It can add texture, color, pattern or a painterly scene — even more so than paint, wallpaper can change the entire look of a room. But given the cost and the need for professional installation (a must), wallpaper can seem like a risky commitment. If you’ve been wanting to add wallpaper to your space but keep shying away, these 10 tips should help ease some of the fear factor. Armed with good information, you can find the right wallpaper for you.
1. Clip lots of images. If you haven’t done so already, begin collecting images of rooms with wallpaper you love.
2. Go with your most often preferred natural style. Whether your look leans traditional or modern, there really is a wallpaper to suit your taste — so there’s no need to force yourself into a choice that doesn’t feel totally you.
3. Know where your comfort level is on the bold-to-subtle scale. No matter the style you gravitate toward, you probably also have a preference for bold or subtle patterns.
4. Get a sample and live with it. Even more important than sampling paint, which doesn’t require as much of a financial commitment, getting a wallpaper sample is a must. Tape it to the wall in the room where you want to hang it, and live with it for a while.
5. Know your goal. What are you hoping wallpaper will do for your space? Add depth, add texture and warmth, add shine, soften sharp architectural edges? And beyond these things, ask yourself how you want the wallpaper you choose to make you feel.
6. Explore all of your wall covering options. From materials beyond paper, like grass cloth, sisal, cork and Japanese silk, to textured papers that mimic marble, wood and stone, the options in wall coverings today go far beyond traditional prints.
7. Consider the view from other rooms. Especially when you’re doing just one accent wall, choosing the right wall to cover is essential. Take a step back and peek into your room from the next space over.
8. Choose the right space to avoid pattern fatigue. Rooms where you spend the least amount of time are your safest bets — think hallways, stairs and powder rooms.
9. Get professional advice. Contact a professional wallpaper hanger before placing an order for wallpaper, and ask the pro to help you figure out how much to buy.
10. Get more samples before committing. Most wallpaper is nonrefundable. And if you decide not to go with the wallpaper, you can always frame the sample to create your own unique wall art!
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