Wallpaper is back (did it ever leave?) and it may be one of the most underrated ways to give a tired space a refresh. The fact is, it can do things paint can’t do. And with a seemingly infinite array of patterns and colors, it’s a great strategic tool for bringing balance and scale to an awkward or oddly-shaped room. We asked Arlington-based interior designer Nicole Lanteri to show us how it’s done. She offers these tips:
1. Offset neutral tones with a bold accent wall.
Can’t quite create the feeling you want with just paint? Try using wallpaper on one wall. Here, the clients wanted to bring light and warmth further into this Arlington bedroom. A whole wall of tomato-red paint would have felt too heavy and weighted that side of the room, but this dynamic print offered just the right touch of levity. We needed a larger pattern, though. A smaller one would have been too busy (and dizzying to wake up to), whereas this pattern repeat has enough presence to feel invigorating but not jarring. The red/orange hue instantly warms up the space and brings the sun in.