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This is the after shot of a new bedroom designed by Bethany Palmer, Interiors By Bethany.
This is the before shot of the bedroom.
Whether an accent wall or a whole room, wallpaper is a way to add individuality into a space.
A bold print of wallpaper adds height and drama in this master bedroom.
This is the after shot of a new bedroom designed by Bethany Palmer, Interiors By Bethany.
This is the before shot of the bedroom.
Whether an accent wall or a whole room, wallpaper is a way to add individuality into a space.
A bold print of wallpaper adds height and drama in this master bedroom.
You’re not imagining it — wallpaper is everywhere these days.
Yes, it’s covering walls in master bedrooms, kids’ rooms and living rooms, but it’s also popping up in unexpected spots, such as ceilings, bookshelves and pantries. And no, it’s not like it used to be back in the day. A lot has changed since the wallpaper of decades ago.
“It’s not like the ’70s wallpaper where it was big flowers and you steamed it onto your wall and the seams looked terrible,” said Bethany Palmer, CEO and principal designer of Interiors by Bethany. “If you’ve got a wall and you paint it, it’s flat, but if you add wallpaper, that adds texture and richness to any room.”
Pinterest, a social media site that allows users to search billions of images in many areas, including interior design, said searches for “wallpaper” were up more than 40% in 2020. But while it seems like wallpaper is enjoying a resurgence in the mainstream, it never really disappeared, says Rachel Cleek, owner of Heritage Wallpaper & Blinds. It’s always been used in different niches, such as higher-end homes and the commercial market, including hotels and dentist and doctors’ offices, where wall covering is needed for noise reduction and wall protection.
“It’s always been on HGTV (Home & Garden Television),” Cleek said. “But as we see it more on social media, it gives the impression it’s come back, but it’s never really gone away.”
While the wallpaper of the ’70s felt smooth, manufacturers nowadays are giving it texture by using grass, bamboo leaves, horse hair and other materials, layering it with color, and embellishing it with metallic highlights.
‘It has a feel and texture to it that gives it that richness,” Palmer said. “We’re always looking for a space to be rich, warm and inviting. And also looking for things to look different and fresh. There’s 50 million wallpaper options out there. If you have the same room and use two different wallpapers, the rooms would look 100% different. It’s an easy way to update and change a room’s feel.”
Once upon a time, removing wallpaper was tricky business that required folks to retexture their walls, which is partly why wallpaper lost its luster. But, Cleek says, those days are gone. Now there are removable glues that act like tempered glass and crack under pressure, ensuring easier removal.
Some wallpapers have a nonwoven backing that allows it to be removed in a whole sheet, and primers help properly seal the walls so removal is less damaging.
“The fear of wallpaper and a terrible removal can be alleviated at the prep stage,” Cleek said. “HGTV and Pinterest show the end product, but the best practice is to prep the walls.”
Maybe this is a surprise to some, but wallpaper can help reduce noise, depending on the material — check the NRR, or noise reduction rating. Movie theaters use acoustical material as do businesses or organizations where keeping noise inside a room is necessary. It’s all about the materials, including liners you can put under the wall covering, and the way you install them.
“One man put up decorative pieces and layered them and put it in his son’s gaming room,” Cleek said. “They no longer had that noise spilling out. Noise reduction is a thing with Zoom meetings, and wall covering can support with that.”
Peel and stick wallpaper has made a big splash in the last three years, Cleek says. She and Palmer say go for it, but don’t expect the best results. You can do it yourself or find an installer. Cleek will install it but won’t warranty it.
“It was made for temporary installs — that’s how it was originally brought to market,” Cleek said. “It was geared toward DIY, and it’s difficult to get it lined up and to look the way you want.”
The wallpaper also shrinks over the course of a few years and, thanks to our dry climate, doesn’t always stick well to the wall. But it can be fun if you plan to change it out in a year or two. Palmer says it’s a good option for a child’s room, with its big patterns, but it won’t provide texture.
A bedroom could run about $1,500, including installation, says Palmer. And estimate the job taking about three hours per room. Also remember, you don’t have to wallpaper an entire room — you can do one accent wall.
Choosing your wallpaper from the never ending realm of possibilities can be a challenge. Palmer recommends you start with the style of paper, before thinking about color and then texture.
In terms of style, you want the wallpaper to match the feel and style of the room. For example, you don’t want to put a modern wall covering in a room that has farmhouse-style furniture.
“You can have paper with a definite print or one that’s more subdued or minimalistic in terms of print,” Palmer said.
“Do you want it to be bold or minimal? Do you want it to be an expressionist kind of thing where there are more paint brush strokes or have a definite print?”
When deciding on the color of wallpaper, check to see if you have more warm or cool colors on the other walls or in the furniture or carpet. Warm colors are yellows, cool colors are blues. Don’t put a warm wallpaper in a cool room.
“I just love wallpaper because of that warmth it adds,” Palmer said. “I had done a room with new furniture and felt like something is missing. I don’t love this. Then I added the paper and that made such a difference.”
Contact the writer: 636-0270
Contact the writer: 636-0270
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