Wallpaper is back! Not that it ever really left…Wallpaper has long been a way to get great graphic impact and pattern in a room. But even if you’ve sworn off wallpaper, here are some reasons to reconsider…

This fun contemporary botanical from Schumacher enlivens a hallway. It reminds me of the pages in those coloring books for grown-ups…Hmmm now there’s an idea for a project…coloring the hallway, fun for the whole family…

Schumacher black and white botanical wallpaper

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Wallpaper fell out of favor for a while because too many of us (including me) have been subjected to the VERY painful process of removing ugly, outdated wallpaper with a lot of hard labor involving steaming and scraping and possibly profanity. But the current wallpapers, if applied properly, to walls that are prepped correctly, will be much easier to remove should the need arise.

There are even temporary papers that are MEANT to be easily removable - these are perfect for restless home decorators that like to change things up frequently…or for renters! (click on images below for links to some temporary papers)

Even at the very expensive end of the wallpaper spectrum, if installed over muslin, wallpaper can be stripped intact for reuse - this Gracie Studios IG post shows it in progress!

I think a resurgence of classic decor and a desire for gracious and comfortable homes has reignited the popularity of wallpaper (the Grandmillennial style trend is one such example). But wallpaper is available in such a variety of patterns and textures from English classic chinoiserie toiles and florals to bold modern graphics and even retro flocked deco designs, there is something to work with ANY decor style!

geometric | green floral & bird | blue chinoiserie | flocked deco

Where to Use Wallpaper

Wallpaper is a great way to add texture and/or pattern to an accent wall, ceiling, or a whole room.

I love to use metallic wallpapers on ceilings to add elegance and reflect soft light from a chandelier, or patterned wallpaper to add texture and warmth.

Wallpaper is a great solution for a dining room where the options for pattern and texture are fairly limited since most of the furnishings are not upholstery pieces.

This bedroom below is wrapped in subtle texture and organic pattern with a favorite Schumacher printed sisal wallcovering

My favorite place to use wallpaper, though, is in a half bath! In a small space where most people are spending a limited amount of time (hopefully?!), the dramatic impact of a bold powder room wallpaper can help create a WOW statement. Or a PLAYFUL statement. Or just lend a subtle elegance.

How Much Wallpaper to Buy

Half baths are generally small so don’t require a lot of paper, even less if you add a chair rail with painted wainscoting paneling below. How much wallpaper do you need for a powder room (or any room)? This is where that high school geometry has some use after all!

To find the area of the wall space, add together the width of each wall and multiply by the height of the wall to be papered. So a typical powder room that is around 5’ x 5’ or 3’ x 7’ with 8’ ceilings (and no wainscoting) would need around 160 square feet of wallpaper (5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 20; 20 x 8 = 160).

Once you know the area of the walls, you need to know how much wallpaper is in the roll - some rolls are different sizes and many are PRICED as single rolls and SOLD as double rolls (which is all on one roll, just double the length). Don’t shoot the messenger, I don’t know who invented this ridiculous system.

All that to say, be sure to check the square footage the particular wallpaper you have selected has and how it is packaged to make sure you have enough. Order extra for matching large patterns.

printed sisal wallpaper | chinoiserie mirror | black vanity | brass faucet

Always order more than enough! While you can usually return unopened rolls, you cannot guarantee any additional rolls will match the dye lot if you run out and need to order more!

If you are hiring someone to put up the paper, have them tell you the amount to order. They will need to know what the wallpaper is, the roll size, what the pattern repeat is, and whether it is a straight match or drop match - those last two allows them to figure out how much extra they will need for matching at seams.

colorful wallpaper | green mirror | leaf sconce

Wallpaper is a great way to transform a room. Add warmth, interest, elegance or drama with your wallpaper choices. Whatever you choose, wallpaper will add personality to any space!

Happy Decorating!