Designer-Approved Ways to Add Wallpaper to Your Space

We’ll be the first to admit that installing wallpaper is a huge undertaking. Not only does the process itself require the utmost attention, but it’s also a big commitment. After all, it’s always possible that you’ll tire of your once-desired repeat a few years later. But if you want to breathe some life into your home in a way that a fresh coat of paint can’t capture, wallpaper can be a design investment worth making. So we searched high and low for the best wallpapered rooms around to give you endless inspiration. Though there’s a broad array of patterns—eye-catching florals and standard stripes, to name two—the rooms here prove that there’s more than one way to apply wallpaper. While many designers have covered all four walls in the same print, others have opted for accent walls or patterns in unconventional places. (The ceiling and the bathroom are just two of our favorites.) And fear not, commitment-phobes: There are a number of peel-and-stick options out there for you, too. Get ready to step outside of your comfort zone with wallpaper that can give your space an attractive new look.

Why settle for wallpaper with an identical repeat when you can opt for a mural-like arrangement? Designer Laurie Blumenfeld-Russo masters the look with this Calico style.

Willow Harvest Mural, Inquire for Pricing
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As Gail Davis proves, wallpaper can bring a personal touch to any project. “This room is dedicated to my mother, who is a breast cancer survivor,” she explains. “I designed it with the intent of renewal for anyone going through treatment. The wallpaper spoke to our Senegalese roots and paired well with Benjamin Moore’s First Light, as an homage to breast cancer awareness.”

Panamania Wallpaper, Inquire for Pricing
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Want to take your wallpaper to the next level? Designer Fran Keenan paired this marble-patterned style with bright blue trim.

Onyx Wallpaper, $68
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For wallpaper that can withstand the test of time, Stefani Stein kept it simple with a subtle pattern in a neutral palette.

Modern Stone Hand Screened Wallpaper, from $7
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Just because you want to add wallpaper to your room doesn’t mean it has to be your space’s only “wow” factor. In this dining room, Emilie Munroe painted the ceiling a gorgeous green, thereby turning this insect-inspired wallpaper into a neutral.

Bumble Bee Wallpaper, $265
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If stripes and florals feel played out, spice up your space with a rippled design. Lucy Harris gave this idea a cool, retro spin using a teal-and-white palette with matte black accents.

True Blue Marble Wallpaper, $140
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New York–based designer Daun Curry brought some style to this bathroom storage space by backing the medicine cabinet in an eye-catching toile.

Zarfa Wallpaper, $259
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If you want to add some drama, do what Bella Mancini did and match the wallpaper to the furniture upholstery.

Aeris Summer Wallpaper, $105
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A dainty, stenciled wallpaper can strike a brilliant balance between subtle and statement. Let Danielle Fennoy of Revamp show you how it’s done.

Pinstripe Floral Black and White, from $25
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Tired of vertical stripes? The bumpy lined option that GRT Architects chose for this Fort Greene, Brooklyn, townhouse is a dainty yet stylish alternative.

Half Moon Wallpaper, $99
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Now this is an innovative way to apply wallpaper. Porter Teleo collaborated with Jean-Louis Deniot on a custom pattern for the dressing room of an Upper East Side townhouse, as seen between the molding.

Pétales Wallcovering, Inquire for Pricing
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If you want your toile wallpaper paper to pop, pair it with colorful wainscoting. This setup from Jenni Yolo masters the look.

Tree Toile, from $40
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Nick Olsen brought a Hollywood spirit to this Cincinnati home with bold pops of color. “I love high style mixed with something ordinary or strange,” he told ELLE Decor. “My style owes heavily to the decorating greats, but I combine elements in a way that feels fresh to me and, hopefully, conveys a sense of humor.”

Cole and Son Prism Multi Colored Wallpaper, $137
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Terrazzo might be predictable for your countertops or your floors—but on your walls? That’s a completely different story. Architect and design firm DXA Studio incorporates this trendy material into a charming nursery.

Terrazzo Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper, $44
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Want to take a walk down memory lane? Ghislaine Viñas used this righteously retro wallpaper from Flavor Paper. By sticking to a high-contrast color combo, Viñas gave this room a cool, mod edge.

Alvorada Wallpaper, from $65
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For a relaxed, beachy vibe without being too literal, try Serena Dugan’s Bahia wallpaper. The designer was inspired by the tropical climes of Brazil.

Bahia Wallpaper, $175
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Want your wallpaper to do double duty? Add a whimsical print to your walls and ceiling à la Dennis Brackeen.

Le Parc Toile, from $7
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As this living room from Contour Interior Design by Nina Magon proves, a wallpapered accent wall can have the same effect as a large-scale piece of art.

Best Fronds Wallpaper, $58
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Instead of adding a backsplash to your home bar, take a cue from designer Traci Connell and opt for a statement-making wallpaper.

Harmony Navy Wallpaper, $120
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Take your design to new heights—literally—by adding some wallpaper overhead. Chicago-based designer Joy Williams masters the look with a coordinating front door and trim.

Yahya Kids Blush Watercolor Wash Wallpaper, $109
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Nowadays, florals may not be particularly groundbreaking. Interior designer Lauren Lowe gave this go-to pattern an edgy twist, however, by deploying it in a high-contrast color palette.

Black & White Peonies Wallpaper, $93.50
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KJ Design and Mortar Styling gives this Perry Hall, Maryland, home a coastal spin by combining a soothing blue-and-white wallpaper with pristine wainscoting and a framed assortment of metallic shells.

Lucia Blue Diamond Wallpaper, $56
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Quintece Hill-Mattauszek of Studio Q brings the great outdoors inside with this citrus-inspired pattern. The result? A bar cart that appeals to all the senses.

Amalfi Umore Wallpaper, $140
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Dazey Den’s Danielle Nagel embraces her eclectic side with a colorful mosaic wallpaper from Hygge & West. A vibrant gallery wall, a yellow patterned rug, and a lamp from Hudson Valley Lighting round out the look, creating a space that’s unapologetically bold.

Arcade Wallpaper, $195
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A palm-print wallcovering adds a dose of Southern California cool to the former Milan home of Brian Atwood and Nate Berkus. The brass dining table is from the 1970s.

Tropical Leaf Print Wallpaper, $60
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For his upstate New York country house that he shares with his partner, Tony Longoria, designer Todd Oldham applied 20 coats of glaze to the wall behind the kitchen sink. He then decorated it with cutouts of Japanese silk-screened papers for a dramatic effect.

Blue and Green Stripe Wallpaper, $72
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An antique floral wallpaper design makes a statement in the bathroom of designer Katie Ridder’s townhouse. The sink is custom-made and is flanked by antique sconces.

Scalamandre Ascot Floral Wallpaper, $104
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In a luxury Gramercy Park apartment, the dining room’s golden wallcovering is by de Gournay, the chandelier is a custom design, and the 1950s mirror is by Lobmeyr.

Gold Leaf Wallpaper, $12.60/sq ft
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In a guest room, a green and aqua striped Robert Hoven wall treatment complements a rainbow striped Doug and Gene Meyer rug. The 1920s wicker chairs are original to the house, and the 19th-century table is American.

Ombrello Green Stripe Wallpaper, $1.25/sq. ft.
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In typical California fashion, this Mill Valley home is nature-inspired from the color palette to the decor. The kitchen features a gorgeous leafy wallpaper design by Pierre Frey, accented by some real greenery on the dining table.

Mais-Green Leaf on White-Corn Printed Wallpaper, $300
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It's no surprise that wallpaper and textile maven Kate Reynolds's Brooklyn home is filled with extraordinary wallcoverings. The dining room features a fun geometric design by Brian Paquette, which is beautifully complemented by an authentic Moroccan rug.

Nantes Wallpaper, Inquire for Pricing
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A pretty West Village apartment has plenty of adorable design details in the dining room; The wallcovering is Work + Sea’s Watercolor Stripe, and the artworks include pieces by Wardell Milan, John Register, and Jeff Lewis.

Watercolor Stripe, $10 Per Sample
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Inside a Palm Springs home, the guest room's eye-catching wallpaper is a Kelly Wearstler design, punctuated by Frank Gehry drawings and a sleek black chair by Donghia.

Crescent Wallpaper, $652
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In the entry hall of a grand New York apartment, the settee is covered in a Rose Cumming fabric, the late-18th-century Philadelphia table is a family heirloom, and the hand-painted yellow floral wallpaper is by San Patrignano.

Plume Wallpaper, $98
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Inside the family room of a historic Long Island farmhouse, the curtains are made from a Home Couture fabric and the textured sandy wallpaper is by Phillip Jeffries.

Warrensburg Grasscloth Wallpaper, $1.75/sq. ft.
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This very Parisian apartment is all about elegance; Inside the entry hall, the hand-painted wallpaper is a design by Studio Peregalli and the wainscoting was painted to resemble marble.

Golden Laurel Stripe Wallpaper, $47.70
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The laundry room of a Brooklyn home makes a playful statement with cheetah wallpaper by Caitlin McGauley. The crab print is vintage and the abstract artwork is by Way Way Allen.

Silent Tiger Wallpaper, $188
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In a stylish West Village apartment, the powder room emphasizes drama with jungle-inspired wallpaper and sleek black fittings by Samuel Heath.

Jungle Scenic Wallpaper, $36.87
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Mid-century design mavens Bruce Glickman and Wilson Henley filled their Connecticut abode with a mix of contemporary and throw-back decor. The guest bedroom's bed and furry rug are by Serena & Lily, the chairs are by Duane Modern, and the floor lamp is by Arredoluce. They gave all of the mid-century furniture a modern dimension with a refreshing minimalist wallpaper design.

Draxa Taupe Paisley Wallpaper from the Alhambra Collection by Brewster Home Fashions, $176
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In a Brooklyn townhouse, the powder room boasts shibori wallpaper is by Amber Interiors for Studio Four NYC and the mirror is by Rejuvenation.

Shibori Wallpaper, $67.50
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The dining room in an eclectic Oakland home is lined with the patterned wallpaper by Schumacher. The bold pendant light is by Kartell, the vintage hooked rug is American, and the photograph is by Katy Grannan.

Kerala Paisley Wallpaper, $144.90
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In a Montana guesthouse designed by Ken Fulk in the mountains, the charming yellow wallcovering is from Sloan Miyasato, the carpet by Mark Nelson Designs is topped with a buffalo-hide rug, and the artworks are from the 19th century.

Geo Damask Yellow Wallpaper, $140
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On an estate in the Hudson River Valley, the pattern-friendly master bedroom is outfitted with hand-painted wallpaper by de Gournay. The curtains and pelmet are of Lelievre damasks, and the rug is a Persian 20th-century design.

Jenny Peopy Wallpaper, from $18
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This mountaintop Montana retreat designed by Ken Fulk pairs a steel bed by Room & Board with a 1920s leather sofa. The bed linens and side tables are by Ralph Lauren Home, the ceiling light is by Maarten Baas, and the wallpaper is by Phillip Jeffries.

Grasscloth Brown Wallpaper, $26.32
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A beach house in the Hamptons really leans into the nautical look with fish-printed wallpaper by Cole & Son. The powder room mirror is by Made Goods and the sconce is by Visual Comfort.

Cole & Son Acquario Wallpaper, $330
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Peek inside this minimalist, Moroccan-inspired pool house in New York. In the raised sitting area, the patterned wallpaper and cushion fabrics are by Nancy Kintisch and the sconces are by Atelier de Troupe.

Still Waters Wallpaper, $118
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In the master bedroom of a Houston home, the bed is upholstered in a Schumacher fabric that are also used for the curtains. The subtle peachy wallpaper is by Farrow & Ball and the carpet is by Stark.

Farrow & Ball Broad Stripe Wallpaper, $195
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The dining room of a classic Connecticut home features chairs designed by Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano, a custom-made table, and an 18th-century pine commode from Vermont. The landscape-inspired, hand-painted wall covering is by Gracie, and the rug is by Holland & Sherry.

Advantage Trees Wallpaper, $13.43
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