Wallpaper

Wallpaper can be for the ceiling, too

Wallpaper can be something of a polarizing design choice. Adherents enjoy the patterns and designs, which can be used to highlight a room. Detractors see wallpaper as ugly and unnecessary, an outdated feature which is hard to remove once it's up.

For those who aren't sure they want to cover a room's walls with wallpaper, an alternative option would be to add it to the ceiling instead. This unusual location can create a unique focal point in the room, akin to an accent wall.

There are countless types of wallpaper to choose from, so you'll have to decide what works best in your home. Rebecca Gross, writing for the home design site Houzz, says you might choose a pattern with colors that complement the walls. This can be particularly effective in rooms that already eschew the standard white color scheme on at least one of the walls. You might even decide that you like the look of a wallpaper pattern that encompasses both the walls and the ceiling.

A bright, busy design can be quite eye-catching, but only if it doesn't have too much competition from the rest of the room. If you use this type of pattern on the ceiling, it is best to keep a simpler layout of items and colors in the room.

Alternatively, a contrasting color can also have a strong effect on the room's appearance. Wallpaper can be used to create stripes or patterns, establishing a stark image that might be used to highlight other features in the room.

Black and white patterns can be particularly useful. Melissa DiRenzo, writing for the home design site Apartment Therapy, says these colors will go well with any other color scheme in the room, making the wallpaper on the ceiling less obtrusive.

Patterns can also be more playful, using imagery you'd expect to see when gazing upward. Wallpaper suitable for the ceiling might include images such as clouds, birds, or stars.

Some preparation will be necessary before you add wallpaper to the ceiling. HGTV recommends filling any holes, sanding down any uneven areas, and cleaning the entire ceiling. You'll also need to remove any light fixtures, ceiling fans, or other objects that could get in the way of the wallpapering job.

Measure the area of the ceiling to find out how much wallpaper you'll need. Sheets of wallpaper should be a few inches longer than necessary, since the excess can be trimmed off with a utility knife after you've put it up.

Most patterns will repeat, so you'll want them to be as symmetrical as possible. After making the first application of wallpaper, use it as a guide for the subsequent runs. If the wallpaper requires paste, apply this first and then put up the next run of wallpaper along the entire length of the ceiling. Once it is up, you can carefully adjust it to line up the pattern.

Don't forget to smooth out the wallpaper as you go to get rid of any air bubbles or other imperfections. Once the wallpaper has dried and is securely fastened, reinstall the light fixtures and any other items you removed.