8 Tips Designers Always Use to Pick Out the Perfect Wallpaper

09.02.2024 - 14:45 / thespruce.com / Sarah Lyon

If you've ever wondered what kinds of steps professional interior designers take prior to selecting wallpaper for their client's homes or have any burning design questions, we're here to give you a behind-the-scenes look.

We spoke with experts who share their eight most valuable tips on what to take into account each step of the way throughout the wallpaper purchasing process. With their advice, you'll be well-equipped to give any room of your home a much-deserved makeover.

Before looking at specific wallpaper patterns, you will want to think about how you'd like the space you're designing to feel, whether you're looking to create a soothing bedroom or an energetic powder room, Bruce Fox, the founder of Bruce Fox Design, says. Given that wallpaper makes such a powerful statement, it will play a significant role in shaping the mood of space for better or for worse.

Keep in mind that a powder room, for example, is easy to shut off from the rest of the home and may be a great space in which to go bold. However, since a living room is visible from many angles, using a bold wallpaper pattern could be overwhelming or distracting.

Design by Bruce Fox / Photo by Werner Straube

You will also want to evaluate how you plan to use a given room before committing to a specific type of wallpaper; Tineke Triggs, the founder of Tineke Triggs, notes, high-traffic spaces may require paper that is easy to clean. Keep those delicate prints out of the kitchen and mudroom and opt for something that will more readily stand the test of time.

Whether or not a space receives much natural light will also affect your wallpaper decision. The more natural light present, the darker you can go with your wall covering, Roz Murphy, the founder of Roz