Wallpaper Your World

From bold patterns to elegant textures, bring wall-to-wall style to any room with these tips and ideas

- BY ERICA YOUNG

When it's time to update a room, reaching for a can of paint might be your first instinct.

But to really make an impact on those walls, the answer is simple: wallpaper. Wallpaper is an all-in-one solution for color, pattern, texture and dimension. It's like an entire room makeover in a roll! says wallpaper installer and expert Katie Hunt.

But we get it: Wallpaper can be intimidating. What pattern should you choose? Can you install it yourself? Do you need wallpaper paste? What room should you install it in? Don't worry, we've got you (and your walls) covered. With this expert advice, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about wallpaper and how to use it in your home.

Wallpaper Direct Cole & Son Fanfare Flock, $335 per double roll

Types of Wallpaper

The first step to wallpapering is deciding what type of wallpaper best fits your needs, since not all wallpaper materials are created equal.

There are two main parts to wallpaper: the backing and the facing, or front. The backing determines how you'll apply the wallpaper to the walls (more on that ahead). The facing is the pretty part, and choices include vinyl, grasscloth, paper, fabric, foil and flocked, to name a few.

When selecting a type, consider the look you're trying to achieve as well as the durability. Hunt says, then selecting a vinyl wallcovering is a good idea.”