The Magic of Wallpaper

"Wallpaper is OUT!”  

Cut to me rolling my eyes.  This is one of those all-encompassing phrases I hear occasionally from those not “in the know” that makes me crazy. Wallpaper is not out of style. It has never been out. It will never be out. 

Granted,  certain designs of wallpaper are most definitely out of style!  The first thought that comes to my mind is the orange and avocado green gigantic flowers printed on a foil background that was in the '70s-era kitchen of my apartment when I was attending UGA!  Even then, before my education in design was complete,  I knew THAT wallpaper was definitely OUT!

Wallpaper was created by artists for the middle class society in the middle ages.  The elite from that era used expensive tapestries on their walls to add color and insulation and design to their castle walls. However, only the very rich could afford tapestries,  so the less-well-off members of the middle class turned to wallpaper to brighten up their rooms.

One of the earliest remaining wallpaper remnants dates back to 1515! So, as you can see, wallpaper has a rich and long history.

There are very few design elements that can create dramatic impact as quickly and completely as wallpaper. While paint can make an enormous difference in a room, it lacks the pattern and visual depth of wallpaper.

When considering wall finishes such as wallpaper or paint,  one must consider “visual weight” in a room. For example, in a master bathroom there are many elements that have visual weight: tile, tub, sinks, countertops, cabinets, shower glass, plumbing fixtures, light fixtures. All of those items are three-dimensional and fill up the space. 

Tile on the walls around the shower, surrounding the tub, and on the floor add such a large degree of texture to the room, that the walls can easily look bland and chalky if the right finish isn’t selected for them.  If you choose a rich paint color, that can work, but in my opinion, nothing tops wallpaper in a room with a lot of existing visual weight. 

Large or small, the space can expand or contract with the richness and depth of wallpaper. Professionally done faux finish is also a beautiful choice, but we’ll discuss that in a follow-up article.

All you have to do is search the Internet for “photos of rooms with wallpaper before and after” to see an amazing array of horrible and wonderful wallpaper choices!  The gorgeous ones will convince you that wallpaper can be the perfect solution to creating a beautiful room. 

If you are considering wallpaper, you might not know where to start. If you step into the design room at , the most complete selection of fine wallpapers in our area, you will see a large wall of shelves with hundreds of books.

Don't despair! Staff Designer Jocelyn Paxson can point you in the right direction of what you’re looking for and get you started on a few books where you will see page after page of beautiful works of art, and photos of rooms with those papers gracing the walls. 

I promise you, you will be inspired. 

You may also check out the books and take them home to look at them in your own space. Don’t forget to hold the books at a 90-degree angle from the floor, so that you are looking at the wallpaper on the plane it will actually be installed on.  Otherwise the light won’t hit it properly and you’ll not get an accurate view of its colors, textures and sheen. 

And don’t forget,  it’s possible to order a wallpaper sample that is yours to keep.  You can tack it to the wall and live with it for a few days before you decide. This is an excellent tool for aiding in your final selection.

Speaking of installation, unless you have previous experience in that acquired skill, you will want to hire a .  Hanging wallpaper is a fine science and definitely NOT for the novice. 

If all this selecting and scheduling sounds overwhelming to you, hire your favorite designer to make the job so much easier.

A trained, educated, and experienced designer will get a vision for your room at first glance, know exactly which wallpaper books to select to narrow down some choices, will bring the books to your home and help you finalize the decision,  measure, order, coordinate installation, deliver the goods, and supervise the installer. After installation,  your designer can assist you in accessorizing your newly beautiful space.

Just taking the time to enjoy looking a photographs of wallpapered rooms will give you a whole new outlook on the potential of your own space. It’s actually fun to use your imagination and visualization skills. Give it a try!