Dwell On This: Wallpaper Isnât Just for Walls
At a Glance
Experience
- Anyone with a sense of adventure can try this.
Budget
- You'll need some wallpaper, for starters.
- Peel-and-stick varieties are welcome.
Time
- You'll want to strategize about best placement.
Sometimes, weâre just not ready for commitment. And thatâs okayânot everyone is prepared, or suited, for permanence. Thatâs right, weâre suggesting a fling with wallpaper. Using a small amount to cover unexpected parts of the home is a brilliant way to change the scenery without the obligation, cost, and hassle of a larger installation.
Applying wallpaper at full scale can be dauntingâIs it the right color? What if you get sick of the pattern? And how much will it cost?âbut those worries are significantly diminished when you start small. So instead of wringing your hands about how itâll look plastered across all four walls, buy a roll and use it to line the interior of a closet or pantry, the space underneath the stairs, inside dresser drawers, across stair risers, the back of a cabinet or bookshelf, or even a reading nookâsurfaces that arenât obvious, but observable to the observant. If youâre feeling particularly courageous, a patterned or trompe lâoeilâstyle wallpaper installed overhead across the ceiling can heighten the drama in a room.
Another argument for the commitment-phobe: Wallpaper today is arguably a better bang-for-your-buck option than painting your walls (especially if youâre renting). Temporary, peel-and-stick wallpaper is now commonly available in a plethora of styles and colors, and is both easier to install and remove than either traditional wallpaper or interior paint. That means you can indulge your wilder desires before settling down with your homeâs final look.
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Illustration by Mar Hernández
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