When you want more than a lick of paint
Updating your home with wallpaper instead of paint.
We have all heard the home renovation trope: “Just add a lick of paint”
But what if you want more? Or can’t stand the smell of paint? This week we are looking into a classic wall treatment to update any space, without getting hardcore. (There will be no tiling, cladding or other semi-construction type treatments in this week’s Weekly Fix.)
Wonderful Wallpaper
When you paint its usually a painstaking process of painting, waiting for it to dry and then re-applying several more coats of paint before the final colour and look becomes apparent. This is all very well if you are actually into that kind of thing, have the time to sit around and watch paint dry, and enjoy the process of taping cornices and s[reading drop sheets…
If, however, that’s NOT your idea of fun, why not give wallpaper a try?
We are way past the Victorian ostentatious flower motifs, the overly intricate “bird and branch” patterns covering every inch of your room, or even the overwhelmingly bold and bright colours of the 70’s and 80’s. These days, wallpaper is used as a semi-permanent artform.
Don’t go crazy
Wallpaper is an intense design choice. Because of its semi-permanent nature, you can’t just make up your mind to change it like you would any other hanging artwork, you need to give it some thought.
We suggest staring with a “feature” wall.
These walls are also called accent walls, but they all come down to the same idea: pick one wall and make it a focal point in your room.
Whether you choose to use wallpaper on the wall behind your bed as a kind of headboard, or whether you chose the wall opposite the entrance hall, it is about setting a mood. By choosing the right wallpaper you can completely alter the mood of your space and put your own signature on your design.
Because you won’t be papering the whole room, you can choose to go bold. Whether your aesthetic is Dark Academia, Cottage Core or Japandi/Scandi, there is a wallpaper design to fit your vibe.
Our favourite local spots for wallpaper shopping include:
Why we love wallpaper
We love wallpaper for its versatility and the instantaneous way it can refresh a space. In particular we love wallpaper for kid rooms, and even bathrooms. Wallpaper is also a more intentional choice than simply painting your home, and we always like it when our homemakers actively make their homes their own happy places.
Waterproof wallpaper is a thing
If you think the idea of having “paper” on steamy bathroom walls is an oxymoron, we are here to tell you that technology has evolved, and waterproof kitchen and bathroom wallpaper is totally a thing.
All the stockists listed above have their very own ranges of waterproof wallpaper, so your options are very nearly limitless!
What if you you’re sick of it?
As we said – wallpaper is a commitment, but that doesn’t mean you are stuck with it forever. Just like paint can be painted over, wallpaper can be stripped. (And the process is quite fun!)
The tried and tested way to remove wallpaper is by scoring, steaming and scraping it off… (The scraping part is extremely satisfying.)
How to remove wallpaper (EASILY!)
How to remove peel and stick wallpaper
Whatever wall treatment you choose, just remember the Homemakers Golden Rule: It is your house, your space, and YOU make the rules!
