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC.

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Published 02/07/2016