Styling Your Room With Wallpaper
Wallpaper has long been known for its ability to transform a room. However, simply adding wallpaper might not create the makeover you’re dreaming of. The best transformations usually involve more than just wallpaper. When used as part of a complete redesign, wallpaper often sets the tone for the rest of the space. Think about how the wallpaper’s style and pattern complement the room’s features. Consider how its colours work with the trims, furniture, and other elements. Use the shades in the wallpaper to guide the overall look of the room. Let’s look at examples from interior designers and home décor enthusiasts who have used wallpaper as a key element in their room makeovers.
“…the entire room design is inspired by this Palm Springs wallpaper from Milton & King. Its a retro wallpaper without looking dated and the modern color palette makes such a statement in this little room.” – Rebecca Plumb
Rebecca took her inspiration from the colours in the Palm Springs design to select the shade for the wainscoting in her bathroom, mirroring the colours found in the hand-drawn trees and cacti on the wallpaper. The result was a wonderfully cohesive space. Instead of simply adding wallpaper to an already finished room, she allowed the design to influence her other choices. Notice how small accents, such as the incense holder, candle, and fresh flowers, also tie in with the coral shades in the wallpaper. Colour harmony is key when styling your room with wallpaper.
“Let’s start with the inspiration for the room. Can you guess it? Yep, it’s the beautiful Milton and King Cranes wallpaper. I immediately fell in love with the exotic Japanese inspired motif of the cranes – the bird of happiness and good fortune in Japanese culture.” – Veronica Solomon
Here, we see another designer using wallpaper as the starting point for her room décor. The wallpaper is not an afterthought; it’s the main inspiration. The black, white, and gold scheme sets the entire tone of this laundry room. Veronica incorporates gold with picture frames, door handles, and a unique golden snake-framed mirror. The black in the design ties in with the flooring pattern and marble countertops, while white is the base colour for all cabinetry, walls, and doors.
“After the wallpaper, I selected the bed. I had a tight height restriction- 50″ is the tallest I could go to fit under the slanted wall. I found this mint, velvet tufted queen bed on Overstock and I fell in love! It fits perfectly and the mint coordinates nicely with the wallpaper.” – Ashley Wilson
Ashley, a home décor enthusiast, used the Birds of Paradise design for a master bedroom makeover. As she explains above, she selected the bed frame and headboard in a coordinating mint green, matching the wallpaper’s colours. The pink florals in the design beautifully complement the pink throw pillows, while the golden foliage ties in with the lamp and bedside table accents. In this case, the wallpaper wasn’t the starting point, but it played a major role in creating a unified look.
“The wallpaper is a whimsical departure for me, but I still found myself drawn to it. This paper is called ‘ Woodland Birds‘ by Milton & King, and it really adds a ton of personality to the space!” – Ursula Carmona
In this example, wallpaper is used to bring life to an otherwise plain room. The space was largely white with some gold accents, making it ideal for almost any wallpaper with similar tones. The Woodland Birds design not only complements the gold details but helps them stand out. There’s no clash – just a design Ursula loved that suited the space perfectly.
“One of the biggest ways I plan to incorporate color is to use the Kitty Mccall Hockney wallpaper by Milton and King on the ceiling! I’m so excited to try this out!” – Stephanie Watkins
In Stephanie’s basement makeover, you won’t find a defined colour palette – that’s the point. Vibrant and lively was the goal. She chose a wallpaper that would bring together the multi-coloured rug and the colourful items on the shelves, achieving a lively and cohesive space.
“I fell in love with this Milton & King Fantails Wallpaper and that really got the ball rolling. I got the goosebumps when I saw this pattern in this color way and used it as the jumping off point for the whole bedroom.” – Rachel Moriarty
Rachel, an interior designer, wanted a bold feature wall with a dramatic ceiling colour in her bedroom. Instead of selecting other elements first, she chose a striking wallpaper and based the rest of the room’s design on its colour and pattern. Notice how even the wall art and bed frame work with shades of purple and maroon. Although the room is filled with bold patterns and colours, a cohesive theme of drama ties everything together.
The Takeaway
Wallpaper is undoubtedly transformative. If your room is already well-coordinated, wallpaper can be the perfect finishing touch. But for the best outcome, consider every aspect – flooring, furniture, accents, and patterns all impact the wallpaper’s effect. To avoid disappointment, plan carefully. Coordinate your colours and visualise your desired look. You can tackle it on your own, but an interior designer’s expertise may help you reach your goals. After all, this is the space you’ll be living in, so make it worthwhile.
