Today, it’s WALLPAPER WEDNESDAY!
That’s fun, right? 🙂
I had a blog reader suggestion to share my best tips for wallpapering, so that’s what we’re doing today.
Spoiler alert: I adore wallpaper.
I love it in my home.
I love it in your home.
I love it in hotels.
I love it in shops.
I just love it.
I’ve had many a room papered in my life, and they have always made me happy.
Here are the rooms that currently have wallpaper in my house…
Kensington’s bathroom still has the original wallpaper from when we built our house twelve years ago.
This was a photo I took way way back in the day…
…and this is one I took yesterday 🙂 .
TIP #1: BUY GOOD QUALITY WALLPAPER BECAUSE IT WILL LAST.
I learned this from my mama decades ago. Quality is the first key when selecting wallpaper.
A good paper will hold up on the wall for years, it will wear well (no fading, peeling, nicks or scratches), you can wipe spots off of it without leaving marks, the seams will blend together, and it will just hang easier. There are some areas where quality doesn’t matter as much, but in my opinion, wallpaper is not one of them.
Kensington’s wallpaper isn’t the only original one in the house…
…Ashby’s is too! This is another photo I took a million moons ago…
…and this was me yesterday balancing my coffee as I snapped this pic. Bahaha!
Tip #2: HIRE A PRO TO HANG YOUR PAPER
Bless all of you who know how to hang paper well. I am not one of those people. I can tape and bed a room and give it some paint, but hanging wallpaper is an art. The problem with doing it yourself is that one might ruin a lot of expensive and/or really high quality wallpaper in an attempt to hang it oneself. If you are putting up good paper and want good results, have someone come in there who really knows how to do it well. Not only will they do it much much faster, but the end result will be seamless.
Our guest bathroom has some super fun paper. I took this pic in 2020…
…and then I took these yesterday…
Tip #3: HAVE FUN WITH IT
I know this is just my own opinion, but wallpaper can be FUN! I love a neutral grasscloth too, but there is just something unexpected and whimsical about seeing a bold paper…especially in a small space. It’s kind of magical.
Next up…
…a few pics from our laundry room…
…and then…
…one I took yesterday.
Tip #4: BOLD PAPER MEANS YOU GET TO BE NEUTRAL EVERYWHERE ELSE
If you have a bold wallpaper up, then you can be super neutral with everything else. The wallpaper does all the talkin’.
And the finally…
…the pantry…
And that’s my little look at wallpaper 🙂 .
Do you have wallpaper in your home? Do you have tips? I would LOVE to know if you are paper people too!
On this Wednesday, I am also sharing 9 OF THE HARDEST THINGS I’VE EVER HAD TO DO (selecting wallpaper was not one of them!). You can see that post HERE.
Have the best, best day, friends! xx
Elspeth Mizner says
I love how one simple decorating change can transform a space!
So fun!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Nicole says
Shay, I just LOVE this. I started our reading yoiur hardest things post and you navigated a very personal and tricky post beautifully. I then come to read this “lighter” post and it is just so fitting. You have a true gift. Would you happen to have a link to the wallpaper in the pantry? I just LOVE that one!!! I hope you have the best day.
Mix and Match Mama says
Thank you so much for your kind words. I *think* it’s all sourced in this post about that room: https://mixandmatchmama.com/2021/06/laundry-room-update/
Laura says
I put the best peacock wallpaper in my half bath and I LOVE IT. Now, don’t look too closely because it’s not perfect. It still makes me GRIN WITH JOY everytime I use the potty.
Paige E says
I think I was ruined for wallpaper when we had to take down a bunch ourselves in our first home. It was SO HARD! I vowed I would never hang wallpaper after that. I’m sure the experience is very different not trying to DIY. I love the fun it brings your spaces!
Caitlyn Blalock says
I was just contemplating doing a bold print in our guest bath and you just convinced me to pull the trigger!! I love all of your prints!
Mix and Match Mama says
Do it!!
Elizabeth H Valenta says
What company do you use to order the wallpaper? Love your patterns!
Mix and Match Mama says
A variety! They are all from different places.
Kay says
Ooooh this is such a fun post! I’m a realtor (I love my job!) and every week when I tour homes in my city, it’s so exciting to see how others decorate. I get to see a lot of different wallpapers and I have to say, I always love them! My favorite is when people do something ‘bold’ for a first floor bath. It just makes these little powder rooms so happy! Also a little girl’s room with pretty paper…perfect.
During covid, I hung my own peel and stick wallpaper in my first floor bath. This is not the right thing to do-lol! But guess what, that paper is still hanging on and somehow, it was lined up? It has a lemon and green print (kind of like Schumacher citrus) and my friend calls my little first floor bath my “jewel box!” I do not recommend this, I agree to get good paper and a professional. But point is, that wallpaper makes me happy every day.
Love seeing your photos!
Mix and Match Mama says
Thank YOU for your encouragement. It makes me so happy too 🙂 .
Brooke says
I do not have any wall paper but you have me thinking about how it could be fun in a small space! Such an easy change that would make a huge impact. I noticed you don’t have any hand towel holders in the bathrooms shown. Do you feel like that is a personal choose or is that considered “out” in home design?
Mix and Match Mama says
For me it was a personal choice when we built. They always were in my way in previous home and it grossed me out to see used towels on there…they just bothered me. I told myself if I missed them, I would add them…and it’s been 12 years and I’ve never missed them 🙂 .
Martha Patricof says
Hi Shay, I was very moved by your ‘hardest things’ post today and offer you my heartfelt respect at your openness and genuineness. What a beautiful gift.
On a more mundane topic, given your love of wallpaper and design I offer you a recommendation for your next visit to NYC. The Whitby (midtown) and the Warren (downtown) are full of the most lovely wallpapers. She has imo a great aesthetic, and I think you would like either place (though I live here so have never stayed in a room :).
Thank you again for being a bright, authentic spot every day,
Martha
Mix and Match Mama says
Thank YOU for sharing these recs with me. I am so so grateful for YOU, Martha. xx
Catherine says
Love all your wallpaper! Could you share the details on the wallpaper in your laundry room? Thank you!
Mix and Match Mama says
I have an entire post on it here: https://mixandmatchmama.com/2021/06/laundry-room-update/
Shelby says
Your pantry is so organized. How often do you tidy it up? What is your secret to keeping it aesthetic?
Mix and Match Mama says
Daily! Our pantry door is clear glass, and I don’t want to look in there and see a mess, so I’m constantly walking through and making sure it’s tidy. Because I naturally/habitually do it every time I walk in, it stays looking good easily.
Allison Sealy says
Wha brand of wallpaper do you like the best?
Mix and Match Mama says
There’s not one in particular. Get samples and make sure it’s thick paper (not thin) and holds it shape if you hold the sample horizontal (you want it sturdy, not droopy).
Andrea says
Well your timing is impeccable because I am just starting the search for wallpaper for our remodel! We live in a small town so I am looking online for options. Where is the best place to look for quality wallpaper?
Mix and Match Mama says
I have found them at a variety of places. Ugh, why can’t I think of any in particular (none of mine are current). Start looking online because they will send you samples. Even stores like Anthropolgie (online) have quality paper.
ConstanceLe says
I love love love your guest bathroom wallpaper! Where is it from?
Mix and Match Mama says
I have a post on this space here: https://mixandmatchmama.com/2020/09/guest-bath-re-do-2/
Lauren Palomo says
Love your style! Is there a brand of wallpaper you love? Especially one that holds up in a bathroom where there is moisture.
Mix and Match Mama says
Ugh, I wish I had more specifics. None of these papers are recent. I do have an entire post on that room though that does include some sourcing! https://mixandmatchmama.com/2020/09/guest-bath-re-do-2/
kimber says
I absolutely love bold wallpaper in smaller rooms like a guest bath or mudroom. Or even as an accent wall! I can’t get my husband on board with it though, haha! He has agreed to dark paint so choose our battles 😉
Amanda says
I. LOVE. WALLPAPER. I am so happy we’ve come to our collective senses and that it is back in style. I have wallpaper in 3 of our bedrooms and one bathroom and am planning to have it installed in our dining room this year. I feel like it is the most impressive design impact you can give to a space!! And I feel like if you are gonna do it, go big or go home. Neutral choices are great but color and pattern is where it’s at!
Kelly says
I just had wallpaper installed in my powder bath right before Thanksgiving. I can’t believe that it took me this long to work up the nerve to do it. I absolutely love it! Now I want to wallpaper everything.
Mix and Match Mama says
YAY!!! I bet it looks fabulous!
Emily Cornell says
Do you have recommendations for where to buy good quality wallpaper?
Mix and Match Mama says
I wish I did, but I’ve purchased mine from a variety of places. I even bought it off of Anthropologie’s website one time. Just make sure it’s nice and thick on really a quality paper. Get samples! They’ll send you samples!
Jinjer says
I’m a renter so I’d have to get that wallpaper that comes off easily. However, I just came across a guy who specializes in handmade Irish wallpaper from the 1700s-1900s and there is a wallpaper I’d love to have and it goes so well with the Gothic oak hall chair and table. Sigh…
You have very good taste in wallpaper. I love all the ones you shared here.
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh I bet that’s gorgeous!
Jacqui says
What are all the books above your desk in the laundry room? I was thinking maybe photo books…. I like the consistency/uniformity without them being identical.
Mix and Match Mama says
One time I accidentally bought 6,000 of my cookbooks…that’s just a very tiny portion of those books. If you would like a few hundred to keep in your home, let me know. Andrew would love to get them out of my garage 😉 .
Katie says
This made me truly LOL. It sounds like the exact kind of thing that I would accidentally do. And I have zero doubt in my mind that my sweet, sweet man would have handed those cookbooks out to every friend, client and strange he came across since hahaha
Chrissy says
Fun fact: my grandfather came over from Greece and started a wallpaper manufacturing company. My dad then took over the business and ran it until he finally retired and sold it just last year. I grew up with wallpaper in every room of my house for my entire life! It was so sad to see this 70-year-old family business come to an end, but it really was a super niche and fun thing to be a part of!
Mix and Match Mama says
Wow! That is such a fun story. Wallpapering is an ART!
Dana J says
We are doing a remodel on our new home and I just added wallpaper to the powder room and I LOVE IT!! It’s a big bold print and I am so happy and excited about it!! So many amazing wallpaper options to choose from so everyone can find something to make them happy!!