Wallpaper has made a serious comeback. What was once a dusty design relic is now a modern tool for adding personality, depth, and texture to your home. We love it because it can instantly transform a room sometimes more dramatically than any piece of furniture or paint color ever could. But while wallpaper may look effortless once it’s installed, there’s a lot going on behind the scenes. From material selection to installation techniques, the details matter.
Choosing the Right Wallpaper Material
Not all wallpaper is the same, and your material choice will impact both how it looks and how it performs over time.
- Paper Wallpaper: Traditional and often hand-printed, these are detailed and beautiful but not the most durable. Best for low-traffic areas like bedrooms.
- Vinyl Wallpaper: Durable, scrubbable, and resistant to moisture, vinyl is a safe bet for kitchens, bathrooms, or high-traffic spaces.
- Non-Woven Wallpaper: A modern favorite. Made of natural and synthetic fibers, it’s breathable, tear-resistant, and best of all, easy to remove in whole sheets when you’re ready for a change.
- Grasscloth & Natural Fibers: Nothing beats the texture of grasscloth or hemp wallpaper. Each panel is unique, and seams will always show, but that’s part of the charm. Just don’t put it in a bathroom; it doesn’t love moisture.
Prep Is Everything
The glamorous part is picking the pattern, but prep can make or break your wallpaper.
- Smooth Walls: Wallpaper highlights imperfections, so patch and sand before you begin.
- Primer/Sizing: This step creates a sealed surface that helps wallpaper stick properly and come off cleanly later.
- Clean Base: Dust and oil will interfere with adhesion, so a good wipe-down is essential.
Installation: DIY or Call the Pros?
Wallpaper comes in a few different application types:
- Pre-Pasted: Just add water to activate the adhesive. Easiest for DIY beginners.
- Paste-the-Wall: Adhesive goes on the wall, not the paper. Cleaner and faster.
- Paste-the-Paper: The classic method, and often required for natural or delicate materials. More labor-intensive, but worth it for specialty finishes.
If you’re working with grasscloth, silk, or an intricate mural, we recommend calling in a pro. Pattern alignment and seam placement can be tricky, and natural materials can expand or contract while drying. It’s worth the investment.
Why We Love Wallpaper
Wallpaper does something that paint alone just can’t.
- Adds Depth: Even a subtle texture can make a white room feel more layered and considered.
- Plays with Scale: Oversized florals in a tiny powder room? Bold stripes in a parlor? Wallpaper lets you experiment.
- Feels Personal: With so many patterns, textures, and finishes available, wallpaper is one of the easiest ways to make your home feel like yours.
We’ve used wallpaper everywhere from parlor-level feature walls in brownstones to cozy bedrooms and jewel-box powder rooms. Every time, it adds a layer of luxury and intention that elevates the entire space.
Our Favorite Wallpaper
We have used wallpaper at countless of our projects including Park Slope Paradise, Bed Stuy Brownie, and more. Here are some of the wallpaper designs that we have used in our projects:
Orange Crush by Lulu and Georgia
Sanderson Terrariums by Fashion Wallpaper
Monkey Garden Black by Carly Home
New York City by Milton & King
Secret Garden by Milton & King
Cranes in Dusty Blue by Spoonflower
Lemon Drop by Wallpops (peel and stick)
CLJ Alcott Sapphire by Wallpops (peel and stick)
Shop these wallpapers and more here.
