My Decorating Pet Peeves - Wallpaper, Is It Ever a Good Idea?

Could you sleep in this room? Not me!

This month as we discuss decorating basics for a smaller space, I'd like to bring up a few of my 'pet peeves'. High on my list of 'no-nos' is wallpaper, especially floral wallpaper. I expect many of you out there will disagree with me, but wallpaper, is almost never a good idea. Here are my reasons:

• Wallpaper makes a room look dated, regardless of whether the pattern is new.
• A wallpapered room often feels cluttered and claustrophobic. The 'busyness' of the walls overpowers every other design element.
  
• Wallpaper gets dirty very quickly and can be difficult to clean.
• It takes a professional to hang wallpaper correctly and it is hard to remove and replace.
• Wallpaper 'chops-up' the continuous visual flow needed to make a small space harmonious.
• Wallpaper almost always becomes a room's focus. To create balance, walls should be the background for a room, not its focal point.
  

Now, if you must have wallpaper, here are photos of some acceptable wallpapered rooms. But let me tell you, these examples were not easy to find.

This works because the wallpaper is monochromatic.

The natural light and uniform color scheme saves this room.

The black wallpaper is the only accent color here so it is not overwhelming.

Again the wallpaper is the only accent color in this room so it works.
These are all complimentary colors which balance with the the wallpaper.

Until next time,

Genevieve