I am an ardent watcher of all of the home-buying shows on television. I watch mainly for the decorating sense (or nonsense) in the sellers’ homes. One thing that never fails to draw a potential buyer’s criticism is a wallpapered room. Wallpaper pattern and coloring is definitely in the eye of the beholder, but there are certain considerations that should be taken so that your chosen wallpaper is less likely to offend even if it is not to someone else’s particular taste.
Wallpaper should be particular to the type of furniture in a room, as well as the type of construction of the home (colonial or country, formal or traditional, modern or contemporary). Common sense tells you (or should tell you) that you should not put up a country-themed or colonial-themed wallpaper in a room with formal or modern furniture; nor should you put up an elegantly formal wallpaper in a country kitchen. Taking a little time to research patterns and colors specific to the theme of a room will help you select an appropriate wallpaper that will draw a positive reaction rather than a “what were you thinking” reaction.
Colonial or country themes should be accented with warm colors and all-over design. A colonial theme should be cozy, comfortable and inviting ~ a design that is not so busy that it will give you a headache after looking at it for a few minutes, but also one that is not so skimpy that it is barely noticeable. Modern or contemporary themes are accented best with cool colors, light, medium or dark depending upon the furnishings in the room. Formal or traditional themes usually warrant neutral colors so that the formal furnishings in the room take center stage. The colors in the paper should blend in very well with the colors in the furniture’s wood. Designs should have a rich, elegant look to them, never too busy or too dark.
After you have determined the design type and color scheme of your wallpaper, it is time to consider the actual pattern that will look best in your room. One thing to consider is the size of the room itself. In many instances, it is best to paper one or two walls instead of the entire room. This is especially true in smaller rooms. It will prevent the feeling of being overwhelmed by the wallpaper, yet will add that little extra touch you are looking for. If the room is large, you can consider a large-patterned wallpaper. This can actually make a large room look softer and cozier. However, if the room is small, a large-patterned wallpaper will tend to shrink the room and give it a closed-in feeling.
The actual pattern you choose to complement the theme of your room and furnishings will often encompass the following designs:
- Colonial or Country: floral, scenic, pictorial, wildlife, folk art, checks and plaids, toile
- Formal or Traditional: stripes, floral, medallion, damask, scrolling leaf, Victorian, Old World
- Modern or Contemporary: geometric, stripes, circles, bubbles, grids, varied shapes
Finally, when choosing a wallpaper design, remember that most rooms are not completely square, so you must be extra-careful when putting up a striped wallpaper. Also, you should paint your ceiling before you put up the wallpaper. If your room does not get much light, warm colors in your wallpaper will work best. Contrarily, rooms with a lot of light handle cooler colors in the wallpaper very well. Whatever you decide, remember that ultimately the wallpaper pattern and coloring is in the eye of the beholder. If it pleases you, perhaps it is the right pattern. If it seems to offend everyone except you, perhaps you should follow some of the guidelines to choose a more appropriate pattern. The choice is really up to you.
©2010, KH ADAMS, Trumbull, CT
