How To Choose The Right Wallpaper

At the urging of a friend, I signed up to participate in the One Room Challenge for Fall 2020. It begins on October 7 and I will be giving the kitchen a minimal makeover. I will not be changing out the countertops or appliances, but I will be painting and was hoping to get new wallpaper, that is until the paperhanger (Jeff) came to measure.

Here is the wallpaper that I currently have.

There is nothing wrong with this paper, except for the fact that I have been looking at it for 22 years and I want something fresh.

It's hard to see in the pictures, but my kitchen has very little wall space. One would think this would be a good thing as less wall space means less paper. On one hand that is true, but on the other hand, it can be very limiting when it comes to paper choices. Please excuse the "off the cuff" photos as this is not what I intended to share today.

Currently, the largest area with wallpaper, is behind the refrigerator. I do have plans to remove one cabinet so that I can have more wall space for paper, but even with those plans, my options are very limited.

When the paperhanger came today to measure, he discouraged me from going back with wallpaper. While I was somewhat disappointed, he did give me some great guidelines and things to consider when choosing the right wallpaper for a room.

• Small prints look best in small spaces.

• Pick a print or color that compliments the things you are having to live with. In my case, it is blue countertops and a painted tile scene behind the cooktop.

• Larger prints should be used to fill larger rooms, hallways, and stairwells.

• Vertical patterns make a room look taller.

• Neutrals are timeless.

• Stick with an overall theme.

• Keep it simple especially when there is already a lot going on in the room.

Considering the guidelines, it's easy to see why he doesn't think any of the following are good choices for the kitchen.

All the patterns are too large for the size of the room and the limited wall space. While he professed that he's not a decorator, he felt like the patterns are also too busy with everything else going on in the room.

Yes, I am disappointed in Jeff's recommendation, however, I do think it's important to at least consider his professional advice. I am exploring other wallpaper options and considering scrapping the wallpaper altogether and just painting. It feels a little bit like heading back to the drawing board and basically starting from scratch, but that's often the process of decorating.

The debate won't last too long as The One Room Challenge begins on October 7th, and I will need to have a concrete plan in place at least a week before the start date. What do you think? Wallpaper or no??

Thanks for checking in!

Fondly,

Julie