Wallpaper Ideas for Every Room: 21 Stylish Ideas

Wallpaper is one of the quickest ways to give a room personality. A single roll can turn a plain hallway into a welcome, a bland bedroom into a retreat or a tiny cloakroom into the most memorable room in the house. It adds pattern, colour and texture in a way paint alone can't, and today's papers are easier to hang, clean and remove than ever.

In this guide I'll explain how to choose wallpaper for each room, compare the main types of wallpaper, share 21 wallpaper ideas for every room in the house, and point out the mistakes to avoid.

The quick answer: use bold, large-scale patterns on feature walls and in small rooms you pass through, such as cloakrooms and hallways; calmer patterns and textures in bedrooms and offices; washable vinyl or non-woven papers in kitchens and bathrooms; and don't forget ceilings, bookshelves and cupboards for a surprising touch.

Choosing Wallpaper for Each Room

Wallpaper Types Compared

If you're renting or like to change things often, self-adhesive wallpaper is the easiest option, and it can sometimes be reused if removed carefully.

21 Wallpaper Ideas for Every Room

Living room

1. A botanical feature wall. A large-scale leaf or floral print behind the sofa brings the garden indoors and makes an instant focal point. For more living room schemes, explore lounge room wallpaper ideas and contemporary wallpaper for the living room.

2. A scenic mural. A landscape mural across a whole wall gives a room depth and a sense of escape, especially in a room without a view.

3. Wallpaper above panelling. Painted panelling or a dado rail below with wallpaper above is a classic period look that's also practical, because the lower wall takes the knocks.

Bedroom

4. Behind the bed. Papering the wall behind the bed frames it like a headboard and keeps the pattern out of your eyeline when you're lying down.

5. A dark, moody floral. Large flowers on a dark background feel cocooning and romantic, especially with warm lamps and velvet. It's a lovely way to create a cosy bedroom for the colder months.

6. Pattern drenching. Using the same pattern on the walls, curtains and even a headboard creates an enveloping, decorator look. It works best with a small or medium-scale print.

Dining room

7. Chinoiserie. Hand-painted-style birds, branches and blossoms are the classic choice for an elegant dining room. They look beautiful by candlelight.

8. Something dramatic. Because dining rooms are used mostly in the evening, they can take dark, bold patterns that might feel too much elsewhere. A dark mural or a rich damask makes dinner feel like an occasion.

Hallway and stairs

9. Stripes on the stairs. Vertical stripes make a hallway feel taller and look smart in period homes. They also suit a Georgian hallway.

10. A bold pattern in a small hall. A small entrance hall is a room you pass through, so it's a great place to be brave with colour and pattern. A yellow and grey wallpaper is cheerful on a dull winter day.

Kitchen

11. A breakfast nook. Wallpaper around a banquette or breakfast table creates a cosy, café-style corner. It's a classic part of the French café look.

12. Inside glass cabinets or behind open shelves. A small amount of wallpaper at the back of open shelving or glass-fronted cabinets adds charm without risk from splashes. It's also a good use for leftover wallpaper.

Bathroom and cloakroom

13. A bold cloakroom. A downstairs cloakroom or powder room is the perfect place for an extravagant tropical, animal or dramatic floral print. You're only in there for a minute, so it can be as bold as you like.

14. A family bathroom. In a bathroom with a shower or bath, choose vinyl or a moisture-resistant non-woven paper, keep it away from direct splashes, and make sure the room is well ventilated. The best bathroom wallpaper ideas combine a bold pattern with a practical, wipeable finish. If damp is already a problem, deal with it first, including any black mould on wallpaper.

Home office and nursery

15. Grasscloth in a home office. Natural grasscloth adds warmth and texture without a busy pattern, so it's calming to work in and looks smart on video calls. For more ideas, explore home office design ideas.

16. A gentle nursery print. Soft animals, little florals or a pale mural create a calm, happy nursery. A baby girl nursery looks lovely with a soft pink or sage pattern.

Unexpected places

17. The ceiling. Wallpapering the ceiling, sometimes called the fifth wall, adds drama to a bedroom, dining room or cloakroom. A pale pattern lifts the room; a dark one makes it feel cosy.

18. Behind bookshelves. Lining the back of built-in bookshelves with wallpaper makes books and objects stand out and gives alcoves a bespoke look.

19. Inside wardrobes and cupboards. A beautiful paper inside a wardrobe, linen cupboard or drawers is a small, private luxury that makes everyday routines feel special.

20. Metallic accents. Gold, silver or pearlescent papers catch the light and suit dining rooms, bedrooms and cloakrooms. Gold wallpaper is especially glamorous, while pink wallpaper with a pearlescent sheen feels soft and romantic.

21. A heritage pattern. Classic Arts and Crafts designs remain popular for good reason. The Victoria and Albert Museum notes that William Morris "produced over 50 wallpapers," and that his first, Trellis, was inspired by "the rose trellis in the garden of Red House," his home in Kent, as described in its article on Morris and wallpaper design. Patterns like these suit period homes, such as an Edwardian interior, beautifully.

How to Choose Wallpaper

• Match the scale to the room. Large patterns can actually make small rooms feel bigger and more intentional; tiny, busy patterns can look fussy on large walls.
• Order a sample. Look at it on the wall, in daylight and at night, for a few days before you buy.
• Check the pattern repeat. Large repeats mean more waste, so you'll need more rolls.
• Buy enough from the same batch. Colours can vary slightly between batches, so order all your rolls, plus one or two spare, at the same time.
• Think about the rest of the room. Pull a paint colour from the wallpaper for woodwork or the other walls. The same steps for choosing a colour palette apply to wallpaper too.
• Prepare the walls. Walls need to be smooth, clean and dry. Lining paper helps on old or uneven plaster.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best room to wallpaper?

Cloakrooms, hallways and dining rooms are the easiest places to start, because you can be bold without it feeling overwhelming. A feature wall behind a bed or sofa is another easy start.

Is wallpaper back in style?

Yes. Wallpaper has been very popular for several years, especially botanicals, murals, heritage patterns and textured papers such as grasscloth.

Should you wallpaper one wall or the whole room?

Both work. One feature wall is easy and affordable; papering the whole room feels more enveloping and is often more elegant, especially with a calm or small-scale pattern.

Can you put wallpaper in a bathroom?

Yes, if you choose a vinyl or moisture-resistant paper, keep it away from direct splashes and make sure the room is well ventilated.

Does wallpaper make a room look smaller?

Not necessarily. A large-scale pattern or a mural can make a small room look bigger and more interesting, and vertical stripes can make a ceiling feel higher.

What wallpaper is easiest to hang?

Non-woven wallpaper is the easiest traditional option, because you paste the wall rather than the paper. Peel and stick wallpaper needs no paste at all.

How do I choose a wallpaper pattern?

Start with the mood you want, then match the scale of the pattern to the room, and take one of its colours for the woodwork or the remaining walls.

Pattern, Personality and Charm

Wallpaper can transform any room, from a tiny cloakroom to a grand dining room. Choose the right type for the room, match the pattern to the space and the mood, prepare the walls well, and don't be afraid to try it somewhere unexpected.

And if you'd like help choosing wallpaper and colours for your home, you can book a one-hour online interior design consultation with me.