Wallpaper Cover-Ups
Wallpaper is a terrific solution for covering up a multitude of imperfections or ugly wall treatments. For example, if your walls are covered with thin paneling reminiscent of the fifties you can wallpaper right over it. Pre-pasted paper is the only way to go.
Add Warmth
Make a large, formal room more intimate by using a small, overall country pattern, or paper the top half of the walls and add rustic wood to the bottom portion. Warm colors such as sunny yellow and rosy pink add intimacy as well.
Add Space
Making a small room look big is tricky. It takes just the right combination of colors and patterns. Cool colors such as mint green, pale blues, and shades of white and beige are best. Subtle textures of pastels or white on white or beige and white stripes will expand the look. Use white or beige for the wood trim. Also, striped paper makes a low-ceilinged room seem higher.
Faux Fakery
Faux finishes look great on walls, but if that's too much work, Waverly has a line of wallpapers with different faux finish patterns called "Finishing Effects" There are sponge finishes, marbleizing, strie, combing and more. They come in a range of colors. No fear of an imperfectly painted finish due to lack of talent or interest half way through the job. For a small bedroom or bathroom use soft peach, sponge effect. For a hallway choose a gray marbling paper.
Enlarging a Small Bedroom
Use an overall print or faux finish. Paper the inside of the closet and all doors so the room is completely finished. Paint all the trim with a semi-gloss white paint or a shade lighter than the background color of the paper. Make wooden valances for each window and cover them with the same wallpaper. Use the background color for the curtains and keep the treatment simple.
Copyright Leslie Linsley, author
Reprinted with permission, HouseNet, Inc.Inc.