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HOW TO WALLPAPER YOUR WALLS Print E-mail



Wallpapering entire rooms is typically more expensive than painting. (Unless, of course, you find a super clearance sale or pick up rolls at a yard sale!) Many renters do not feel that wallpapering is worth the effort and cost, unless they plan to stay put for a long time (and the landlord permits it) or they own the place.

But don't give up on the idea of wallpapering just yet. Traditionally, when people think of wallpaper, they think of entire rooms covered with it, particularly rooms like kitchens and bathrooms. But using wallpaper can be less costly and very effective if you use it in moderation. For instance:

Use a patterned wallpaper on just one "accent wall" to add interest, color, and texture to a room.

Add a wallpaper border at the ceiling line or at chair-rail level (whether or not you have an actual chair rail) for a great effect.

Add wallpaper in your kitchen as a backsplash between your cabinets and your countertops.

If you decide to use wallpaper, the available selections may seem almost limitless. In fact, a trip to a wallpaper store can be a little overwhelming for many peopleespecially when you see mile-high bookshelves overflowing with pattern books. So, just take a deep breath and remain calm. When you hit stores in search of the perfect wallpaper, remember these tips:

Bring home the biggest sample the store will allow.

Hold the wallpaper sample against your furniture and accessories and see how they look together. Examine it in dim light, in bright light, and in sunlight. Know that swatch intimately before you decide to buy!

Consider the patternlarge patterns do not repeat as often as smaller patterns, so they are harder to line up, and the waste (therefore, the cost) is greater.

REMOVABLE WALLPAPER

It was bound to happen sooner or later. Someone has gone and invented a wallpaper (or wallpaper-like items) that you can put up and pull down in a snap. Several types of removable wallpaper and wall decorations are available today:

Cling-ons or removable decals. Okay, they're not exactly wallpaper. I saw these for the first time ten years ago, when some apartment-dwelling friends had a baby and wanted to decorate a nursery but had a "no painting or wallpapering" rule in their complex. They purchased a cling-on train set, and the result was adorable and conveniently temporary!

Removable border and cutouts. They can go on walls, furniture, cabinets, or any surface you'd like. You can find several brands of removable wallpaper at decorating stores.


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