Tips for selecting Wallpaper

First, consider the style of the room that you're designing:

• If it's romantic, try delicate damasks and florals with fine lines in muted, pastel colors.
• If it's casual, faux finishes such as beadboard and stucco are simple, casual options. Pairing beadboard wallpaper with organic, flowing floral designs also makes for an at-home, relaxed feel.
• If it's contemporary/fashion forward, consider bold geometrics with high gloss and metallic accents. Large-scale and bold florals also make a high-fashion statement this year.
• If it's traditional, check out intricate damasks and stripes, which coordinate perfectly with traditional furnishings and decor.

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Next, figure out how you plan to use the wallpaper in the room. All styles don't work in the same way. Here are the various options:

• Cover all four walls. A classic, simple stripe design hung horizontally on all four walls gives a fresh contemporary look. Large-scale and simple designs will not overwhelm a room but add a trendy twist.
• Feature one wall. Choose a dramatic, bold pattern to highlight an area of a room, such as behind a sofa or bed. Designs with a hint of metallic, mica, or gloss will give a classy, glamorous touch.
• Wallpaper with a chair rail. If you are working with a chair rail that divides a wall, it is easy to bring unique interest to it. For a classic look, try paintable beadboard wallpaper for under the chair rail. Above the chair rail, hang a large-scale floral or damask for an updated look. Another interesting way to work with a chair rail is to anchor the wall with a pattern below it, such as dramatic damask wallpaper, and paint a coordinating color above it. Adding wallpaper in this fashion creates a unique element of surprise not often seen in rooms.
• Add interest to the ceiling.  I love the idea of using wallpaper on the ceiling.  It really is a dramatic interior design statement!

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If you're wallpapering for the first time, avoid very small patterns with offset matches. For these, the designs can be difficult to match up in repeat.

Choosing a flat or textured design is all about personal style. In general, textured patterns give a more casual look to a room, whereas flat designs can make a wall more refined.  Hide Flaws with Texture.  Patterns with real or perceived texture can hide or camouflage wall imperfections or architectural eyesores. Patterns with actual tactile surfaces include grass and string cloth, burlap, foil, expanded vinyl, and even fabric. Other papers simulate the look of marble, wood, leather, fabric, even animal skins. A pattern with a layered design also creates a perception of texture (such as a monochromatic damask design behind a floral pattern).

With flat wallpapers, you have the options of fine detailing in design, and embellishments such as metallic, gloss, or mica effects. If you have imperfections in your walls, but prefer the look of flat wallpaper, using a wall liner as a base layer can give you the added coverage you need.

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Take a Cue from Color 

Color can set the interior design mood in a room. To make a space appear larger and the ceiling higher, pick patterns with cool-color backgrounds, such as green, blue, or violet. Soft cool colors suggest tranquillity, while intense cool colors are fresh and dramatic. Warm colors -- reds, yellows, and oranges -- live up to their name and actually make people feel warmer. These are a popular choice in colder climates like here in Philadelphia and also work well in north-facing rooms. The more intense the color, the more excitement it will give to a room.

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Play with Light 

In a north-facing room, dark hallway, or windowless space, look for wallcoverings that will reflect light around the room, such as patterns with light colors and those with metallic or iridescent inks. Also consider patterns with smooth surfaces, which reflect maximum light. Dark colors absorb light, making walls appear closer and the room smaller. Textured surfaces also tend to make a wall look darker.  If you are very adventurous, you should go for LED integrated wallcovering.

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