7 decisions I make when choosing wallpaper

Henriette von Stockhausen, an expert in British country house style and an interior designer at VSP Interiors, offers her top seven decisions and tips for selecting wallpaper. She emphasizes her love for wallpaper and its versatile application throughout the home, including less conventional spaces like kitchens and bathrooms. Wallpaper, she explains, can soften the hard finishes in kitchens, absorb sound, and serve as a beautiful contrast to solid elements in bathrooms. She notes that modern wallpapers are more durable, making them suitable for high-traffic areas like hallways, especially in large country houses where they can replace or complement art. When it comes to pattern selection, von Stockhausen advises on choosing between patterns and plains. While a larger pattern typically suits a larger room, she points out that patterns can paradoxically make small rooms feel more expansive. She recommends small-scale designs like those by Robert Kime for adding interest to bookcases. For a more subtle effect with depth and movement, she suggests plain designs, such as Turners Textures by Lewis & Wood, which mimic plastered or specially painted walls. In smaller bedrooms, particularly those in eaves, an all-over patterned look where wallpaper and curtains share the same design can create a cozy, cohesive environment, provided the pattern isn't too dense, which could feel claustrophobic. For larger rooms, she favors designs by Totty Lowther to establish an elegant backdrop for other patterns. Stripes offer another distinct decorating approach, ranging from bold in transient spaces to gentle in bedrooms. Stripes can elongate a room and are characteristic of period properties. The width of the stripe should be chosen based on the room's size, with wider stripes suitable for corridors and narrower ones for bedrooms. She mentions Ralph Lauren for children's rooms and bathrooms, and Ian Mankin for affordable ticking stripes. For spaces where a bold statement is desired, such as powder rooms, von Stockhausen encourages clients to experiment with luxurious options like de Gournay papers, turning these small areas into conversational pieces. Investing more in special rooms like dining rooms is also a key recommendation. Fabric walling, especially silk, is suggested for its aesthetic appeal under candlelight and its ability to absorb acoustics, creating a cozy atmosphere. When fabric walling is not feasible, fabric-backed wallpaper is a good alternative. Panoramic designs or Chinoiserie, such as those by Zardi & Zardi, are ideal for dining rooms and large games rooms, and paintings can still be hung over scenic wallpapers. Finally, von Stockhausen provides strategic tips for managing wallpaper costs. Choosing small-scale patterns with minimal repeat, like stripes or designs by GP&J Baker, reduces waste during pattern matching. Another cost-saving technique involves wallpapering only above the dado rail in rooms with high ceilings. For a bespoke touch, a specialist painter can stencil patterns onto painted walls. Additionally, designers like Susie Atkinson and Jean Munro offer wallpaper borders, providing a significant impact with a relatively small investment. #Wallpaper #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #PatternSelection #DesignTips #HenrietteVonStockhausen #RoomSpecificWallpaper #BudgetFriendlyDesign #Wallpaper #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #PatternSelection #DesignTips #HenrietteVonStockhausen #RoomSpecificWallpaper #BudgetFriendlyDesign

42 months ago

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