Wallpaper is BACK and we are here for it. As longtime lovers of wallpaper, we feel vindicated by its return. It was most popular during the Victorian Era, and saw resurgences in design in the 1920’s, 50’s, and 70’s, however, in the 1990’s and early 2000’s, the wallpaper witch-hunt began and it was stripped from many homes.
Obviously, as designers of historical homes with passions for preservation and restoration, we’re partial to elements from yesteryear, but make no mistake: we are not here to sell you your Grandmother’s wallpaper. We want to help you make the most of your wallpaper journey and use it in ways you might find unexpected or interesting, plus give you tips on what to avoid.
1. Pay attention to the scale of design. Small, repetitive scale can create the illusion of a texture on the wall versus a larger scale that reads more graphic. We suggest ordering samples before you buy so you can see it in the natural lighting of a room and decide whether or not the scale works for your desired look! The scale on this one is just perfect!
2. Skip the accent wall! We know it can seem tempting to break up the pattern by only wallpapering an accent wall, but wallpapering all walls will fully envelope you in the design rather than cutting up the room. If you really want to break it up, painting the trim in a color pulled from the wallpaper can give a really cohesive, polished look! We love this one for full immersion!
3. Do the unexpected. Wallpaper is a gorgeous design element to use on ceilings, kitchen backsplashes, or in open shelving. Adding the dimension and design of wallpaper in spaces where we’re not used to seeing it can give the entire room an elevated and visually interesting infusion of style! We might just have to put this one on our ceiling!
There you have it! Make sure to tag us @brownstoneboys in your designs if you use any of our tips! We can’t wait to see what you create.
XO, Jordan & Barry
