10 Ways to Use Wallpaper to Elevate Any Room
10 Ways to Use Wallpaper to Elevate Any Room
Here are 10 ways to use wallpaper in any space and not just on the walls
Wallpaper is my love language, it’s true.
It’s one of those trends that’s not really a trend because it’s been around forever and it isn’t going anywhere!
One really great thing about wallpaper is its ability to bring character and interest to any space but also doesn’t have to be so permanent.
I have worked with both traditional pasted and peel and stick wallpaper, for me both have times where I prefer one to the other.
After our most recent hallway wallpaper project I thought it would be fun to share my 10 favorite ways to use wallpaper to elevate any space.
Choosing the Right Type of Wallpaper
Like I said, I have worked with both types of wallpaper, peel and stick and traditional pasted.
Both have their pros and cons and depending on where you are using the wallpaper one might be easier to install than the other.
Here are things to consider when choosing which application style to use:
- Permanency: Peel and stick wallpaper is a great option if you are renting or not really sure about committing to wallpaper. Peel and stick is much easier to remove than traditional pasted style wallpaper.
- Location: When I am wallpapering regular walls I like to use traditional paste style wallpaper because it’s more manipulatable to get into place. For the ceiling I prefer peel and stick because it’s less messy and heavy.
- Furniture: Whenever I am adding wallpaper to furniture I use peel and stick type wallpaper, it adheres better to most furniture material.
10 Ways to Use Wallpaper to Elevate Any Room
Wallpaper is so much more versatile than just covering full walls, here are 10 of my favorite ways to add wallpaper to any room.
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1. Faux Marble Shelves
Peel and stick wallpaper can transform ordinary wood shelves into faux marble shelves for a fraction of the cost. This little DIY saved us tons of money and completely elevated the look of this open shelving in our kitchen.
We also DIY-ed faux marble shelves in the bathroom at our previous home and they looked great there too!
2. Using Wallpaper for Art
One of my favorite ways to utilize leftover wallpaper is to frame it as artwork. The wallpaper adds color and pattern to the space and is a great way to reduce waste.
You can also use scrap wallpaper as photo backing for a fun way to add patterns to a gallery wall.
3. As an Accent Wall
Who says that every wall has to be wallpapered.
If you’re hesitant about committing to a full room of wallpaper, consider creating an accent wall. This allows you to incorporate bold designs without overwhelming the space.
How cute is this smiley face accent wall, you can’t look at it and not be happy.
4. Use Above Wood Trim
One of my favorite ways to add character to a room is with wall trim. There are a bunch of beginner friendly wall trim ideas like board and batten, bead board, and wainscoting.
Wallpaper installed above this trim work takes the space to the next level by adding pattern and interest. I love the subtle pattern we used above the bead board in E’s playroom.
For our half bathroom makeover I went with a bold pattern that looked regal and elegant above the tall board and batten.
5. Wallpaper Inside of Cabinets
When we installed an IKEA cabinet system in our kitchen we wanted it to look custom. So we added some trim to make it look built-in, swapped out the cabinet door knobs, and added wallpaper to the inside.
This pattern brought some fun and color to the IKEA cabinet. I used peel and stick wallpaper for this project because I knew it would adhere to the primed MDF IKEA furniture is generally made of.
6. Wrapping Paper
If you haven’t noticed yet, I never waste leftover wallpaper. Scrap wallpaper makes great gift wrapping paper!
I have used both traditional and peel and stick wallpaper to wrap gifts and both work amazingly. Although I will say the traditional is easier to unwrap later…
7. On the Ceiling
Wallpaper is not just for walls. Adding wallpaper to the ceiling is an unexpected way to elevate the room.
We recently added this beautiful floral wallpaper to our hallway ceiling and have zero regrets. It adds lots of good character to our white hallway and makes the ceiling appear taller.
I said it earlier but choosing the peel and stick route when wallpapering the ceiling is definitely easier. I installed traditional pasted wallpaper to my mom’s office ceiling a couple years ago and while it is beautiful, it was messy to install.
Check out the complete ceiling wallpaper tutorial here!
8. Update Bathroom Vanity Doors
Our previous home was a new build home and while it was very nice it was also very bland. Our bathroom vanity was a plain cream color that didn’t exactly “pop” like I wanted it to.
Instead of getting rid of it I painted it a bold color and added this faux grass cloth textured wallpaper to the cabinet door fronts. It made the vanity feel like a custom piece and less like a cookie cutter bathroom vanity.
9. Wrap Hardcover Books
Using books as decor is something I am a big fan of. I always snag hardcover books from thrift stores and flea markets. They are perfect by themselves or for adding height to other decor.
If you have a hardcover book that you don’t love the cover of, use wallpaper to wrap it. It’s an easy way to add interest to your regular decor.
10. Update an Old Serving Tray
If I haven’t convinced you to keep your scrap wallpaper yet than I am doing something wrong…
I updated this old wood tray that was no longer my style with some paint and extra peel and stick wallpaper a couple of years ago. The glossy finish of the wallpaper made it great for wiping up spills and gave this outdated tray new life.
10 Ways to Use Wallpaper in Any Room
Hopefully these wallpaper ideas spark some inspiration for you to add some character and charm to your room.
Remember that there is no “right way” to decorate your home, decorate it with what makes your heart happy. Wallpaper clearly makes my heart very happy!
If you would like some wallpaper install tips and tricks I have an entire post you can check out here.
Let me know what you think about these ideas and if you have any other unusual ways you like to use wallpaper in your home.
Shop My Favorite Vintage Wallpaper Finds Here!
You Might Also Like:
How to Hang Peel and Stick Wallpaper on Ceiling
Vintage Inspired Peel & Stick Wallpaper Ideas: Plus Install Tips
How To Stencil A Faux Backsplash: Tips, Tricks, & What Not To Do
10 Ways to Use Wallpaper to Elevate Any Room
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