Wallpaper is back with a vengeance
Wallpaper is back and it’s making a statement
“Wallpaper” and “sophisticated” are not words you would traditionally pair together when it comes to interior decorating. But today ’s wallpaper is anything but the tacky florals once found at Grandma’s house and it’s become a popular option for today’s designers.
“Like it or not, wallpaper is back with a vengeance,” says designer Luc Crawford. “Gone are the rooms swallowed by large prints and dark hues and colours. Designers today enjoy more subtle wallpaper selections with neutral tones and a less aggressive print. The world of pattern is limitless.”
From entries at the Housing Design Awards last fall to the latest builder model homes, wallpaper is everywhere, even in designers’ own homes.
“I love wallpaper and have personally installed it in every home we’ve owned for the past 37 years,” says decorator Maureen Coates, who appreciates the texture, pattern and colour it provides beyond what you can get with paint. “Wallpaper can also tell a story, depending on the pattern.”
Kristi Blok of Kiki Interiors recently created an accent wall for her nine-year-old son JD’s room using peel-and-stick wallpaper that mimicked whitewash brick. It adds texture and the gritty element of a natural stone without the labour and cost.
“I was going for a Restoration Hardware-inspired look but with a much smaller budget,” she says. “I also wanted his room to grow with him in terms of style.” JD, she says, loves his room.
We can also expect to see it covering all the walls in the powder room of this year’s CHEO dream home, says designer Tanya Collins.
“Paired with a black vanity, the gold geometric will make a glamorous statement,” she says. The dream home, which makes up the bulk of the grand prize in the Dream of a Lifetime lottery benefiting the CHEO Foundation, is due to open to the public in September.
So, why is wallpaper back? For Coates, it never left. But others attribute it to design cycles (as in what’s old is new again), how it can easily make a bold statement in a space, and the return of pattern to decor in general.
“We are embracing pattern in fabrics, like we see in pillows and drapery and also in rugs, so the walls are just another spot to embrace pattern and print,” Blok says.
Plus, it’s another layer of design, adds Sascha Lafleur of West of Main. “Adding texture, pattern or colour to the walls provides that extra layer of visual content.”
Besides, designers are always looking to use different materials to accent a space, says designer Carolyn Munro. Wallpaper adds something more than paint alone and offers a less costly option than decorative stone or tile, she notes.
“You have to think of wallpaper as a really inexpensive way to purchase large-scale art,” adds designer Emma Doucet. “It’s a great way to infuse pattern and beauty into a space without the cost of an original work.”
Wallpaper is also a great way to cover imperfections in the wall, Crawford adds.
And it’s a way to bring texture, colour and movement into a room without cluttering it with accessories, says Valecraft Homes interior decorator Valerie Gendron. How is it being used?
No longer are we papering full rooms — unless it’s a powder room. Typical uses today are accent walls, where wallpaper is replacing paint in creating a focal point.
But it’s also cropping up in unexpected ways.
“Like painting, you can wallpaper almost anything you want,” like ceilings, furniture, cabinet interiors, lampshades, or even framing a section as an artwork, says Crawford. “You’re the only one stopping you from creating anything you want with wallpaper.”
AVOID A DATED LOOK
“I think that wallpaper is a challenge for most and a gamble,” says Crawford.
To lessen the uncertainty and keep the look fresh, keep it simple and understated, he recommends, such as opting for tone on tone, with only a light texture. Then accessorize with bold colours.
At the same time, you want to choose something you love, says Doucet, although she advises against going with trendy.
“A good rule of thumb is to go with something you like and something that shows your personality,” adds Melissa Leclair of Leclair Decor. Choosing something that brings you joy is more likely to be appreciated long term, she says.
Sorcha Finn, a design consultant with Cardel Homes, agrees.
“Consider it carefully with the other decor you’re using and decide how much of an impact you want to make with it. But don’t be afraid to take a risk. If you love something, you won’t tire of it.”
However, first you need to define your intention, says Lafleur.
“If you want to create a trendy look, then you have to go into it eyes wide open and know that banana leaves or pineapples might be experiencing their time to shine but those have an expiry date.
“If you’re looking for something more timeless, then going with a texture or monochromatic pattern that’s subtle can provide more longevity,” like seagrass, subtle script writing or patterns derived from traditional geometrics.
It’s also important to give a little care to your papered walls, says Hanan Awneh, design coordinator at Claridge Homes. Even with a timeless design, your wallpaper can look tired if it’s neglected. A light dusting every couple of months is usually all it takes. And, for most papers, marks can be removed by wiping with a damp cloth and mild dish soap, but be sure to dry it right away.
Awneh also recommends a coated paper if you’re using wallpaper in a room with moisture, such as the kitchen or bathroom.
What’s different about today’s wallpaper? The options today are endless, both in pattern and style of paper. Pre-pasted, unpasted, peel-and-stick, vinyl, printed, washable, foil, textured — the list goes on.
“There are murals, you can customize your print and repeat pattern … there’s so much more variety than there used to be,” says Leclair.
While today’s paper tends to be more expensive, it’s also more durable, with colours that are “more true,” says Catherine Pulcine of CPI interiors. “It is far more dimensional and has more texture.”
Another key difference: the glue used to adhere wallpaper to the wall is now water-based, which means it’s easier to install and remove, “making it so much simpler if you change your mind a year down the road and need a fresh option,” Leclair says.
But while peel-and-stick options now give renters the freedom to follow their decorating fancy without fear of damaging a landlord’s walls, Doucet is not a fan of either removable or pre-pasted paper for homeowners.
“You want the paste to be applied so you can have the give you need when you install it.”
Lafleur likes removable wallpaper for spaces like nurseries, where you might want to change the look as the child grows.
“The removable version allows people to change the decor easily from a nursery to a more mature look with much less effort.”
A WORD OF CAUTION
Many experts advise all but the handiest DIYers to leave wallpapering to a pro.
“Wallpaper is not easy to install,” says Gendron. “To ensure a beautiful end result, we recommend you have an experienced installer hang your paper.”
But if you’re determined to install it yourself, Crawford offers the following tips:
Whether opting for pre-pasted or unpasted (Crawford prefers unpasted), wallpapering can be messy because of the water involved. That means you need to cover your floors.
Select a paper with no selvedge. A selvedge is an edge with no pattern on it that must be trimmed.
Size your walls first to determine your roll size and pattern repeat.
Walls are rarely straight. Use a level to help you get your wallpaper straight.
Cut wallpaper strips 15 centimetres longer than the height of your wall. The excess paper is needed to work with the top and bottom portions.
Use baby wipes rather than a wallpaper brush. They’re easier and will clean the paper and your sticky fingers at the same time.
Keep scissors and an X-Acto knife handy and sharp.