How to Choose A Wallpaper Pattern

Wall coverings generate visual interest by adding pattern, texture, and accent color to a room. They are a dramatic way to define a room's style. With the right pattern, you can totally change the appearance of an entire room!

For example, modern wallpaper with a bold abstract print immediately establishes a contemporary style, while a small floral design will suggest a more traditional or country theme.

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Small Prints

Small prints add a touch of pattern to the overall background color, forming a subtle backdrop. Mini prints in light, cool colors and fine textures applied to the walls and ceiling create a feeling of more space in a small room. If the mini print is in a warm, dark color, the opposite response occurs. Patterns with small prints are often used in kitchens, bathrooms, and other small spaces.

Large Prints

Ready to make a statement? Large dense prints add the most visual excitement to a room. These bold designs often prove the most memorable, leaving a lasting impact on your guests. You can treat large designs like wall art, adding flair to rooms of any size. If you want a room to feel smaller and more intimate, large print wallpaper will help accomplish your goal.

Large Open Patterns

Time for a breath of fresh air. Large, open patterns feature a pattern spread out over a light background, opening up a room and tying it together. Subtle patterns in this style act much like lighter colors, brightening and warming a room. Combine open patterns on the walls with a light ceiling to retain a sense of height when design elements have a vertical thrust.

Geometric Prints

Bring order to your design. If your room needs a focal point, geometric wallpaper will be perfect for the job. Geometric wallpaper prints give a lasting impression of continuous space when applied to all the walls. This category includes bold shapes, sharp angles, plaid wallpaper, and grids. Large geometric patterns can be bold and exciting, while small patterns can be subtle and peaceful.

Vertical Lines

Wallpaper patterns with strong vertical lines or stripes remain a timeless choice. From thick bold stripes to classy pinstripes, vertical striped wallpaper provides the perfect backdrop for your interior design. Choose from classic two-tone lines, multicolored stripes, or exciting non-traditional stripes. Use vertical stripes to make a low ceiling seem higher.

Horizontal Stripes

Horizontal stripes make a room seem wider. They come in as many varieties as vertical wallpaper, allowing you to match the color, tone, and feel of your room. The right horizontal striped wallpaper can make your design elements truly stand out. Remember that any vertical stripe wallpaper can be hung horizontally — those in the know call this technique "railroading!"

Diagonal Stripes

Want to create a dynamic feeling of motion? Diagonal stripes direct focus in a room and create a fun sense of movement. If you love stripes but wanting something a little different, try a diagonal design. Much like you can hang vertical wallpaper horizontally, you can hang any striped wallpaper at a carefully measured angle to create playful diagonal lines.

Textured Wallpaper

Bring life and character to a room with textured wallpaper. Textures like raised grasscloth wallpaper or expanded vinyl create dimension, interest, and tactile surfaces. This is a clever way to introduce shadows and color variations for a more appealing wall surface. Rich textures tell a story and give history to your walls. Use textured wallpapers when you want to add real depth to a room. As an added option, paintable wallpaper with a raised texture can add both tactile depth and a custom color to any room!