There are certain trends from the 90’s that were cool then, but you probably won’t see again in most contemporary homes. Things like, carpeted bathroom floors, sponge painted walls, and painted fruit stencils around the border of the kitchen, but amongst these things, wallpaper is not one of them. Some people still think of wallpaper as being outdated, with a faded floral print, or that fake wood pattern that they once seen in the waiting area of a dentist office when they were a kid. On the contrary, there are the people who realize the benefit of the variety of colours, textures, and modern prints that contemporary wallpaper comes in now, let alone the level of sophistication and style it can instantly add to any room.
Aside from the different styles that can be achieved with wallpapers, there are other very good reasons why some people would prefer wallpaper over paint in their home and one of them being that wallpaper can last up to 15 years without any maintenance, being a more cost-effective option in the long run. Another reason being that wallpaper can smooth over and hide any imperfections on the wall it is adhered to. This works out best for first-time homeowners who may of moved into an older home, want to hide apparent flaws on the walls, and transform the room with a punch of modern colours or prints. Wallpaper will certainly fit the budget over renovations, repairs, and the cost to paint the walls.
With that being said, applying wallpaper can be a fun DIY weekend project! That is, if you’ve done some research on how to apply wallpaper and the various tips and tricks to make the job go as smoothly as possible. If you’re only covering one wall to create a sort of feature wall in a living or dining area, it’s as easy as measuring, cutting, applying the paste and smoothing over. On the other hand, if you’re covering an entire room, you’re bound to encounter some tricky parts, like around the outlets, windows, and doors. So before you get discouraged from finishing your wallpaper project, here is a common technique for beginners that will help you get around those tricky corners:
Tools and materials:
Step 1
To start, cut the wallpaper roughly to size around the window or door frame to make it more manageable. Once you have this piece, match it up with the frame and trim it to allow approximately 25mm of an overhang.
Paste and hang your paper in the usual way until you reach the length that meets the frame. Then measure the distance between the edge of the last length you’ve hung and the door frame at the top, bottom and middle of the wall. Use the widest measurement and allow an extra 25mm overlap.
After this, cut a length of paper to this width. Paste and hang the cut length and line the pattern up – fitting to the edge of the previous strip. Next, you’ll need to smooth the paper, first up to an external corner (if there is one) and then up to the window or door frame.
Step 2
Use a smoothing brush or plastic smoother to smooth and press the paper into the edge of the door frame.
Step 3
Gently press a line into the paper along the edge of the frame, using the rounded back of the cutter of putty knife. Lift the edge of the paper off the wall and trim it neatly along this line with the scissors. Then brush the paper back in place and wipe off any excess glue with a lightly dampened sponge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajX_uYAchD0
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With the technicalities out of the way, it really comes down to choosing the right style of wall coverings for your space. With endless styles, colours, prints, dimensions, and textures to choose from, it’s not surprising that you’ll find yourself torn between a few choices. When you walk into your space, how do you want to feel? How do you want your guests to feel? Here’s some things to consider when narrowing down your choices to the perfect print:
- Consider the space you’re working with. Is it a living area that would call for more lively prints? Or a bedroom with warmer more subtle prints?
- Consider the mood you want to convey in the room.
- Lighting is always an important factor to consider. A well lit room with a lot of natural light will compliment bold prints and colours. Keep in mind that light colours reflect light better, so if you want a room to look more spacious, choose a wall covering that is of a light tone or print.
- Textured wallpapers will better hide imperfections on the wall it covers.
- 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 a calm and peaceful mood, while intense cool colors are fresh and dramatic. Warm colors like reds, yellows, and oranges live up to their reputation and actually make people feel warmer. The more intense the color, the more excitement it will give to a room.
Just as a space without colour can bore the room, a room with too many patterns can be hard on the eyes and cause restlessness. If you’re mixing wall coverings in one area, choose ones that share the same colours and tones which will also help coordinating furniture more easily. Once you find the style that resonates well with you, just go for it!
