How do you choose wallpaper? Start with the room and how it's used: washable vinyl or vinyl-coated wallpaper for kitchens, bathrooms and kids' rooms; non-woven or traditional paper for living rooms and bedrooms; grasscloth for low-traffic rooms where you want natural texture; and peel-and-stick if you rent or want an easy change. Then choose the pattern scale for the size of the room (large patterns for large walls or a single accent wall, small patterns that read as texture for small rooms), match the colors to your furniture and floors, and order enough rolls to cover the wall plus 10 to 15% for pattern matching and waste.
This guide covers the types of wallpaper, how to choose a pattern, color and scale, where to use wallpaper (accent walls, ceilings, bookcases and more), how much wallpaper you need, peel-and-stick vs traditional wallpaper, and installation and removal basics.
Types of Wallpaper
| Type | Best for | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-woven | Living rooms, bedrooms, hallways | Breathable; paste-the-wall installation; strips off in one piece | Less scrubbable than vinyl |
| Traditional paper | Low-humidity living spaces | Wide range of designs; rich printed colors | Tears easily; harder to hang and remove |
| Vinyl or vinyl-coated | Kitchens, bathrooms, kids' rooms, hallways | Durable, washable, moisture resistant | Less breathable; can trap moisture on damp walls |
| Peel-and-stick | Renters, accent walls, furniture, quick updates | Self-adhesive; removable; easy DIY | Can lift in humidity or on textured walls; may pull paint on removal |
| Grasscloth and natural fiber | Living rooms, bedrooms, offices | Beautiful natural texture; hides minor wall flaws | Stains easily; seams show; not for humid or high-touch areas |
| Textured and embossed (paintable) | Ceilings, old walls, wainscot areas | Hides imperfections; can be painted any color | Limited patterns |
| Murals | Feature walls, nurseries, dining rooms | Large, one-of-a-kind image | Needs precise measuring |
| Flocked, metallic and foil | Powder rooms, dining rooms, statement walls | Glamorous, reflective or velvety texture | Shows wall flaws; harder to install |
How to Choose a Wallpaper Pattern
Pattern scale
- Large-scale patterns (big florals, murals, oversized geometrics) suit large walls, accent walls, dining rooms and high ceilings. They can make a small powder room feel dramatic and enveloping.
- Medium patterns work in most living rooms and bedrooms.
- Small patterns read as texture from a distance, so they're easy to live with in small rooms and on all four walls.
Pattern direction
- Vertical stripes make ceilings look higher.
- Horizontal patterns make a room feel wider.
- Diagonal and geometric patterns add energy.
Pattern match
Check the pattern match on the label. Random match (stripes, textures) has the least waste; straight match lines up horizontally on every strip; drop or half-drop match shifts down every other strip and creates more waste. The larger the pattern repeat, the more extra wallpaper you need.
Style
| Interior style | Wallpaper ideas |
|---|---|
| Traditional | Damask, toile, chinoiserie, small florals |
| Modern and minimalist | Textured solids, subtle geometrics, grasscloth |
| Japandi and wabi-sabi | Grasscloth, paper-look textures, plaster effects |
| Coastal | Stripes, grasscloth, soft blue botanicals |
| Art Deco | Fans, sunbursts, metallic geometrics |
| Maximalist | Bold florals, animal prints, murals, pattern on the ceiling |
Popular Wallpaper Design Ideas
- Classic florals and garden prints: roses, peonies and climbing flowers suit traditional, cottage and French country rooms; a large garden mural brings the outdoors in.
- Botanicals and trees: leaves, palms and tree branches in soft greens add calm to bedrooms and bathrooms.
- Retro and vintage geometrics: 1960s and 1970s circles, waves and diamonds give a playful, mid-century feel.
- Stone, brick and wood effects: realistic marble, stone, brick or wood-panel wallpaper adds texture without construction.
- Linen and fabric looks: subtle woven textures that look like linen or silk, an elegant background for art and furniture.
- Stripes and checks: timeless, easy to pair with other patterns, and good for making a ceiling look taller.
- Animal prints and bold motifs: leopard, zebra or oversized fruit and birds in powder rooms or dining rooms for a statement.
- Murals and scenic wallpaper: landscapes, skylines or chinoiserie scenes create a focal wall in a living room or dining room.
How to Choose Wallpaper Color
- Light, airy colors open up small or dark rooms.
- Dark backgrounds (navy, green, black) make a room feel cozy and dramatic, especially in bedrooms, dining rooms and powder rooms.
- Pull colors from the room: repeat a color from your rug, sofa, cabinets or art.
- Check the light: order samples and look at them on the wall at different times of day.
- Coordinate with trim: paint the trim to match the wallpaper's background for a modern look, or white for contrast.
Where to Use Wallpaper: Ideas by Room
- Accent wall: behind a bed, a sofa, a TV wall or a dining table. Choose a wall with no windows or doors for the most impact.
- Powder room: the perfect place for a bold pattern; small and low-humidity.
- Primary bedroom: behind the headboard or all around for a cocooning, restful mood.
- Guest bedroom: a great place to try a bolder pattern you might not choose for rooms you use every day.
- Home offices: a calm texture or botanical behind the desk looks good on video calls.
- Living room: grasscloth or a subtle pattern on all walls, or a bold accent wall.
- Dining room: murals, chinoiserie or large florals above wainscoting.
- Ceiling: "the fifth wall": a pattern or texture overhead in a bedroom, dining room or entry.
- Inside bookcases and cabinets: line the back panels of shelves or glass-door cabinets to make displays pop.
- Nursery and kids' rooms: washable vinyl or peel-and-stick in playful patterns.
- Kitchen and bathroom: vinyl or vinyl-coated wallpaper away from direct water splashes, with good ventilation.
- Stair risers, closets and the back of doors: small, surprising details.
Textured, natural-fiber wallcoverings like the grasscloth-look wall above add warmth behind a bed without a busy pattern, and pair well with natural wood furniture.
How Much Wallpaper Do You Need?
- Measure each wall: width × height in feet to get square footage. Add the walls together.
- Subtract large openings such as big windows and doors (or keep them in if you want extra).
- Check roll coverage on the label. Standard American double rolls and European rolls each cover about 56 to 57 sq ft before waste.
- Divide your total by the roll coverage, then add 10 to 15% for trimming and pattern matching, more for large repeats.
- Order all rolls from the same batch (dye lot) so colors match.
Example: a 12 ft wide, 8 ft tall accent wall is 96 sq ft. At about 56 sq ft per roll, that's about 1.7 rolls; add 15% and order 2 rolls (3 with a large pattern repeat).
Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper vs Traditional Wallpaper
Peel-and-stick wallpaper (also called self-adhesive or removable wallpaper) has made it easy to try wallpaper in a rental or a single room before committing to the entire home. Here's how it compares with traditional pasted wallpaper:
| Peel-and-stick | Traditional (paste) wallpaper | |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | DIY-friendly; no paste | Paste the wall or the paper; more skill needed |
| Removal | Peels off; best for renters | Non-woven strips easily; paper may need steaming |
| Durability | Good on smooth walls in dry rooms | Longer lasting; better for humid rooms (vinyl) |
| Look | Can show seams and bubbles | Smoother, more professional finish |
| Best for | Rentals, accent walls, furniture, short-term updates | Long-term, whole-room projects |
Wallpaper Installation Basics
- Prepare the wall: fill holes, sand smooth, clean, and apply a wallpaper primer.
- Plan the layout: start in a less visible corner or center the pattern on a focal wall; draw a plumb line with a level.
- Cut strips with a few extra inches at top and bottom, matching the pattern.
- Paste and hang: paste the wall (non-woven) or the paper (traditional), align with the plumb line, smooth out bubbles with a smoothing tool.
- Butt the seams tightly without overlapping, and roll them flat.
- Trim excess at the ceiling, baseboard and around outlets (turn the power off first).
Removing wallpaper: non-woven and peel-and-stick usually pull off dry. Traditional paper may need scoring, a removal solution or a steamer, then washing off the leftover paste before painting.
Wallpaper Mistakes to Avoid
- Choosing a pattern from a tiny sample without testing a larger piece on the wall
- Ordering too few rolls or mixing dye lots
- Using paper or grasscloth in a steamy bathroom
- Skipping wall prep and primer
- A large, busy pattern on every wall of a small, cluttered room
- Peel-and-stick on textured or freshly painted walls (wait at least a few weeks after painting)
How to Choose Wallpaper: FAQ
What is the best type of wallpaper for a bathroom?
Vinyl or vinyl-coated wallpaper, which resists moisture and can be wiped clean. Make sure the room has good ventilation.
Is peel-and-stick wallpaper good quality?
Quality varies. Thicker vinyl peel-and-stick on smooth, primed walls in dry rooms looks good and lasts years; thin versions can bubble or lift.
Should you wallpaper an accent wall or the whole room?
An accent wall is easier, cheaper and works with bold patterns. Wallpapering the whole room creates a cozier, more cohesive look, best with smaller or subtler patterns.
Does wallpaper make a room look smaller?
Dark, busy wallpaper can make a room feel more enclosed, which can be cozy. Light colors and small or vertical patterns keep a room feeling open.
How much extra wallpaper should I buy?
About 10 to 15% extra, more for large pattern repeats or rooms with many corners and openings.
Can you wallpaper over paint?
Yes, on a smooth, clean, fully cured painted wall. Apply a wallpaper primer first for better adhesion and easier removal later.
Choosing wallpaper comes down to four decisions: the right type for the room, a pattern scale that fits the space, colors that tie in with your furniture, and enough rolls to cover the wall. Order samples, test them on the wall, and start with an accent wall if you're unsure.