How to Choose Wallpaper {Decorating 101}

Find out how to pick the right wallpaper for your space, where to buy it, and which types exist. It's all covered here!

Wallpaper. Ahh, wallpaper. It has been around for centuries, but like any design element, it has gone in and out of fashion.

It fell out of favor for a few decades because when it was trendy in the '80s and into the '90s, the installation was often poor.

If you've ever bought a home from the '80s or '90s and tried to strip wallpaper, you probably can't stand it. It was likely put up directly over drywall, so you spent days or weeks peeling it off in tiny pieces and probably damaged the drywall along the way.

When the recession hit in the late 2000s, the DIY movement took off. People realized they could transform a room for the price of a bucket of paint. I absolutely love paint and how affordable it makes a makeover. BUT, I'm so thankful wallpaper is making a comeback.

Lately, so many people have asked me where to buy wallpaper and how to install it yourself. I've hung wallpaper twice now, both in bathrooms of my home, and I'm about to hang it again in my dining room and butler's pantry.

I've used both pre-pasted and unpasted wallpaper. I'll cover the different types in a minute. For now, I want to share my thoughts, which I hope will answer some of your questions.

I'm definitely not an expert. I'm more of a novice who is about to use it in two more spaces in the coming weeks and months. I don't know everything, but I know enough to help if you're a beginner.

Types of Wallpaper

In my shopping, I've come across 3 types of wallpaper, and they're all defined by how you apply them to the wall.

Ready-Pasted Wallpaper

I used pre-pasted wallpaper in my daughter's bathroom. It has dry adhesive on the back that you activate with water. I shared everything I learned in this post: How to Hang Wallpaper (tutorial for beginners).

It was my first time hanging wallpaper, and I had plenty of corners and obstacles to work around, so it wasn't easy. But it was doable! I likened it to wrapping a gift, just on a larger scale and inside out. I'm glad my first project was in a tucked-away space. Nobody but us goes into my daughter's bathroom, so most guests will never see it.

Paste-the-Wall Wallpaper

This wallpaper has no adhesive on the back, so you apply the paste either directly to the wall or to the paper. I think most high-end papers are made this way.

I used this type of paper in my powder room makeover. It probably sounds the most intimidating, but it was actually very easy!

I used a large brush to spread the paste on the wall, then pressed the wallpaper on top! This bathroom had fewer obstacles than my daughter's, so it was much easier for lots of reasons.

Powder Room Decor — The navy hydrangea wallpaper in the powder room is breathtaking!

Between pre-pasted and paste-the-wall, I prefer paste-the-wall. That's good news, because that's what both of the papers I'm about to use are!

Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper

This wallpaper has adhesive on the back covered by a paper liner. You simply peel off the liner and press it where you want it. This might be a great option for renters!

I've never used this kind of wallpaper. Most people assume it's the easiest to install, but I'm not so sure! I've heard it can be tricky to get just right.

I've also heard that although it's marketed as easy to remove, it can sometimes damage the wall underneath when you do. So, I don't plan to use this type unless it's a very small space.

I'd also be hesitant to use it on furniture. I'll come back and share my experience if I ever try it! (Let us know in the comments if you have experience with peel & stick wallpaper!)

How to Pick the Right Wallpaper

Goodness, there's so much that goes into picking the right pattern or type of wallpaper. It can be overwhelming, right?

Wallpaper Color Palette

I usually start with a color palette for my space and search from there. I go to an online wallpaper shop and filter by a color or two. Once I've narrowed things down, I order a few samples.

Wallpaper can look very different in person than on a screen, so I always recommend ordering a sample if you can!

I find that creating a mood board with all the elements of the room is a great way to "try before you buy." Then, when samples arrive, test the paint colors and other patterns in the room in person!

Florals vs. Geometrics

The same advice that applies to any decorating applies to wallpaper. Look at the other patterns in the room and choose something that complements them.

If your rug is geometric, your walls might need a large floral. If your draperies are solid and your rug is floral, a geometric pattern on the walls might work well.

Coordinating room elements, like wallpaper, window treatments, and floor coverings, follows the same rules as pillow pattern mixing:

Choose one element in the room with a floral pattern that includes more than one color.
Then choose another element with a large-scale pattern: geometric, stripe, or solid in one of those colors (or a complementary color).
Then choose a third element with a smaller pattern or a solid in a different color from the first.
Keep repeating as needed!

Traditional Blue and Green Dining Room Makeover — My dining room design board has a large floral on the walls, a big geometric on the window treatments, and a solid color on the lower walls. I'm adding smaller geometrics and a trellis pattern in the window trim, lampshades, and chair fabric.

Get Help From a Designer

I hired my friend Sydney at Sydney Collins Interiors to help me choose both wallpapers for my dining room and butler's pantry.

She's a great resource because she has tons of wallpaper samples right at her fingertips. She pulled a larger floral to pair with a smaller geometric, which was essential for two rooms that flow together. I love them both so much and can't wait to get them up and share them with you!

Tip for Choosing Matching Paint Colors

I recently bought a Color Muse tool for matching colors on a flat surface to a paint color. It's so cool! It scans the paper or any flat object, connects to the app on your phone, and tells you the paint color.

I've used it with lots of wallpaper samples now. If you need a paint color without hauling a stack of samples to the paint store, you might want to try a Color Muse.

Where to Shop for Wallpaper

I'm not an expert here, but I know there are more options than Magnolia Home at Home Depot. I've bought mine from several online sources. Once I've picked out the exact wallpaper I want, I run a Google search to find the lowest price.

I got a great deal on my powder room wallpaper by comparing prices. I found it $40 off per roll!

Anthropologie
Ballard Designs
Decorator's Best
Perigold
Home Depot
McGee & Co.
Serena & Lily
US WallDecor
Wallpaper Direct – This is where I get my free swatches!
Wayfair

Definitely compare prices to find the best deal! Most websites have a tool to help you figure out how much wallpaper you need for your space.

Favorite Wallpapers for Your Home

I've been browsing wallpapers nonstop lately and have rounded up a few of my favorites for you! They're hard to narrow down, since I've been shopping for several rooms in my house. At one point or another, these floral papers have all been contenders!

My favorite geometric wallpapers are coming soon!

I think that's about all I know about wallpapering! I hope this helped you get started on your wallpaper journey. It's hard to know where to begin, but I think this will set you on the right track! I'm loving wallpaper, so I can't wait to see how you all use it in your homes! Please always share with me on Instagram, I'm @turquoisehome!

Drop any questions in the comments below!