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There are few room modifications that elicit stronger reactions than wallpaper. People either love it or hate it. If a pattern doesn’t appeal to your taste, the reaction is instant. We’ve all heard or experienced firsthand the drudgery of removing old wallpaper.

For years, the trend has been to take down wallpaper and replace it with a fresh coat of paint. But wallpaper has its purpose, and when dealing with less-than-perfect walls, it is preferable to paint for concealing flaws. If you’ve been turned off to wallpaper in the past and were convinced that you would never even consider applying it to your walls, think again.

Wallpaper and wall coverings are becoming quite fashionable. There are so many choices available that there is likely to be a selection that will make you reconsider.

Wallpaper gives a space a three-dimensional quality and texture. It really warms up a space. As a bonus, it can hide a room’s unattractive aspects or draw attention away from them. If you are battling difficult walls, some textured wall coverings are just what you need, since they are designed to be painted over.

Wall coverings that can be painted come in a huge variety of textures and are perfect for hiding old and cracked plaster, rough walls, even paneling. Before papering over paneling or walls in poor condition, you will probably need to put up a wall liner. Think of the liner as primer for your wallpaper. It will cover and smooth seams and cracks so that your finished walls look beautiful.

Guidelines

While I am enthusiastic about the use of wallpaper to make a design statement, there are some guidelines for making the best selection. You must make sure that you choose the appropriate material for the area that you want to cover and be careful about choosing a color and pattern that best fit your space.

If you are selecting wallpaper for a kitchen or bathroom, be practical. Your choice must be washable and water-resistant. Decorative vinyl, vinyl-coated or paper-backed vinyl wallpaper are smart choices. Avoid paper or fabric coverings for any areas that may get wet, humid or require cleaning. Metallic foils, fabrics and flocked wallpapers are stylish, but they are not good choices in areas that will experience high traffic or humidity.

With an array of wallpaper choices available, the best way to decide on what is right for you is to try out different styles, colors and textures. Check out some wallpaper books, order samples and live with them for a while. Hang them so that you can see how the light hits the pattern and color at different times of the day. Like selecting a paint color, choosing wallpaper takes time.

Tips

Here are some general tips:

• If you fall in love with a wild pattern, keep it from overwhelming your space. My preferred remedy: Use it on one wall as an accent, like a mural.

• If you want a large area or room to look cozier, select a large pattern. By choosing a large pattern, you will visually shrink the space somewhat. Another trick is to use darker colors to make a space look more cozy and intimate.

• Wide vertical stripes are beautiful, but this pattern can be tricky to pull off. Many rooms are not completely square, so the stripes may not line up perfectly with your door and window trim.

• When decorating a child’s room or space, pick a wall covering that isn’t going to be dated or babyish within a couple of years.

• Unless you plan to repaint the ceiling and trim before hanging your wallpaper, make sure that the paper goes with them. Now is the time to repaint if needed, because it is much easier to do before papering.

• Use wallpaper to add a custom designer touch to smaller spaces, such as powder room ceilings, the backs of built-in cabinetry and bookshelves.

The beauty of wallpaper is that it can really transform a space and, like paint, can be changed. While the process of hanging wallpaper and removing it is more involved than simply painting, the results of your extra effort can really pay off. 
 

Jessica Dauray is owner of Elements of Style Interiors, a full-service interior design firm in Greensboro. Dauray answers readers questions for the Design Wise column. E-mail her at jessicaofeos@bellsouth.net.