Add Wow Factor With Wallpaper

For an instant injection of colour, texture and pattern that won’t cost the earth, wallpaper is hard to beat.

Thanks to peel-and-stick technology, modern wallpapers are quick and easy to apply, and you’ll find patterns and prints galore to bring the walls of your home to life – even wet ones, such as bathrooms. So if the rooms in your home could use a little punch, read on.

Latest wallpaper looks

Style-wise, there’s something for everyone in the world of wallpaper. Take your pick from botanical prints, sophisticated metallics, overblown florals, geometric patterns, textured linen and grasscloth wallpaper, and more. Thanks to digital printing, you can even replicate the look of wall finishes such as brick, timber and pressed metal for a fraction of the cost of the real thing (or have your favourite photo turned into wallpaper – a guaranteed talking point!)

Need some design inspo? Here’s how to create maximum impact with wallpaper, according to the Carlisle Homes interior design team:

Add glamour to a bedroom

Being a personal space, the bedroom is the perfect spot to be bold with your choices and experiment with those colours and patterns you’ve been lusting after. Create a feature wall behind the bed with luxurious metallic wallpaper or add a romantic feel with an overblown floral print. For a contemporary bedroom, try one of this season’s bold, leafy designs or a graphic pattern in on-trend shades of oceanic blue-green paired with white or coral and white.

Darker tones will make your bedroom feel cosy and intimate while lighter ones will open up the space. For something a little different, consider mixing pattern sizes on different walls of your boudoir; a large-scale print behind the bed and a simple, smaller-scale print on the other walls.

Soften a living room or entry

Textured wallpaper is perfect for adding softness and warmth to a living room or hallway, without overwhelming it with colour or pattern. Create a cosy, cocooning atmosphere by lining the walls with wallpaper in linen, grasscloth or silk in a neutral shade that tones in with your flooring and furniture.

Or, add subtle texture with paintable wallpaper, which comes in all manner of textured patterns, including stripes, weaves and tin tiles on a plain white base that you can simply paint over in your chosen hue.

Jazz up a kids’ study nook

Want the kids to hit their homework with a little more enthusiasm? Create a space that energises and inspires by lining the desk wall of their study nook with fun, patterned wallpaper. It also makes a great alternative to artwork and saves you having to worry about which pictures to hang on the wall.

Consider vertical stripes (which can also make a low ceiling appear higher) or horizontal stripes (that have the effect of visually widening a space), sweet polka dots or a tone-on-tone graphic pattern for a look that will appeal to younger children and teens alike.

Concerned that they (and you) will tire of the look after a year or two? Removable wallpaper might be just what you need – apply it to walls and simply peel it off when you’re ready for something new.

Tips for success

• If you’re uncertain whether wallpaper will work in a room, buy one roll and hang it with painter’s tape so you can see how it will look.
• If you’re planning on hanging wallpaper yourself, choose one with a peelable, adhesive backing. Other types need to glued and are best installed by a professional.
• Papering a plain wall is quite straightforward, but working around doors and windows can be tricky.
• Prep is everything: Make sure walls are smooth and any holes are filled before you hang wallpaper otherwise it can affect the end result.
• It’s a good idea to buy an extra roll for insurance.