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What to Do (and Not Do) with Wallpaper from our Director of Design

April 4, 2019

Wallpaper – it’s not stuck in 1973.

Are you ready to add a jolt of color and pattern to your dream home? Consider adding wallpaper to mix in new design elements and style. Wallpaper is back big time! The popularity of texture and patterned wall coverings has exploded and doesn’t look like the trend is slowing anytime soon. Wallpaper companies have made their product easy to install (and remove!) with “paste the wall” technology and removable peel and stick papers. It doesn’t take a lot of work and you don’t have to worry about long term commitments. 

Don’t Worry About the Commitment 

One of the arguments against putting up wallpaper is that it can’t easily be replaced if you get sick of a pattern or get new furniture that clashes. For people afraid of commitment (no shame in that), there’s a perfect solution. You can buy removable wallpaper in a variety of colors and patterns. If you ever get sick of a pattern or want to try switching things up each season, this works great. Removable wallpaper is a great way to add a temporary pop of color or style to any room. 


Bold Patterns are on trend

Pinterest has listed Bold Wallpaper pattern as a top trend for 2019 and search analytics report that “bold print wallpaper” is searched 400% more than in past years. We are seeing bold metallic birch trees, over-sized geometric and trellis patterns, modern twists on floral and tropical patterns, as well as some pretty cool fruit designs. When choosing the perfect pattern also think about where you will be installing the paper – the “every wall and ceiling too” style from the 70s does not work with today’s aesthetic. Choose your placement where you need a punch of design.

  • The bed wall of your master bedroom
  • Powder bathroom
  • Accent wall in the dining room
  • Transitional spaces like a hallway or an entry wall


Textured Wall Coverings add dimension

Wallpaper can transform a room in ways that flat paint just can’t. Wallpaper adds a very different dimension and there are many options to choose from today — including grasscloth, cork, metallics, shimmery glitter and flocked— the effects that can be achieved are limitless. Don’t be intimidated – you can easily add a textured wallpaper anywhere.

Mural Wallpaper – bold and easier to find these days

Remember the late 80’s – early 90’s trend of painting a mural on your wall or a faux finish? Now large scale mural type wallpaper is available and OMG there are some really amazing things to see! Just do a Google search of “large scale floral wallpaper mural” and you can see my favorite Dutch Tulip on dark background – it is fabulous! We have installed some great murals in some of our model home kid’s rooms. Dinosaurs, Maps, Graffiti – a great way to theme a room.


Should you hire a Professional

Sure, you can hang wallpaper yourself and the peel and stick aren’t too hard to install (even I have installed it and I am NOT a DIY guy). But we usually advise against it - there are so many ways the project can go wrong (mismatched patterns, seam separation, etc.), you could end up wasting time and paper and not saving much money. 

When you are ready to jump into this trend here are some helpful ideas.

  • Search for your perfect wallpaper. Paint stores and some big box home stores have good selections, but websites like Wallpaper Direct have great patterns at affordable prices and some National furniture chains have added designer papers. You can hire an Interior Designer – they have access to designer brands.
  • Bring samples home, or if you are searching the web – order memo swatches. Make sure you love the colors and that it works with the other patterns and colors in your room.
  • Make your decision and take note of the repeat of the pattern, the pattern match notes, and roll dimensions. You can use online wallpaper calculators to determine how many rolls you need or have your installer figure the amount. They will have a more accurate idea of how many cut lengths will be needed. Rolls typically come in a double roll, but pricing is quoted by the single roll.
  • The biggest DO of adding wallpaper to a room is not to be overwhelmed. Like picking out furniture or choosing which artwork to hang where wallpaper is an exciting way to make a space reflect your style. It’s a great way to add color or texture to a room, and your options there are endless.

If you're interested in trying wallpaper in you new Summit home, please call or text 816-326-2909 for more information on our homes for sale and available communities. 

New home prices, included features and available locations are subject to change without notice. Stated dimensions and square footage are approximate. Artist renderings are not guaranteed to be drawn to scale.

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