If you’re looking for a way to spruce up your décor or simply looking for a change of pace, then you need to look no further than the latest in interior design revivals – floral wallpaper.
Now, we all know that floral wallpaper tends to get a bit of a bad reputation. Let’s face it; some of the available patterns from the bygone eras of the early 1900s weren’t so fabulous.
But in the 21st century, we can enjoy such a vast and beautiful range of wallpapers.
There is truly something for every taste and every color palette, so here are some ideas for how to create a stunning accent wall.
General Guidelines for Accent Walls
Now for those who maybe aren’t entirely sure what an accent wall is, it is typically a single wall in a room, whether it be the dining room, living room, or a bedroom that serves as the main point of visual interest in a room.
We aren’t putting up the paper on every available wall. It is more along the lines of icing on a cake. The cake is the furniture, color scheme, and décor( vases, pillows, drapes.)
The icing would then be a beautiful wallpaper that ties the whole room together and makes it extra sweet.
Color Scheme
The color scheme is essential for flow, so get all the re-painting and possible renovating out of the way first.
If you’ve been dying to repaint the bedroom into pastel heaven, break out the paint and let the paint dry down for a week or two before you start up with wallpaper.
If you’re content with what colors and tones space has, then use that to inform your decisions.
In the end, having a set color scheme for the space that the paper will be in is going to allow you to be able to narrow your search, making it easier to find the perfect pattern.
It also makes avoiding clashing simple when sticking with a set color palette and using complementary colors.
Pick Your Pattern
It’s ultimately up to you, but the pattern will do a lot to influence the mood of the room you’ve chosen to place it in.
Spaces, like a bedroom, typically are decorated to be calming and cozy. Delicate, dainty, and simple patterns with muted tones are a great way to achieve a sanctuary vibe.
For those who enjoy nature, floral wallpaper can be used to bring the majesty of the natural world into your kitchen.
Wallpapers from naturalist photographers are available, and they can be used to create portals to gorgeous poppy fields or sunflower groves.
In the case of a kid’s room, there are plenty of designs that include flowers that are lots of fun and exude the carefree joy of childhood with style.
Bold abstractionist style patterns are a great option to create a fun vibe in the playroom or bedroom.
Are we going for high drama? Then look for high color contrast paired with big, bold patterns.
For those who are a little color adverse, monotone, black and white and greyscale patterns are also available in an abundance of styles.
Placement
Now that you’ve chosen your pattern and identified your color palette, the next thing you want to do is select your placement.
Choosing placement is the critical step in this whole process of creating your stunning accent wall.
The two major things to consider when placing your accent wall are lighting and the wall in question.
Lighting
Lighting is important because depending on whether you have natural light or artificial light, it will change the way the eye perceives the colors in the wallpaper.
If you have a window that has a lot of sunlight streaming into it and a very delicate pastel wallpaper, it may wash out the accent wall and make it difficult to see.
If the artificial light in the house is very yellow, it can also distort the color and tone of the paper, making that lovely olive green turn a little sickly to the eye.
You want to have clean, bright white light so that the tones and colors of the room can be appreciated and bolder, brighter colored patterns in direct sun.
Wall Space
Choosing the right wall for application is essential for the sake of balance.
The best way to remedy any balance issues is to use existing furniture and fixtures to help tie the whole room together.
Leaving the wall empty will make it look like an unfinished project rather than an accent to the existing décor.
Therefore, accent walls are fabulous when placed as a backdrop. Typical placements are behind a bed or a couch, or the entertainment setup.
If you have irregularly shaped wall space, maybe over the fireplace, around the cabinets, or closet, these spaces are great to accent with wallpaper.
Tucking engaging visuals into “gap” spaces helps tie a space together visually, making it feel finished and personalized.
Also, don’t be put off by the thought of having to put up the wallpaper, remember we’re in the 21st century.
Messy glues are mostly behind us, and it’s much easier than painting — research for brands with low mess applications when looking to purchase wallpaper.
