13 Creative Ways to Use Wallpaper

Naumanramzan
by Naumanramzan
2 Materials
$200
4 Days
Advanced

If you’re looking for some creative and unique ways to spruce up your home, wallpaper is a wonderful tool for adding pops of texture and color around your living spaces. Wallpaper is not just for the older generations! In fact, most people don’t realize the many ways that wallpaper can add a modern aesthetic and cohesive flow throughout your entire house. Whether you’re just looking for some creative uses for old wallpaper you found lying around, or you’re hoping to transform an entire room, using wallpaper to decorate your home allows you the freedom of a quick and easy transformation. Stay tuned for some exciting and creative ways to use wallpaper in new home decor design!


#1 Accent Wall

An accent wall with an eclectic design can be as much of a conversation starter as a piece of art or unique pieces of furniture. In the absence of an extensive art collection or high-end furniture, incorporate a creative wallpaper design on one of your walls. This way, you can liven up your space and create a focal piece that ties the whole room together and sets the tone and color palette for the room. Alternatively, if an entire wall feels too overwhelming, you can just do a small band or thin strips of wallpaper instead of the whole wall. This will be a lot less demanding and you don’t have to worry about lining up each strip of wallpaper perfectly. Additionally, with high quality wallpaper, you can still get the same effect as an entire accent wall when you use the wallpaper as a wainscot to accent the paint, tile or wood paneling of your home.


#2 Lampshades

Adding wallpaper to your lampshades is a great way to add pops of color and design elements throughout your house without going too crazy. For even more intrigue and subtlety, consider lining the inside of your lampshades with fun geometric wallpaper patterns. This way, you’ll get an instant designer look at budget prices: the printed design will peek through the shade when the light is turned on, adding interest at night. (Note: Make sure that your lampshades are thick enough so that the wallpaper will not get heated and pose a fire hazard.)


#3 Staircase


Are your stairs a little old or outdated? If your staircase has seen better days, then consider revamping them with a bold wallpaper design. This is an economical and quirky solution that will completely transform your staircase from decrepit and dying to colorful and vibrant! By choosing from wallpaper scraps or new wallpaper that you absolutely love, you can transform your main staircase, step by step. The unique decorative detail along each step will add texture, pattern and whimsy to your home decor! Consider using a wallpaper detailing the spines of famous books, a world map or just simply your favorite color. If you’re feeling extra wild, consider mixing and matching different wallpaper colors and patterns for a feature staircase you will absolutely love.


#4 Kitchen Island, The Range Hood & Behind the Stove

Though placing wallpaper on your kitchen island seems like an unconventional spot for wallpaper, that is exactly what makes it pop! A graphic wallpaper pattern along one side of your kitchen island is an ingenious alternative to a standard wood panelling. A simple pop of color in an otherwise neutral room will add dimension and detail to a classic design. Additionally, wrapping wallpaper around a range hood can add flavor to your entire kitchen design, creating cohesion throughout this space. Similarly, the area behind the oven can often be overlooked as an area for art or design elements: take advantage of this space with a statement-making wall covering. Wallpaper in this location can have a dramatic impact as the kitchen’s sole backsplash.


#5 Ceiling

Though the right light fixture is never a bad idea, it is not the only way to decorate the ceiling. A patch of wallpaper on the ceiling adds dimension and character, and can really make a room stand out like no other design element. Depending on the wallpaper design, this feature can pair well with pendant lights, drawing your eye in a way that no other element can. Colors and patterns are definitely not only for the walls, especially in a room with an angled ceiling. By leaving the walls clean but wallpapering a cheerful or unique design on the ceiling, this can actually make the room appear larger and it can brighten up the space in a truly unique way.


#6 Wallpaper Flower Pots

With leftover floral wallpaper, turn your flower pots into a work of art! This decoupage medium intended for outdoor use will add an unexpected design element to your backyard or patio that will make your house stand out from the rest! It’s easy to place potted plants on your deck or front porch, but beautifully decorated flower pots will add an extra flare to your home. Wallpaper is almost a limitless decor tool, so get creative when using your wallpaper and stick it on out-of-the-ordinary items (like flower pots, your watering pot, or even your outdoor tables and chairs), to make a statement with a wide range of colors and patterns.


#7 Wallpaper Table Runner

Wallpaper is a perfect tool for an inexpensive table runner. If you have some extra wallpaper lying around and you need to create an upscale environment for a dinner party or gathering, wallpaper is the perfect material to add some flare. Whether for a bridal shower, wedding or work party, this inexpensive design looks fancy and classy and will contribute to an elegant atmosphere.


#8 Wallpaper Furniture

Wallpaper is a cheap and effective way to give older pieces of furniture a new lease on life. You can create accent pieces by adding wallpaper to otherwise looked-over pieces of furniture, such as an old stool, a wooden chair, a side table or your headboard above your bed! Alternatively, if you don’t have a headboard but have always wanted one, consider cutting out a piece of wallpaper about the size of a headboard and paste it on the wall directly behind the bed! This will give your room an updated, classy feel without spending too much money.


#9 Wallpaper Storage & Practical Items


Practical items like filing cabinets, bookcases, storage boxes or the outside of dressers can all get a much needed makeover with stylistic wallpaper and continuous patterns. Consider spicing up other practical elements like the frame around a large mirror or the base of a floor lamp. Wallpaper is a versatile tool to give various items around your home a much-needed facelift. Little accents around your home can add extra flair as well: consider wallpapering light switch covers, the wooden frames around doorways, or thick blinds. All of these elements in your home make great canvases for a little bit of wallpaper creativity and fun.


#10 Wallpaper Shelves

When you wallpaper behind open shelves, it will enhance your open display, create a visual break from cabinetry and spruce up the dead space behind your shelving. Similarly, if you have a wooden hutch with wood or glass shelving, you can update this piece of furniture without having to repaint the entire piece! By lining the back with uniquely patterned wallpaper, your other items will pop (especially if they are white ceramic dishes!). Wallpapering the back of a shelf is a great way to give the room a subtle pop of color or texture without overwhelming the room. Whether you have bookshelves, china cabinets or media centers that need a bit of sprucing up, exciting wallpaper is just the way to go.


#11 DIY Wall Art, Canvases & Frames

If you have some empty space on your walls, a great way to add a unique design element is to take some leftover wallpaper and arrange them on your wall as art! Not only is this a cheap way to incorporate art in your home, but it is both fun and creative without breaking the bank! In general, canvas prints, such as from Canvas Vows are a great way to create a centerpiece in your master bedroom. Another fun idea is to frame a unique piece of wallpaper as art! Create a collage or DIY wall art by framing them and hanging them in seconds!


#12 Chalkboard Accent Wall

Chalkboard peel and stick wallpaper is one of the most innovative ways to transform any living space into a creative workspace! With chalkboard wallpaper, you don’t have to worry about damaging the wall (unlike with chalkboard paint!), and you pretty much have a blank canvas anytime you need it! Whether you want a space to write out weekly chores and activities, or you want to encourage the creative minds of your little ones, chalkboard wallpaper is a great way to use your home decor and environment to your advantage.


#13 Appliances & Electronics


Appliances and electronics (like your refrigerator, laptop or washing machine), are used relatively frequently -- so, why not make them pop with peel and stick wallpaper?! The only limit is your imagination with so many different patterns and colors that wallpaper offers! If you’re inventive about how you use it, wallpaper is one of the most versatile decor tools out there. Whether you want to put your own spin on a traditional wall application or you want to go completely wild and apply it to something out of the ordinary (like your appliances and electronics!), the range of colors and patterns available makes wallpaper a great option for making a bold statement. Go wild. If you don’t like it, you can always peel it off and start over.


This post was written by Kara Roberts, blogger and content writer for Canvas Vows. We specialize in creating custom made canvas prints and have been featured in a number of publications, including Brides. For more interior design tips, gift ideas, anniversary celebrations and personalized canvas creations, check out our blog!

Suggested materials:
  • Wallpaper   (Buffalo, New York)
  • Design   (Buffalo, New York)
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
Comments
Join the conversation
Next