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Table of Contents
- Introduction
- 1. Frame an Archway or Doorway
- 2. Crown Molding with the Right Backdrop
- 3. Define Wainscoting and Chair Rails
- 4. Highlight Coffered Ceilings and Ceiling Medallions
- 5. Use Wallpaper to Accentuate Built-Ins and Niches
- 6. Work With (Not Against) Window Surrounds
- The Conclusion
Introduction
Your home expresses itself through architecture in subtle yet confident gestures: a soft arch that effortlessly follows a curve, the bold rhythm of coffers in the ceiling, the subtle restraint of the wainscoting. These are statements of architecture, not hidden under a coat of paint. Wallpaper for Walls used to its full potential can put these features squarely in the limelight in a way that no other material can. Let us show you how.
1. Frame an Archway or Doorway
An archway or decorative door surround will always draw the eye, and the wallpaper will help amplify this effect. The secret is contrast. Select a neutral-colored wall as a background. A simple plaster or flat matte finish works well. For the recessed archway niche in the doorway, a bold patterned wallpaper will draw the eye immediately. Geometric, floral, or grasscloth design wallpapers work well. Think of the archway as a frame and the wallpaper as the "artwork" inside.
2. Crown Molding with the Right Backdrop
If the wall color matches the crown molding, it will become less noticeable. To carve out the space, consider wall colors that are rich, bold, or even boldly patterned. Imagine a dramatic wallpaper featuring moody shades of blue and green and crisp white trim. It makes a statement and says a lot about the fact that the ceiling height was a deliberate design choice. If the room already has elaborate carved trim work, use a wallpaper with a softer texture. Such as linen or satin. In a subtle stripe in order not to compete with the trim.
3. Define Wainscoting and Chair Rails
Wainscoting provides a clear division on the wall, and wallpaper was made for division. Hang the wallpaper above the chair rail or panel work, with the bottom remaining painted or panel work. This classic combination adds depth and creates a clear division in material use. A stripe pattern above bead board is a classic combination. For a modern update, a bold abstract print in a large scale above crisp white shiplap provides a nice division in the wall.
4. Highlight Coffered Ceilings and Ceiling Medallions
Don’t forget the ceilings. Coffered ceilings, with their gridwork of sunken panels, are usually unpapered, and it’s a shame. Papering each of the sunken panels with a wallpaper that matches your wallcovering will give your ceiling a real design punch as a fifth wall. Select a design that is on a scale smaller than your wall covering so that the ceiling does not look bulky. The same concept works when choosing a ceiling medallion. Choose a subtle wallpaper so that the medallian does not look like an afterthought.
5. Use Wallpaper to Accentuate Built-Ins and Niches
Built-ins are those tucked-in bookcases or wall niches that provide a perfect setting for a wallpaper accent. By accent fabricating the back panel of a built-in using wallpaper, while keeping other surfaces in their original finish, a level of depth is created that feels like a designer look. The result is great in any room, from living spaces to a home office or a dining room. Using a bold wallpaper for a niche or display inset area turns that recessed recess into a purposeful vignette that feels like whatever is placed there is curated.
6. Work With (Not Against) Window Surrounds
However, in selecting a wallpaper, one should not forget the window frames and the large surrounds themselves. If you have high decorative windows in your room, you should consider adding a repeating pattern to the space between and behind these windows. This will draw your eye upward and accentuate the vertical elements in your windows. If one chooses a horizontally repeating pattern in the wall areas between the windows, the long wall reading effect is rather dramatic and museum-like.
The Conclusion
The architectural elements are essentially laying the groundwork for any space, and then the wallpaper is what enlivens those elements. There is something about wallpaper that really makes an architectural moment happen. Whether it's tucked up against classic Victorian moldings, or sleek mid-century built-ins, or a crisp board-and-batten look. The key is to really make pattern work for you, to really make texture work for you, and to let architecture work through those elements.
Ready to find the perfect wallpaper for your home's unique architecture? Explore our curated collection at Total WallCovering - where quality meets design, wall by wall.
Your Home. Your Walls. Your Story.