There was once a time when wallpapered walls were considered vintage, dated… and perhaps even outdated. However, this choice of wall covering is making a big comeback, and has become an increasingly popular pick for home owners across the globe thanks to its versatility of style.

With that said, if you are new to the wonderful world of wallpaper, you might be wondering exactly how to manoeuvre your way through the endless ranges on offer to make the best possible picks. Naturally, we at Canaima Design are here to help you out, so read on to discover how to choose, match and apply the perfect wallpaper for your home.

Matching the Ambience of Your Room

The first, and possibly the most important tip that we have when it comes to choosing a wallpaper is to match the paper to the style of the room you want to decorate. Here are a few examples:

• If the room is traditional, consider stripes, intricate damask patterns, or simply plain block colors, which work well alongside classic furniture and décor

• If the room is contemporary or modern, opt for bold geometric prints, or even wallpaper with high gloss or metallic finishes. Large, confident floral patterns also make an impactful statement

• If the room is boho or romantic, choose delicate floral and damask prints in muted, neutral or pastel shades

• And if the room is more casual in style, try a stucco or beadboard faux finish for the most impact. Combining beadboard wallpaper with flowing, organic-looking floral prints makes for a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere in any room.

Placement, Layout, and Statement Walls

The next step to consider is how you will be using the wallpaper in your room of choice. Not all styles work in the same way, so you (or your design professional!) will need to put some thought into placement and layout. Some popular options include:

• Covering all four walls. A simple plain or horizontally striped design across all of your walls will provide a look that is fresh, neat and contemporary, while not overwhelming the rest of your décor

• Choosing a feature wall. Many home-owners choose a single wall, like the wall behind a bed or a sofa, to cover in a bold or dramatic wallpaper to highlight a certain area of a room. If you opt for this approach, take it to a new level with a glossy, mica, or metallic finish.

• Make the ceiling your feature wall. You can easily add interest to your ceiling by adding a unique textured wallpaper to the mix. Alternatively, you could also paint it in an appealing metallic shade for a Victorian-style tin roof appeal.

Demystifying Different Wallpaper Types

Next, you will need to pay some attention to what type of backing your wallpaper has. Wallpapers with non-woven backings (also known as ‘paste-the-wall’ papers) are fully strippable when you decide you need a change, and the backings on these do not expand when wet, either. As this paper does not need to soak before application, pastes can be applied directly to the wall itself, which significantly shortens decorating time when compared to traditional woven-backing papers.

It’s also a good idea to consider the texture of the wallpaper you are looking to add to your home. Textured patterns can provide an interesting look and feel to a space, and tend to create a more casual ambience, while flat wallpapers typically look more stylish and refined. If you have any imperfections on your wall you want to hide, textured options are the way to go, and some textured wallpapers are even paintable if you are keen on a monochromatic room. Flat wallpapers, on the other hand, are capable of supporting embellishments like mica, metallic or gloss effects – and if you have wall imperfections but prefer the flat look, you can always use a wall liner as a base layer to smooth things out.

Take Advantage of Our Expertise

As with all interior design projects, there is a lot more to bear in mind when choosing a new wallpaper. You need to measure all the walls accurately for their total square footage, deduct space taken up by windows, doors and entrances, check the roll label for its square footage coverage… or you could leave it all up to your trusted design professionals.

Our team here at Canaima Design is highly experienced in selecting and applying a wide variety of wallpapers and finishes, leaving you with none of the stress and a beautiful final result. Contact us whenever you feel like a change and we will gladly help you pick the perfect wallpaper for your living space!