How to Choose Wallpaper Without Regretting It
Wallpaper can be a big commitment, and it can completely change a room. So it’s a great way to spice up a wall or room.
But wallpaper is also one of those design decisions that people tend to second-guess.
Will the pattern feel too busy?
Will I get tired of it?
Should I do one wall or the whole room?
What if it dates quickly?
What if I choose something bold and regret it six months later?
As an interior designer, I think wallpaper can be an amazing design tool, but the key is choosing it with the room, scale, lighting, furniture, and longevity in mind.
So, if you are considering wallpaper and want to avoid making a choice you regret, here are the things I would think about before committing.
AVOID COSTLY (AND UGLY) DESIGN MISTAKES
Start With the Space, Not the Wallpaper
I recently chose a wallpaper for the hallway in my small apartment, and my thought process behind choosing it was actually pretty extensive.
First, I thought about why I wanted to add wallpaper there in the first place. My reasoning was that hallways can feel a little boring or unfinished if they are left untreated, and I really didn’t want mine to feel like an afterthought.
I also liked the idea of wallpaper for longevity. A textured wallpaper can help protect the walls from scuffs and everyday wear, which is helpful in a high-traffic area like a hallway.
Another big consideration was how open my condo is. The hallway is visible from my bedroom, so I wanted it to feel like an extension of that space. I wanted the mood and design language of my bedroom to carry out into the rest of my home rather than feeling like the hallway was a completely separate zone.
So, I went on the hunt for a wallpaper that actually matched the space and the overall vibe I was trying to create.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when choosing wallpaper is that they start with the wallpaper itself instead of determining the overall design intent first.
That can lead to choosing a wallpaper that may be beautiful or super cool on its own, but doesn’t actually work in the space or help achieve the aesthetic you are after.
The room should guide the wallpaper choice, not the other way around.
So, before you start scrolling through hundreds or thousands of wallpaper samples, take a step back and look at your space as a whole.
Creating a mood board by browsing interior design magazines, Pinterest, or saved inspiration photos can be a really good place to start.
Once you determine the overall design intent of the space, the thousands of wallpaper options start to narrow down into a much more specific colour range, pattern style, and overall direction.
And that makes the selection process a lot easier.
How to Choose Wallpaper for a Small Space
Many people love the idea of adding wallpaper to a small space, such as a powder room, but can feel intimidated when it comes time to actually choose the pattern and scale.
In my opinion, a small space is actually where you can afford to go larger in scale and a little more dramatic with the wallpaper.
I love powder rooms with a burst of personality — something that really funks up the space and makes it feel intentional. Small spaces tend to absorb larger-scale patterns surprisingly well, and because the room itself is compact, a bold wallpaper can feel immersive rather than overwhelming.
How to Choose Wallpaper for a Large Space
When it comes to a larger room, a long hallway, or even just an accent wall, you want to be mindful of how the scale of the wallpaper will read across the space.
A small-scale pattern can sometimes start to feel a little too busy, depending on what else is happening in the room. On the other hand, a very large-scale pattern can also feel visually heavy if there are already a lot of other elements competing for attention.
So, when choosing the right scale for a larger space, it really comes down to the role you want the wallpaper to play.
Are you looking for it to create a subtle backdrop for things like artwork, furniture, and lighting?
Or do you want the wallpaper to be the main star of the show?
That distinction will help determine whether you should go with something softer and more understated, or something larger in scale and more dramatic. Ultimately, the goal is to create harmony between the wallpaper and everything else happening in the space.
That said, I do want to preface this by saying there are a lot of factors that go into creating a harmonious design, so these are general guidelines and should not be treated as hard-and-fast rules.
You also want to think about what role the wallpaper is playing in the room.
Is it meant to be the star of the show?
Or is it more of a supporting actress?
That distinction will also influence the type of wallpaper, pattern, scale, and colour palette you choose.
Think About How Long You Want to Live With It
If you are renting, or simply someone who likes to redecorate often, you’ll want to take that into consideration before landing on a particular wallpaper.
Peel-and-stick wallpaper
For a more temporary application, peel-and-stick wallpaper may be the better option. It gives you the flexibility to change the look later without committing to something permanent.
traditional wallpaper
If you are adding wallpaper to your forever home, or you aren’t particularly keen on redecorating the space again anytime soon, then a more traditional wallpaper may be better suited for your project.
That said, there are limitations to both options.
With peel-and-stick wallpaper, many of the styles tend to have less texture and depth. The finish can sometimes be flatter or slightly glossier, which may or may not work with the overall design intent of the space.
Traditional wallpaper tends to offer more texture, weight, and dimension, which can make it feel more luxurious and give the room a little more depth.
However, the application method also means it is much more of a commitment. Traditional wallpaper is certainly not as easy to remove, so you want to be much more confident in your selection before installing it.
Scale Matters More Than People Realize
One of the most important things to pay attention to is the scale of the pattern.
A tiny pattern can look incredibly busy when repeated across a large wall.
A very large-scale pattern can feel dramatic and beautiful, but it needs enough wall space to breathe.
This is why I never recommend choosing wallpaper from a tiny online thumbnail alone.
You need to understand:
- how large each repeat is
- how far apart the motifs are
- how much negative space is in the design
- what the pattern looks like across an entire wall
A large botanical pattern might look overwhelming on a sample card but completely balanced once installed.
Likewise, a small geometric pattern can look simple online and surprisingly intense once repeated hundreds of times.
Always look at installation photos if they are available.
Order a Sample Before You Commit
This one is non-negotiable for me.
Always order samples.
Colors on a screen are not reliable enough for wallpaper.
The background may look cream online and actually be gray.
A green may look muted on your laptop and much brighter in person.
The paper may have texture, sheen, metallic details, or raised printing that you would never notice digitally.
Tape the sample to the wall and leave it there for a few days.
Look at it:
- in the morning
- in afternoon light
- at night
- beside your flooring
- beside your trim
- next to your furniture
Notice how the wallpaper colors changes once you actually bring it into the space. Wallpaper is like paint colors; it will not appear exactly like they do on the swatch.
How Do You Know If You Will Regret a Wallpaper?
Here is the test I would use.
Before buying it, ask yourself:
Do I love the wallpaper itself, or do I just love the trend?
Does it work with the finishes I already own?
Can I imagine living with it in three years?
Have I seen a physical sample?
Have I looked at the pattern at full scale?
Does it make sense for this specific room?
If you can confidently answer yes to those questions, you are probably on the right track.
Where To Shop For Wallpaper
Here are a few of my favourite places to shop for wallpaper:
DesignShop is a great resource where you can order samples from a variety of different brands across categories like tile, wallpaper, stone, and more. I like it because it makes it easy to compare different materials and finishes in one place.
LoveVsDesign is another wallpaper vendor I really like because it allows you to customize many of the designs using different colour combinations. This is actually the wallpaper company I used in my own apartment.
Etsy is also worth checking out if you want something a little more unique. There are tons of independent vendors from around the world offering interesting patterns, murals, peel-and-stick options, and more.
Click Here To Shop My Favourite Home Goods
Let’s design your space together, virtually.
