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As the number of options is so large, today we will help you to find a good living room wallpaper or an alternative that suits you.
It’s amazing how what was once one of the least desired options by people, today is one of the most popular and versatile choices. Yes, it is hard to believe that wallpaper was such a bad option for the vast majority, but due to the ease of use and a large number of designs, it has become quite popular.
Decorate wall paper has become a standard way to fix environments. As simple as placing the paper we want to create a new style. However, not everything is so easy, since each room must have its corresponding design, or we will end up with a real estate disaster.
Image source: Wiseman & Gale Interiors
To avoid mistakes, you should consider the following characteristics in a room:
- Looking for something romantic? Floral patterns with delicate lines are what we need.
- The most casual patterns are defined by imitation papers. The combination of wood and wallpaper creates a pleasant country style.
- Traditional styles are very similar to romantic ones, with damask options and more elegant stripes.
- Finally, we have the most modern options, which stand out for being unicolor or metallic. Failing that, we can use large shapes and geometric patterns.
Uses for wallpaper
Image source: GIL WALSH INTERIORS
How to use wallpaper? It is an understandable question. The main objective of the wallpapers is to cover the walls, creating an additional protective layer against harmful agents, while decorating the rooms. However, when it comes to a living room wallpaper, the trends are no longer the same as decades ago, so we have to update ourselves to avoid falling into outdated designs.
During the 70s, the tapestries of many colors and figures were what commanded, and then in the 80s floral designs became fashionable. We can still use them, but we have to look for a contemporary style. We should also consider that some papers work better if we cover the entire room.
Avoid overwhelming by covering a half wall
Image source: Jennifer Bevan Interiors
An alternative that gives us space to be more creative is to cover walls halfway, or only in some parts, and leave uncovered areas with other types of coverage. The separations of these pieces should be made with solid elements, such as wooden moldings so that the point where the paper is cut is not visible.
The more conservative styles invite us to use the wallpaper in the upper half, while the lower half is covered with wood or other panels (acrylics, vinyl, etc.).
Image source: Jennifer Bevan Interiors
An equally curious alternative within this category is to wallpaper the entire wall, but with several types of paper. Be careful with this option, since combining two or more tapestries can result in even more squeaky designs than if we only had one.
The options here are to choose a delicate style and try to install similar papers, with slight color changes; or be as extreme as possible and use two designs that have nothing in common.
Create focal points with the wallpaper
Image source: Peppeard Design
Although traditionally focal points are created with furniture, we can also use a wall that stands out from the rest. Among the living room wallpaper ideas, this is one of the most outstanding.
Image source: Erol Degim Design
The most successful way to achieve this focal point effect is if we simply install the paper in a direction where people are used to watching, like behind the TV.
Unusual places to use wallpaper
Image source: Favreau Design
There are other cases where using wallpaper is a good idea, but it is rarely considered. One of them is on the roof. Usually, no one decorates the ceilings, and they are simply left with the gray work finish (or some white paint).
Upholstery on the ceiling will give us a unique appearance as if it were a chapel. However, we must be sure of what we install, since the process is more difficult than if it were on a normal wall. The position can be somewhat uncomfortable to avoid leaving air bubbles, which will cause it to fall immediately due to gravity.
Give new life to furniture
Image source: Alison Kandler Interior Design
Some furniture can be decorated again by using wallpaper. If a shelf has lost its shine, or the wood is no longer of the best quality, this practical option is a way to restore it.
Again, we must be careful with the paper if we decide to use it for this purpose, and we do not recommend using it if it has many curves. As for the patterns, both simple colors and lines are very good, we can even use wood imitations if we wish.
The furniture most likely to be damaged by use, and best seen with wallpaper, are the shelves. They are usually built with multiple straight sheets that we can easily decorate. The shelves without doors or with glass are perfect for this since we can cover only the internal part as if it were a gallery.
In the case of furniture, the adhesive can be problematic, compromising its structure and resistance. We can avoid sticking it directly if we first install a protective sheet of another material. An example would be foam rubber, trying not to make so much bulk to take advantage of the space (besides, if it is a sheet outside the furniture, we can remove it at any time).
Let the wallpaper be a work of art
Image source: Shamanth Patil Photography
Another alternative for our living room wallpaper is to hang it as a work of art. This is an excellent idea when our budget is more limited (or if we simply look for something more conservative). How we install it depends on us. We can use a traditional frame for paintings, or one that consists only of 2 pieces of wood on the sides to support it.
Curious patterns for lamps
Image source: Douglas Graneto Design
If you still have a lamp that you can change the protective screen, you can do a complete remodeling job similar to that of furniture. The wallpaper application is very easy since, in general, the screens are cylindrical.
The way to paste it on this site is different from other places since the screen is more delicate, so we will need to use soft glue (like a spray one) that does not create a thick layer of adhesive.
You can apply this paper both externally and internally on the screen. Using it for the internal faces guarantees that you will get pleasant shadows, even if we don’t see the pattern of the paper from the outside.
How to choose the ideal design of a living room wallpaper?
Image source: Ali Hamilton Interiors
We cannot select any type of paper without consideration. There are textured designs and others in flat colors, and each has a different result in our environment. Textured papers are perfect when the original wall has construction problems since they hide the details that it may have.
A single-colored paper or with simple patterns does not create the same impact or depth effect as the textured one but allows us to experiment with finer details and unique colors, such as metallic or glossy finishes.
The most contemporary and refined appearance is achieved with the unicolor alternatives, while a textured wallpaper is perfect for vintage and casual styles. Finally, you should know that the wallpaper could be used as a base layer and then it can be covered by other designs.
We must avoid at all costs selecting papers with very small patterns that we need to place in repetition. These will be very difficult to apply correctly, and we will end up with papers that do not match each other.
How much paper should I buy?
Image source: Kaminski + Pew
Perhaps the most important thing after we know what paper we want is to find out the correct amount that we should buy so as not to lose money. It is a simple job that will save us future problems; you just have to follow these tips:
– Measure the width and height of each wall you want to upholster. Now we must get the total area of each wall, for that we just have to multiply the width by the height.
– With all the calculated square measures, we will add them to get a total. To this total, we must subtract the area of the doors and windows that are in the way.
– Wallpaper is usually sold in rolls. Each roll includes labels with the amount of area they cover. We must acquire a little more than the figure we calculate to avoid inconvenience. Usually, an extra roll is sufficient and necessary, as it guarantees that the design is maintained.
If the calculations were correct, then the extra paper will only be used to fix those that we had to remove or have been damaged in the process. Some stores accept the return of the rolls that we do not use, so we can almost certainly purchase it.
Unleash the craziest ideas
Image source: NEST Design Group
Whether we are looking to change the appearance of our rooms, or if we have renovation plans for our furniture, wallpapers are a practical option that is easy to install and has many alternatives. Today’s guide was simply a review of the multiple uses it has, but they are not the only ones we can implement. Moreover, remember that the same applies to the different wallpaper designs for living rooms, where we can make combinations of all kinds.
If you liked this detailed article on living room wallpaper, you should check out these as well:
- How to decorate a living room: The ultimate guide
- White brick fireplace ideas to use in your living room décor
- French country living room ideas to try in your lovely home
- Living room curtain ideas: Inspiring drapes that you could use