WALLPAPER: PEELING BACK THE FUNDAMENTALS
Wallpaper is transformative! A design statement! A fun way to completely encompass a room with a pattern, texture, or tone to create a vibe!
But what about the permanence, the financial commitment, and nabbing a skilled installer? In today’s blog, we are going to unpack the things to know in advance so you can feel ready to make that change you’ve mulled over for ages!
CHOOSING A PATTERN FOR A SPACE
If you are a newbie to incorporating wallpaper into your home, where to start? We think a Powder Room or smaller space such as a Laundry Room are the ideal stepping stones to try something out of your comfort zone and inject some whimsy! Be cognizant of the scale - smaller is better for smaller spaces otherwise the pattern will be chopped up.
A Dining Room or Office is a great option for a larger scaled pattern or a woven grasscloth! These rooms are usually filled with hard surfaces (tables, desks, sideboards, console tables) and thus fairly free of existing patterns and textiles so often need a little boost to liven up the walls! Coordinate with a rug and/or drapery to have a complementary color scheme! Murals are also having a moment now, these are a great way to channel a classic look with a newer offering!
For Kids’ Rooms, we are still fans of the “accent wall” approach here….they grow in the blink of an eye and tastes change as they transition from childhood to the tween years to the later teen years. One (accent) wall is less of a financial outlay that can easily be replaced after some years (and trends)! Peel and Stick is also an option as sources and styles abound if you are up for some DIY!
FINDING AN INSTALLER
Do not be hasty in finding a quality craftsman to install your selection! Reach out to your circle of friends and family for referrals, or do your homework on a village or neighborhood knowledge-sharing up such as NextDoor. If possible, ask to see a completed project to ensure the job is neat and tidy, patterns are lined up across seams (not applicable for grasscloth), and corners and tight spots have no wrinkling.
GETTING THE QUANTITY RIGHT
We get asked this question so often! Each wallpaper vendor has their own way of offering their coverings - by yard, roll, and varying widths are all items to note that feed into the quantity equation! Pattern does as well, as a larger pattern needs more material to match up. Minimum orders, increments of yardage or rolls, and made-to-order prints abound so be sure to get all the information up front! Relay this to your skilled installer who will measure the surface area and compute the quantity needed given the specs of your specific wallpaper. An overage of 10% is also recommended, as is also the case with tile so you don’t have a few bare feet of space left - suddenly needing more and with only a different dye lot available!
COORDINATING WITH PAINT
We typically suggest color-coordinating adjacent walls or millwork (paneling, baseboards, crown) with a paint that matches the predominant color of the wall covering. For example, if you select a navy with a white pattern, color match the navy and make it all very seamless!
KATE MARKER WALLCOVERINGS
If you are inspired and want to take a peek at a brand new collection, head over to Kate Marker Home to see our just-launched wallcovering collection in shades of faded inky blues, mossy greens, earthy blush tones, and dark saffron!
