Pattern, Proportion, Colour or Texture.

Unlike choosing a paint colour for your wall, there are more factors to consider when looking for wallpaper.  There are three main elements to focus on when choosing a wallpaper; pattern, proportion, and colour or texture.

Firstly it is much easier to choose a wallpaper first and then determine a secondary wall colour, if combining a wallpapered accent wall with a paint colour.  Just like if you were picking fabrics or materials; the paint colour should be one of the last components to decide.  With paint, there is solely the element of colour to consider, but with wallpaper, there is colour as well as the pattern style and proportion of the print.

1. Pattern

The pattern design should reflect the style you’re looking for.  Different wallpaper patterns can define a style or mood; for example there are geometrics that range from symmetrical and sophisticated to abstract and whimsical.  Some types of pattern styles include damasks, geometrics, florals and stripes & spots.  Defining the style of what you’re looking for will make the process of searching for the right paper less overwhelming.  With so many wallpaper designs available, it’s easy to get distracted, or fall in love with an unexpected wallpaper design that you weren’t planning on.  While it’s good to keep an open mind, narrowing in and sticking with one style will help you to follow through with your original vision of your space.

2. Proportion

While the pattern of a wallpaper may be suggestive of your design influences in that room or house, the proportion of a wallpaper is specifically significant to the room you’re working with.  The proportion of the pattern can change how the space feels.  Small prints are great for smaller spaces, such as a powder room.  A small to medium print is more manageable on the eye in small doses like a powder room rather than on a large wall where it may feel busy or cluttered.  A larger print in a small space could get lost, and the pattern itself may be replicated fully only once or twice.  Conversely, a large print on a large wall will feel much more proportionate than a small print on a large wall.  Remember

to keep proportion factors in mind when looking at wallpapers in a book.  On the page they may look great, however the proportion converted to a larger space may change the way you perceive it.  The same goes for larger wallpapers in a book where you cannot see the full print on one sheet.  You don’t want to overlook a print because it looks large on the page, when it might be an appropriate proportion for your wall.  To every rule there are exceptions, and a large print in a small space for instance, can create a sense of drama and unexpected proportion.

3. Colour or Texture

Colour and texture often go hand in hand.  Sometimes, substituting colour for texture or combining them, like an embossed or metallic wallpaper gives a different impact than a flat wallpaper.  A textured wallpaper provides a third dimension to the wall, where pattern and colour can only go so far.  The physical element of wallpaper materials, whether it be velvet, ribbed or a shiny wallpaper adds a unique quality.

Wallpaper Styles

Metallics

A great way to add a reflective material in an unexpected way.  From a flat metallic paper to a glitter material fixed to the wallpaper, wallpapers can differ in the degree of how much of a metallic sheen they have.  A metallic that’s comprised of a glitter material can also have a three-dimensional physical feel, similar to a velvet or embossed wallpaper.  Combining a texture and a metallic can have a high impact impression.

Graphic, and Geometric Prints

They are one of the most readily available types of wallpaper styles available on the market currently.  The great thing about a geometric is, they can provide a structured, linear and symmetrically balanced feel, while still offering many combinations of designs through shape and pattern.  A geometric can range from bold and colourful, to whimsical and elegant.  Combined with the size of the pattern, geometrics and graphic prints can be a very powerful visual element.

Damask & Grasscloth

Are also very popular currently, and while they may have a traditional origin in decorating history, designers have put a new spin on it, to revamp and modernize the damask to complement today’s styles.  Grasscloths are highly versatile as well, because it has minimal pattern, it doesn’t appear too busy.  Grasscloth papers add a sense of luxury and looks ideal in smaller doses such as foyer areas or bookcase backings.  The last wallpaper design worth mentioning are paintable wallpapers.  The paintable wallpapers come in a plethora of designs that can be used for ceilings, walls, furniture and more!  The paintable wallpapers eliminates the need to find a matching wallpaper colour to your existing materials.  This type of paper allows it to look more custom and tailored to your design style.

Of course there are always other factors to consider such as colour, shape etc. and while there are always exceptions to the rule, these simple guidelines of pattern proportion and texture will propel you to finding the perfect wallpaper for your space.

Stay tuned for my next entry, where I’ll show you how wallpaper can transform even the most unexpected places!

Check Out Creative Haus Designs At The Paint People For More Decor Ideas!

The post Choosing The Right Wallpaper – Part 2 appeared first on The Paint People.

Wallpaper unfortunately often still has a negative connotation with it, but the industry has vastly improved in areas of design and production.  The papers are far easier to work with and designs are no longer limited.   There are innovative wallpaper products and a variety of papers suited for different purposes; bathroom specific wallpapers for instance.

If you’ve ever looked on the back of a wallpaper sample page, you probably noticed all the information and details that accompany that paper.  While these can be extensive and feel like technical jargon, most of the information there is to help you to make the process of wallpapering simpler.  Wallpaper pages typically list a legend on the back, similar to your clothing tags with washing instructions that inform you on the attributes of that paper.

Wallpaper Symbols

The symbols that appear on the back of a wallpaper page should tell you if it’s washable or scrubbable.  Some are only spongeable, generally papers with fabric a 3D element of some sort, such as velvet.  The legend also indicates if it is peelable versus strippable.  Peelable refers to a paper that will peel off the wall, but will leave a layer behind that can be taken off when sponged with warm water/or steamed.  Strippable on the other hand, means the paper will come off in one clean piece.  Lastly, the pages should also specify if the paper is pre-pasted or unpasted.   Every manufacturer has a different approach to labeling this information. If you’re lucky you’ll find a book that has a printed description under each symbol to clarify what the symbol means.  This isn’t always the case and often they will list solely the printed description or symbol characters.  Here’s/Below a reference to the common symbols found on the back of wallpaper pages.

Installation

There are two ways to go about installing wallpaper, whether you’re doing it yourself or hiring a professional, wallpapers come either Pre-pasted or Un-pasted.  Don’t limit yourself by eliminating one method altogether.  Wallpapers are not categorized in any way by the method of how they’re installed; each wallpaper within one wallpaper book could be a culmination of both.

Pre-pasted papers have an adhesive included on the back of the paper, which is activated by running the paper through water.  A luke warm temperature of water is ideal to submerge the roll.  In addition, pre-pasted requires the booking method before you can apply it to the wall.  This just means that after you’ve run it through water, you fold the ends into the middle without creasing the folds to let the adhesive that’s being activated to simulate.  This prevents it from contracting or expanding on the wall.

Unpasted requires applying a paste to the wall or possibly the back of the paper and then applying the strip to the wall.  With papers that require paste, it’s not necessary to book the paper before applying like the pre-pasted.  Typically unpasted papers require the wall to be pasted, however there are papers that necessitate pasting the back of the paper.  Be sure to read the wallpaper instructions, and your manufacturers’ guidelines for the paper you’re working with to achieve the best outcome.

Opinions differ on which method is easier, which is why neither is better or worse than the other.  They both have their advantages and limitations.  For instance, pre-pasted requires running the paper through water then applying which could be messier to deal with than a solid paste already on the wall.  On the other hand, the paste is an added expense and involves an additional step in the process.

Application

The most difficult part about applying wallpaper, is typically the first strip.  It’s recommended to start on the least noticeable corner, such as the wall that the entrance door belongs to.  Once you’ve lined up the first strip completely plumb, it’s a breeze to continue the remaining strips and know that they are following a level, straight line.

Wallpapering is the perfect project for the age of DIY’ers.  While I’d consider hiring an installer for fine wallcoverings, the task itself is far easier to undertake than you’d expect.  It’s an affordable solution to some of the more expensive finishing techniques available, and has a higher level of impact than paint alone can achieve.

Stay tuned for our next blog as we explore wallpaper colours, patterns and design!

Check Out Creative Haus Designs At The Paint People For More Decor Ideas!

The post Choosing the Right Wallpaper – Part 1 appeared first on The Paint People.