Debunking Common Wallpaper Myths: 9 Compelling Reasons to Give it a Try in Your Home's Interior

I have a very distinct memory of our family's move to Geneva, NY in 1979: scraping 5 layers of olive green and orange flowered wallpaper off the walls for WEEKS in almost every room. It was a family project (very 70's I know), and not exactly what a kindergartener was excited about doing for hours. So until very recently, this was what the world wallpaper conjured up in my mind-long hours of sweaty, dusty work. How about you? Does wallpaper bring up any memories? Anything equally grueling? Or perhaps something more positive like a vision of a beloved relative's kitchen?

No matter what your emotional association with wallpaper in the past, today I'm going to share some info that will surprise and delight even the biggest wallpaper skeptics (my former self included)...guaranteed!

1. Wallpaper is Far from Outdated

As opposed to wallpaper of days past, where it basically was used all over an entire house, today wallpaper is typically used as an accent. There are so many patterns, colors, and textures to be found now, as opposed to the limited selection there was decades ago, that you are bound to find something that you love. And a modern application as a feature wall is tasteful and totally on-trend.

2. Wallpaper is Not the Commitment it Used to Be

Wallpaper is now one of my go-to design choices to use in projects to create unique spaces, but if I face resistance from clients it's usually because they still think of it as a huge labor and installment issue. As an accent, however, the investment level and labor commitment decreases significantly. Purchasing and installation are affordable and manageable.

3. Wallpaper is Not Gender Specific

There was a time when wallpaper was labeled "feminine" and typically used in spaces like powder and dressing rooms. Thankfully those days are long gone! I don't much like labels myself, and think that any color or pattern can be used by anyone, and thankfully the selections available nowadays span the entire gamut from floral to woodsy to geometric. There's something for everyone and every taste!

4. Wallpaper is Not Always Busy

For those clients who are still a bit nervous about putting a big, bold print on the wall, wallpaper manufacturers also offer beautiful solid options that can add texture and color to a room without a wild pattern. There are also equally attractive patterns that are smaller in scale and more subdued, which debunk another popular myth-that patterns accents will make a room feel cluttered. Not true!

5. Wallpaper is No Longer Limiting

When wallpaper is used as an accent, another benefit is that you don't have to use only one through the entire house-or even the same room. You can get creative and mix patterns, textures and colors. How about changing the installation direction for a new perspective on a print? These choices add depth and designer quality to your home.

6. Wallpaper can push the boundaries

Speaking of a new perspective, wallpaper also isn't just for your four walls. It can be used as the back panel for built-in bookshelves, it can line wardrobes, or my personal favorite-put it on the ceiling! I've been dying to do this in a project and am just waiting for the right client to come along...

7. Wallpaper is a Perfect Backdrop for Artwork

*Kitchen by New England Design Works Showroom*

Wallpaper can stand alone as a feature, but it can also be used as it was originally intended-as a backdrop. Depending on which style you choose, it can complement (rather than compete with) a curated art collection or another type of personal collection on display.

8. Wallpaper is Not as Labor-Intensive as you Might Think

The days-long process of hanging wallpaper with it's messy, toxic glues is a thing of the past. Thankfully, new technology is making wallpaper simpler to both hang and remove. The handymen that we use in our projects can do an entire wall in less time than it take to re-paint that wall (no waiting for the walls to dry between coats!).

9. Wallpaper can be Eco-Friendly

As interior products are all moving toward more eco-friendly ingredients and applications, wallpaper is part of this trend as well. Rather than being made of vinyl and other non-biodegradable materials, today's wallpaper is being made of grass, rice, cork, bamboo, etc. Along with being largely renewable, they have low-VOC emissions and are better for the environment than many commonly used interior paints.

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There you have it-9 reasons to finally go out and try adding wallpaper to your next interior project shopping list. It's easy, beautiful, environmentally friendly, and will add a unique twist to your space. Want some help choosing the right pattern and getting it up on the wall? Schedule a Discovery Call and we can put together a design that incorporates wallpaper seamlessly!

Until next time,