The Many Ways of Wallpaper

The bold stripe on this tan and ivory wallpaper is repeated in the curtains and on the chair upholstery. Turning the pattern 90 degrees on the chairs keeps the room feeling lively and dynamic.

Designer: Olga Rechdouni

Papering only one wall while keeping the others a neutral white makes a powerful design statement and ensures the paper complements, rather than competes with, the arresting filigree-patterned bedspread.

Designer: Jeffrey and Deborah Fisher

Not all wallpaper looks like wallpaper. In this elegant living room, the wallpaper gives the effect of a delicate, hand-painted mural that enhances the botanical theme found throughout the space. Note how the wisteria pattern draws the eye upward, further accentuating the room's high ceilings.

Designer: Kendall Wilkinson

Papering one wall in one pattern and the adjoining wall in that pattern's relief, or opposite, adds drama to an otherwise unassuming bathroom.

Designer: Beth Dotolo & Carolina Gentry

Wrestling with what to do with an unusual architectural feature? Rather than hiding it, try highlighting it. Papering the inset wall in this dining room makes it a feature in its own right—and a beautiful one at that.

Designer: Trip Haenisch

The vibrant, chartreuse colorway of this wallpaper updates the classical cherry blossom motif and adds a great energy to this home office.

Designer: Jamie Herzlinger

When it comes to wallpaper, all surfaces are fair game. Papering the walls of this formal dining room would be the traditional approach, but how much more fun and contemporary to apply the paper overhead. Putting the emphasis on the ceiling, rather than on the walls, makes the room feel expansive.

Designer: Rhonda Vandiver-White

Walls paneled in rich woods don't necessarily cry out for further embellishment, but look how just a small amount of wallpaper has such a big impact on the overall look and feel of the room, adding warmth and a textural element that brings coziness to an otherwise stately space.

Designer: Vladimir Lomakin

Finally, some of the best wallpaper isn't made of paper at all but still gives you the papered look you want. Here, decorative paint adds another layer of richness and texture to this cork-covered wall.

Designer: Lori Dennis