Let's be honest with ourselves, we did not start the #wallpaper trend, people. I'll spare you on the history lessons (I feel asleep in many history classes in art school), but I vaguely remember professors teaching about block printing and paper making. You put those two things together and you have the early stages of wallpaper. When Brian and I bought our first home, built in 1900, I was SO excited to find original wallpaper on some of the walls. No, it wasn’t salvageable, yes it broke my all-old-things loving heart. Growing up, we had wallpaper borders (that’s right, I went there) in MANY rooms. I’m going to make an assumption and say that was the 90’s version of an accent wall. Have no fear, I obviously included a photo of baby Meagan to showcase a wallpaper border for your feasting eyes. Just in case you forgot how much joy the 90's and wallpaper borders brought.
Getting off topic here, let's talk wallpaper! When starting a blog, I thought what could be more perfect than to start with something I know. I've sold wallpaper, specified wallpaper, and installed wallpaper - multiple kinds. I think I'll add a goal of designing wallpaper to this list one day. I can never seem to find the absolutely *perfect* one.
So, are you new to the world of wallpaper? Don't worry it's not too late to jump on board. Wallpaper has been around for so long and it's just getting easier to install. The options are endless at this point with the many different install methods and manufacturers. So, how do you decide which type of wallpaper is best for you and your space?
Here's the deal - if you're new to hanging wallpaper, vinyl is the way to go. It's the easiest to hang, cut, clean and remove when and if you want to do that. Peel and stick vinyl wallpaper is also Godsent and what I have used MANY times in my own homes. I use this because we typically live in our homes for short periods of time, then rent them or move on out. It's the happy medium for me! I want to design a space for us to love and live in, but don't ultimately want to make a permanent decision for the next inhabitants.
Woven wallpapers, like grasscloth or bamboo are more time-consuming and require a bit more finesse, but the end result provides so much depth and texture to your space that only these types of wallcoverings can give.
If you're looking for a high-end, modern aesthetic and are not too budget conscious, there's glass beaded wallcovering or leather wallcoverings. For these applications, I would personally suggest hiring a professional. The material itself can be pricey and much harder to work with - the professionals have the experience to install these the right way.
So, why wallpaper? It's fun, it's adds #texture, #dimension, #color, #pattern. It can make a space feel larger, taller, grander. Wallpaper adds personality. If you're a renter or only in a home or business for a short period of time, it's a great way to #design the space temporarily. Just like paint, it *can* be an inexpensive way to create #transformation. What's defined as space? ANYTHING you want it to be, baby! I was bored of our boring cleaning closet, so I purchased this inexpensive peel and stick palm wallpaper to add a little surprise on the inside of the closet door. Could you really go wrong for under $10? IDK about you, but I'm not the biggest fan of cleaning and this makes me smile every time I open that door.
'Space' can be whatever you want it to be. We're in the process of transforming our camper. It needs a little sprucing up on a budget and you know what's coming in handy, right? That's right, another peel and stick wallpaper. I actually can't wait to show you guys this transformation. I'll be starting to paint the inside today, so stay tuned.
When deciding what type of wallpaper is best for you, your space and your #budget, you'll also need to do some math. I know, I'm sorry! Trust me, I'm not good at this part. I will not lie to you, I have absolutely short-ordered and make mistakes. This is why I'm telling you now - either be smarter than me or have someone who is help you with it. Also, I am not embarrassed to tell you this because I'm great at other things, but this is not one of them :)
Measuring: use a proper measuring tape or laser to determine the square footage of your walls. Subtract any doors and windows in the room from your total square footage. Calculate how many rolls of wallpaper you'll need to order based on this square footage, the square footage on the roll. Add 10% - 20% for overage and waste. If the wallpaper you chose has a pattern repeat, you'll need to consider this when calculating.
Here's a good link to use as reference: How to Measure for Wallpaper.
