Hello! Today I’m sharing something near and dear to me: my favorite bold, colorful wallpaper and wall murals. I once swore (after removing 10 walls of wallpaper plus the matching borders from a house papered during the 1980s) that I would NEVER allow wallpaper in a home I owned. Oh how I have lived to eat those words. 🙂 I now have Wallpaper or a Wall Mural in our lake house and in every one of our Airbnb’s. Why, the change of heart you ask? Well, obviously I love it, but mostly because it’s such an easy way to create a truly personal statement in your home!
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Hear me out:
Bold and Colorful Wallpaper Makes a Statement
Whether you are considering adding a statement wall in a living room or following the trending option of wallpapering the entire room, you can’t go wrong with choosing bold colors. Wallpaper can add personality and warmth to your interior spaces.
Plus, a great wall mural or wallpaper can really lean into a theme – a more masculine dark pattern for a game room or a bar area/speakeasy vibe in a basement.
Or think perhaps of a pretty floral for a Cottagecore bedroom or these delightful vintage swimmers from Rebel Walls in our Airbnb in a beach town.
Some of my favorite applications for wallpaper are ceilings! Below, we used bold prints on a dining room ceiling, adding instant texture and color to the space. If the room has high ceilings, wallpaper can make the space feel cozy and inviting. Do you have beautiful moulding? A wallpapered ceiling will highlight it! It draws the eye up, making the entire space feel finished and intentional. I urge you to give it a try!
Small powder rooms are perfect for an all-over wallpaper treatment. More is More here. The bolder, the better. It’s like giving your walls a voice, and I’m here for it! Adding a pop of color or an eye-catching design to a blank wall can make a huge statement! Below, I leaned into a beachy cottage theme at one of our short-term rental properties.
For a large wall in a Living room, consider a multicolored wall mural made for your specific wall size as one giant pattern (as shown below from Photowall) or bold floral wallpaper, which is more of a pattern repeat and is ordered made for your wall sizes and sent in pieces that you pattern match as you hang it.
You can also use wallpaper to create a striking focal point in your home office. This one is from a client I worked with, and we combined it with a graphic wall.
Installation Has Never Been Easier.
Let’s be honest, wallpaper used to take a lot of time and effort. But those days are long gone! Here’s why:
- Peel-and-stick is a game-changer: Seriously, it’s like a giant sticker for your wall. Perfect for those that are renting. No more messy paste. Just peel, stick, and smooth. It’s so much easier than Grandma’s wallpaper! TIP: I like to use this when applying peel-and-stick wallpaper. It keeps my frustration with the stickiness to a minimum. I also love a Peel-and-Stick decal like the these below from Urban Walls.
- If you prefer traditional wallpaper as I do, pre-pasted options have made huge strides. You just wet the back and hang it. Less mess, less stress.
- Repeat patterns are made for ease: Many modern patterns are designed to repeat with little waste, making the process less frustrating.
- There are so many tools that make installing wallpaper a breeze. Smoothers, exacto knives, and measuring tools can be found at your nearest big box store, making the installation process feel very manageable, even for a DIY beginner. TIP: Grasscloth Wallpaper is a little tricker so I recommend getting a few projects under your belt before jumping into Grasscloth.
Get creative with your pops of color. Add peel-and-stick wallpaper to the inside of your pantry, the back of your bookcases, or a closet. Wallpaper adds that extra wow factor where you least expect it.
You can shop my Amazon Peel-and-Stick Favorites here.
Did You Know You Can Customize Wallpaper?
Personalizing for your home:
Imagine a custom mural of your aspiring dancer, soccer player, or whatever you can dream up! If you’re looking for abstract wallpapers or photo wallpaper, You can simply upload a photo, and they will print it as a wall mural. Think of the beauty of nature from a trip to a National Park or even abstract art drawn by your child as a perfect mural for your space.
I also love the option of selecting a pattern you love and switching up the colors to get the ideal paper for your space every time. I did this with my grandson’s bedroom, which turned out perfect. We used Love VS Design for this Project.
For those designing an Airbnb!
You can customize the colors of a pattern you have fallen in love with or design an entire Wall Mural from your own photograph. Think of something local to your area and take a photograph (or hire a photographer if your skills aren’t quite there), and have it blown up into a custom wall mural! I adore this idea. I plan to do this in one of our lake properties someday. I’m just waiting to capture the perfect sunset over Lake Michigan. It’s such a unique way to personalize your space and give guests a taste of the local charm.
The Following Wallpaper Companies offer design-your-own-wallpaper and wall mural options:
My 10 Favorite Wallpaper Sources:
- Rebel Walls– Such a cool factor to their designs. ❤️❤️❤️ High quality.
- Wallism
- Spoonflower– So many designs! Be prepared to get lost down the rabbit hole.
- PhotoWall
- Urban Walls
- Anewall– I have used them several times. Love the quality of their paper.
- Milton & King
- Tempaper
- Rifle Paper Co.
- Chasing Paper, carries a durable line of matte vinyl wallpaper that is highly scrubbable and of commercial-grade quality.
You can shop some of my favorite wallpaper designs here:
My next DIY wallpaper project is the Entryway at our latest rental. The wall mural is from Rebel Walls, from their First Rebels Collection, and it is so so good!!!!
So, there you have it! My love affair with bold, colorful wallpaper and wall murals. Don’t be afraid to take the plunge and add some personality to your living spaces. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes. Happy wallpapering!
Until next time,
-Libbie
You May Also Enjoy:
How to Install Wallpaper On a Ceiling Like A Pro
Before and After Powder Room with Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper
5 Tips To Installing Traditional Wallpaper
