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.
2. Make a large, open space feel cozier with texture.
Everyone loves openness and light, but they can be too much—particularly in a room that’s supposed to feel cozy. This spacious master bedroom has an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, but it was almost too large and too bright to sleep in. Not exactly calm and restful. We used a textured grass cloth wallpaper in a blue that leans navy, with just the lightest touch of a silver thread running through the paper. The texture gives movement to the room without being overwhelming, and the shimmering color is serene. By papering all three of the interior walls, we made a room that was too large (with odd angles to boot) feel intimate and more squared off, while still light and airy.
3. Create a whole new look without structural changes.
Don’t have the energy or budget to move walls, rip out a staircase or replace the flooring? Select a wallpaper that picks up on those existing elements and suddenly they’ll look cool again. In this Arlington town home, we left the white square floor tiles intact and looked for a bold, black-and-white wallpaper to complement them. The repetition, shapes and color of the graphic wall pattern work with the scale and color of the existing tile, door and wood banister—features the client wasn’t ready to change.
4. Boldly experiment in a small, low-risk area.
We gave this little powder room a face lift with a fun Art Deco wallpaper that just makes you smile and feel alive. It’s on the main floor of the client’s house and is used by friends and guests during parties, so why not? In a powder room, you can go dark and dramatic or neutral and soft. There are no rules and no choice is wrong! Just have fun!
5. Make utilitarian spaces more than utilitarian.
Playful patterns aren’t just for nurseries or kids’ rooms. The right wall covering can make a functional area like a home office, laundry room, or – in this case – a front entry hall feel brighter and more welcoming. The key is to look for a pattern with a light background to keep the atmosphere feeling bright and energizing. Here, we started with an Otomi print on the walls, then added a functional bench and personalized the wall with framed art that pops.
6. Give that small, choppy space a new perspective.
A smaller space can really benefit from the effects of wallpaper if the scale of the pattern is just right. Take this long, narrow living room in a one-bedroom condo. The bold design of the wall pattern attracts the eye and makes the whole space feel wider and taller. A misconception is that wallpaper will make rooms feel smaller, when in fact, it can do the opposite — create an expansive and layered feeling without taking away any precious square footage.
Nicole Lanteri is the principal of Nicole Lanteri Design in Arlington.Â