Wallpaper-It’s Back

Now I know that title may strike fear in the hearts and minds of many of you with memories of hideous outdated hard to remove papers of the past, but wait, this isn’t your grandmother’s wallpaper.

First of all anyone over the age of twenty knows if you wait long enough everything comes back into fashion at some point and wallpaper is one of these fashions.  So erase from your mind the images you have of the Laura Ashley room papered in tiny floral prints on the walls, ceiling and draperies and bedding to match rooms of the 70’s and 80’s.

I’m a fan of wallpaper, always have been, but in moderation like most things except chocolate, of course.  Think of an accent wall of wallpaper, not much just a touch.  You can bring an urban vibe to a room with a great graphic or try a texture for some boldness.

Grass cloth is an all time favorite of mine, but it is not for the ‘seamless only’ minded folks.  ALL grass cloths will show the seams; this is an organic look and is a great way to get subtle texture in a room.  This product is great in any style of home or room; it takes a bit of the tradition out of traditional and warms up the urban modern look.  Grass cloth comes in a huge variety of colors and textures from nearly silky to very heavy masculine textures.

Since windows are one of the greatest assets of a room, don’t use this wall for your first venture into wallpaper, as you don’t want to distract from your view; choose a blank wall, a hallway or foyer is a good start.

You won’t find Designer wallpapers at your local retailers any longer; they had to give up their expensive book plans when shopping on-line became popular, the home centers still carry a supply of books for very moderate budgets.  You will have to do a search on-line and order a sample which will have a fee attached, but if you order from that company they will apply the fee to your order.  If you want to make a trip down to LA you will be able to see the patterns and colors along with the textures first hand, but it’s a commitment to make the trip.  My advise is to look on-line and order samples.

Properly applied wallpaper will come off the walls and ceilings fairly easily, otherwise, its soak, peel, wash.  I know it’s a pain and the reason so many people have such an aversion to this versatile product.  So try it in small spaces and prepare your walls according to manufacturers recommendations.  If you are going with grass cloth, hire a professional and EXPECT to see the seams, its part of the organic charm.