How to Choose Wallpaper for Every Room in Your Home: A Designer's Guide

Wallpaper has always had the ability to transform a room, but today it's doing much more than adding color or pattern to a wall. The right wallpaper creates atmosphere. It tells a story, reflects your personal style, and becomes part of the backdrop for everyday life.

Whether you're refreshing a powder room, designing a welcoming entryway, or furnishing an entire home, wallpaper is one of the most impactful design decisions you can make. It adds warmth, depth, and character in a way paint simply cannot.

As both an artist and textile designer, I believe wallpaper should do more than decorate a room—it should help shape how the room feels. Every collection I create begins as an original painting, inspired by nature, travel, family, and the quiet beauty found in everyday moments. Those paintings are then thoughtfully transformed into luxury wallpaper, sustainably printed in England, with the hope that they'll become part of someone else's story.

Whether you're a homeowner planning a renovation or an interior designer sourcing materials for a client, choosing the right wallpaper starts with understanding how each room is meant to be lived in.

Why Wallpaper Has Made a Comeback

Wallpaper has never truly disappeared, but the way designers use it has changed dramatically.

Today's luxury interiors are moving away from spaces that feel overly minimal or impersonal. Instead, designers are embracing homes that feel layered, collected, and deeply personal. Wallpaper plays an important role in creating that feeling.

Rather than being reserved for formal dining rooms or traditional homes, wallpaper now appears everywhere—from laundry rooms and mudrooms to bedrooms, kitchens, and ceilings. It has become one of the easiest ways to introduce personality while adding texture, movement, and visual interest.

Another reason wallpaper has regained popularity is its versatility. Whether your home leans traditional, modern, coastal, or somewhere in between, there's a pattern that can complement your architecture rather than compete with it.

Interior designers often think of wallpaper as the foundation of a room. It helps establish the mood before furniture, artwork, and accessories are even considered. A thoughtfully chosen wallpaper quietly ties everything together, allowing the space to feel complete.

Start with the Feeling You Want to Create

Before selecting a color palette or browsing hundreds of wallpaper patterns, take a moment to think about how you want the room to feel.

Should it feel relaxed and peaceful?

Warm and welcoming?

Collected and timeless?

Bright and cheerful?

Sophisticated and dramatic?

The most memorable homes aren't designed around trends. They're designed around atmosphere.

When you begin with the feeling rather than the pattern, choosing wallpaper becomes much more intuitive. Every decision—from color to scale to finish—starts supporting the experience you want to create.

Designer Tip

Many homeowners begin by searching for a specific color or pattern. Interior designers often start by asking a different question: "How should this room make people feel?" Once you answer that, the right wallpaper becomes much easier to find.

Living Rooms: Create Depth, Warmth, and Conversation

The living room is where life unfolds. It's where families gather, friends linger, holidays are celebrated, and quiet evenings are spent at home. Because it serves so many purposes, the wallpaper you choose should feel timeless rather than trendy.

Botanical patterns, expressive artwork, and softly layered designs create visual richness without overwhelming the room. They provide a backdrop that feels welcoming throughout every season and complements both traditional and contemporary furnishings.

Collections like Trees bring an organic elegance inspired by the beauty of live oak foliage. The abstract botanical design layers beautifully with natural woods, linen upholstery, antiques, and collected artwork, making it equally at home in classic Southern interiors and more contemporary spaces.

If you're looking for something with a little more movement, Wildflowers offers a fresh interpretation of nature through expressive brushwork and layered color. Available in both small and large repeats, the collection allows you to tailor the scale to your room while creating an atmosphere that's vibrant yet sophisticated.

For homeowners who appreciate interiors that feel artistic and collected, The Gardens introduces an impressionistic quality that adds warmth without becoming overly formal. Rich color combinations and layered forms create visual interest while remaining easy to live with every day.

The goal isn't simply to fill a wall with pattern. It's to create a room that feels inviting from the moment someone walks through the door.

Designer Tip

One of the biggest misconceptions about wallpaper is that large-scale patterns only belong in large rooms. In reality, larger repeats often make a space feel more expansive because the eye isn't interrupted as frequently by repeating elements.

Artist's Note

Many of my botanical collections begin during walks outdoors or while traveling. Rather than painting exact representations of nature, I'm interested in capturing the feeling a landscape leaves behind—the movement of leaves, changing light, or the quiet rhythm found in a garden. Those impressions often become the starting point for an entire wallpaper collection.

Dining Rooms: A Space Meant to Be Remembered

Few rooms invite creativity quite like the dining room.

Because it's typically used for gatherings, celebrations, and shared meals, the dining room is one place where wallpaper can confidently become part of the experience rather than simply the background.

Rich color, expressive artwork, and thoughtful pattern all help create an atmosphere that encourages people to slow down, linger at the table, and enjoy one another's company.

For dining rooms that feel warm and inviting, Trees creates a timeless backdrop inspired by nature. Its graceful botanical forms complement everything from antique dining tables to contemporary lighting, making it remarkably versatile.

If you're looking for an artistic focal point, Centerpiece offers expressive hydrangea-inspired artwork that naturally draws the eye while remaining elegant enough for everyday living.

For homes that blend traditional architecture with modern furnishings, Topiary provides a fresh interpretation of classic garden forms, introducing movement and structure without feeling overly formal.

Those who appreciate understated sophistication often gravitate toward Venetian Stripe. Inspired by the character of aged Venetian plaster, its softly undulating stripe creates subtle rhythm that works beautifully alongside both antique and contemporary furnishings.

Rather than asking whether wallpaper is too bold for a dining room, ask whether it creates the atmosphere you want guests to remember long after the meal is over.

Designer Tip

Dining rooms are one of the easiest places to introduce deeper colors or larger patterns because they're typically experienced for shorter periods of time than living rooms. Don't be afraid to make a statement.

Bedrooms: Design a Place to Unwind

A bedroom should feel like a retreat from the rest of the home.

Wallpaper has the unique ability to soften a space, creating a sense of comfort that extends far beyond color alone. Gentle botanicals, graceful florals, and calming palettes help establish a peaceful atmosphere while adding visual depth.

Whether installed behind the bed or wrapped around all four walls, wallpaper creates a finished, intentional look that immediately makes the room feel more personal.

Collections like Dahlia Vine offer a fresh interpretation of the classic floral stripe, bringing movement and elegance without overwhelming the room. Flowering Dogwoods, inspired by one of spring's most beloved trees, creates a timeless botanical backdrop that layers beautifully with natural linens, upholstered headboards, and antique furnishings.

For those who prefer interiors filled with warmth and charm, Cottage Garden evokes the relaxed beauty of an English garden, while softer colorways from Wildflowers introduce subtle movement that feels equally at home in traditional, transitional, or modern interiors.

The bedroom isn't simply where we sleep. It's where we begin and end every day. Thoughtfully chosen wallpaper has a remarkable ability to make those everyday moments feel just a little more beautiful.

Designer Tip

Instead of treating wallpaper as an accent behind the bed, consider wrapping the entire room. Enveloping the space in pattern often creates a quieter, more cohesive atmosphere than a single feature wall.

Powder Rooms: The Perfect Place to Be Bold

If there's one room where I encourage homeowners and interior designers to take a creative leap, it's the powder room.

Unlike larger living spaces, powder rooms are experienced in small moments. They're the rooms where guests pause, notice the details, and often leave saying, "I absolutely loved your wallpaper."

Because of their smaller footprint, powder rooms allow you to embrace patterns that might feel too adventurous in a larger space. Rich botanicals, expressive artwork, timeless stripes, and metallic accents all have the opportunity to shine without overwhelming the room.

For an organic, nature-inspired retreat, Trees creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere that feels sophisticated rather than formal. Its graceful botanical forms work beautifully with marble vanities, unlacquered brass, natural stone, and painted millwork.

If you're looking to make more of a statement, Wildflowers brings movement, color, and artistic energy into even the smallest spaces. It's a wonderful choice for clients who appreciate interiors that feel layered and collected rather than overly designed.

For those drawn to classic tailoring, Brother Stripe introduces structure and rhythm while remaining versatile enough to complement both traditional and contemporary homes.

If your goal is to create a room guests won't soon forget, the Gilt Collection offers subtle metallic accents that reflect light beautifully throughout the day. The result feels elegant, refined, and quietly dramatic rather than flashy.

The beauty of a powder room is that it gives you permission to have a little fun. It's often the smallest room in the house, yet it can leave one of the biggest impressions.

Designer Tip

Don't overlook the ceiling. In a powder room, continuing the wallpaper onto the ceiling creates an immersive, jewel-box effect that feels intentional and luxurious.

Laundry Rooms: Beauty in Everyday Spaces

Not every memorable room is designed for entertaining.

Some of the most satisfying spaces are the ones we use every single day.

Laundry rooms have become one of my favorite places to introduce wallpaper because they remind us that beautiful design shouldn't be reserved only for formal living spaces. A thoughtfully designed laundry room transforms everyday routines into moments that feel just a little more enjoyable.

Fresh botanicals, soft blues, cheerful greens, and artistic patterns naturally brighten hardworking spaces while maintaining a timeless quality.

Wildflowers I brings a sense of movement and optimism that feels especially fitting in laundry rooms filled with natural light.

Eucalyptus introduces fresh botanical forms that pair beautifully with white cabinetry, natural baskets, and warm wood accents.

For homeowners looking for something playful yet sophisticated, Sweet Gum adds artistic energy through its abstract interpretation of nature while remaining remarkably versatile.

If you prefer a cleaner, more tailored aesthetic, Sister Stripe creates rhythm and visual interest without competing with cabinetry or shelving.

These spaces may be functional, but they deserve just as much thoughtful design as any other room in the home.

Designer Tip

Wallpaper works especially well in laundry rooms because cabinetry naturally breaks up the walls, allowing even larger patterns to feel balanced and approachable.

Entryways: Your Home's First Impression

Before anyone sees your furniture, artwork, or carefully collected accessories, they experience your entryway.

That first impression quietly introduces the personality of your home.

Whether your style leans traditional, coastal, transitional, or contemporary, wallpaper helps establish the tone before guests step into the next room.

Soft botanicals immediately create a welcoming atmosphere, while classic stripes introduce structure and timeless elegance. More artistic collections bring warmth and personality without feeling overwhelming.

Think of your entryway as the opening chapter of a story. Every room that follows should feel like a natural continuation of what guests first experience.

Designer Tip

If your entry opens into multiple adjoining spaces, choose wallpaper that complements—not competes with—the rooms beyond it. The transition should feel effortless.

Choosing the Right Pattern Scale

One of the most common questions I receive is:

"Is this pattern too large for my room?"

The answer is almost always no.

Many people assume small rooms require small-scale wallpaper, but the opposite is often true. Larger patterns create fewer visual interruptions, allowing the eye to move more freely around the room. This can actually make smaller spaces feel larger and more open.

Smaller repeats bring rhythm and versatility, making them wonderful choices when layering with patterned upholstery, rugs, window treatments, and decorative pillows.

Many Truett Designs collections are available in multiple repeat sizes, allowing homeowners and interior designers to select the scale that best complements the proportions of the room.

Ultimately, scale isn't about square footage.

It's about balance.

Designer Tip

Always view wallpaper samples from several feet away—not just up close. Most patterns are designed to be appreciated as part of an entire room rather than from just a few inches away.

Choosing the Right Wallpaper Finish

At Truett Designs, every wallpaper begins as an original painting before being thoughtfully translated into a luxury wallcovering.

Our wallpapers are available in both matte paper and faux grasscloth finishes, each offering its own distinctive character.

Our matte paper provides a clean, timeless presentation that allows the artwork itself to remain the focal point. It's a versatile choice for everything from historic homes to contemporary interiors.

Our faux grasscloth offers the appearance of woven natural grasscloth while providing the consistency and durability of printed wallpaper. It introduces additional depth and warmth, making it especially beautiful in dining rooms, studies, entryways, and other spaces where layered texture is desired.

Both finishes are sustainably printed in England using eco-friendly inks and produced with the craftsmanship that defines every Truett Designs collection.

Artist's Note

Choosing between matte and faux grasscloth isn't about which finish is better. It's about deciding how you'd like the artwork to be experienced within your home. Sometimes simplicity allows the painting to speak for itself. Other times, an added layer of visual texture creates exactly the atmosphere the room needs.

Why Ordering Wallpaper Samples Matters

Ordering wallpaper samples is one of the simplest—and smartest—steps you can take before making your final decision.

A wallpaper that appears one way on a computer screen may feel entirely different once it's viewed in your own home alongside your flooring, cabinetry, fabrics, paint colors, and natural light. Living with a sample for several days allows you to experience the artwork throughout changing light conditions while seeing how it complements the materials already in your space.

At Truett Designs, we offer two wallpaper sample sizes to help you choose with confidence.

Our 6" × 6" Designer Memo Sample is ideal for reviewing color, artwork, and finish. It's perfect for comparing multiple patterns or colorways as you narrow your selections.

For projects where understanding the repeat and scale is especially important, our 24.4" × 12" Large Wallpaper Sample provides a much better sense of how the design will appear once installed. This larger sample is especially helpful for interior designers specifying wallpaper for clients and homeowners planning to wallpaper an entire room.

Whether you're comparing matte and faux grasscloth finishes, coordinating wallpaper with fabrics, paint colors, flooring, or cabinetry, ordering samples gives you the confidence to make a well-informed decision before investing in your space.

Designer Tip

I always recommend viewing wallpaper samples in the room where they'll be installed. Move them to different walls and observe them in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Natural light changes throughout the day, and seeing the artwork under different lighting conditions is one of the best ways to ensure you'll love your choice for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing Wallpaper

Choosing wallpaper is an investment, and it's natural to have questions before selecting a pattern. Here are a few of the questions I hear most often from homeowners and interior designers.

Is wallpaper still in style?

Absolutely.

Wallpaper has become one of the defining elements of today's luxury interiors. Rather than limiting it to a single accent wall, designers are incorporating wallpaper throughout the home to create warmth, depth, and personality. Botanical wallpapers, timeless stripes, artistic florals, and nature-inspired designs continue to feel current because they're rooted in thoughtful design rather than passing trends.

Does wallpaper make a room feel smaller?

In many cases, the opposite is true.

A thoughtfully chosen wallpaper can actually make a room feel larger by creating visual continuity and drawing the eye around the space. Larger-scale patterns are especially effective because they create fewer visual interruptions, helping smaller rooms feel more expansive.

Should every room feature the same wallpaper?

Every room should have its own personality, but the home should tell one cohesive story.

Rather than repeating the same wallpaper throughout your home, consider selecting collections that share complementary colors, a similar artistic style, or a common sense of movement. This creates variety while maintaining a beautifully layered interior.

Should I order wallpaper samples before purchasing?

Always.

Seeing wallpaper in your own home is the best way to appreciate its color, scale, artwork, and finish. Samples make it easier to coordinate with paint colors, flooring, cabinetry, upholstery, and natural light before committing to a full installation.

What makes luxury wallpaper different?

Luxury wallpaper begins with original artwork, exceptional craftsmanship, and thoughtful production.

At Truett Designs, every wallpaper collection starts as an original painting before being sustainably printed in England by skilled artisans. Rather than following short-lived trends, each design is created to become part of a home for years to come, offering lasting beauty, timeless appeal, and exceptional quality.

Creating a Home That Feels Layered

The interiors I admire most rarely rely on one dramatic element to make an impression.

Instead, they're built gradually through thoughtful layers—beautiful wallpaper, natural materials, collected artwork, tailored upholstery, heirloom pieces, custom drapery, and furnishings that tell the story of the people who live there.

Wallpaper often becomes the foundation that allows those layers to come together.

Whether it's a graceful botanical in a bedroom, a timeless stripe in a dining room, or an expressive floral in a powder room, wallpaper establishes the mood long before furniture and accessories are added.

The goal isn't perfection.

The goal is creating a home that feels welcoming, comfortable, and unmistakably your own.

The most memorable interiors are the ones that evolve over time, reflecting the personalities, experiences, and memories of the people who call them home.

Artist's Note

When I begin a new painting, I'm rarely thinking about trends.

More often, I'm remembering a walk through a garden, the changing light across a landscape, or details from my travels that quietly stayed with me long after returning home.

Those moments eventually become wallpaper, fabric, and pillows, but they always begin as artwork.

It's my hope that each collection brings that same sense of warmth, curiosity, and beauty into the homes where it will eventually live.

A Few Final Thoughts from the Studio

One of the greatest joys of creating wallpaper is seeing how differently each interior designer or homeowner interprets the same collection.

One designer may choose Trees for a traditional library layered with antiques and warm wood tones, while another pairs it with contemporary furnishings and modern artwork. Wildflowers may become the backdrop for a cheerful laundry room in one home and a serene primary bedroom in another.

There is no single "right" way to use wallpaper.

That's one of the beautiful things about original artwork—it leaves room for interpretation.

The homes I remember most aren't the ones that perfectly followed every trend. They're the homes thoughtfully assembled over time, where every choice feels intentional and every room reflects the people who live there.

Whether you're decorating one room or an entire home, choose pieces that resonate with you. Those are the interiors that never go out of style.

Bring Artful Living Home

Wallpaper is so much more than a decorative finish.

It's the backdrop for family dinners, holiday celebrations, quiet mornings with coffee, conversations around the table, and the everyday moments that slowly become lifelong memories.

Whether you're refreshing a powder room, creating a welcoming entryway, designing a peaceful bedroom, or transforming an entire home, thoughtfully chosen wallpaper has the power to shape not only how a room looks—but how it feels.

At Truett Designs, every wallpaper begins as an original painting before being sustainably printed in England by skilled artisans. Each collection is thoughtfully created to bring timeless beauty, exceptional craftsmanship, and artistic character into the homes it becomes part of.

My hope is that these collections become more than beautiful walls.

I hope they become part of your family's story, creating spaces that feel welcoming, collected, and lived in for years to come.

Thank you for spending time with me here in Artful Living. I look forward to sharing more of the inspiration, artwork, and stories behind each Truett Designs collection.

Design Resources

If you're planning your next interior design project, these resources can help you get started:

• Explore our Luxury Wallpaper Collection
• Order a 6" × 6" Designer Memo Sample or a 24.4" × 12" Large Wallpaper Sample
• Browse our Luxury Fabric by the Yard for custom drapery, upholstery, and soft furnishings
• Discover our collection of Luxury Pillows, handcrafted in England and available in Cotton/Linen Blend, Performance Linen, and Velvet Shimmer
• Read The Story Behind Wildflowers to learn how one of our signature collections came to life

Whether you're a homeowner designing your forever home or an interior designer creating a space for a client, I hope you'll find inspiration in creating rooms that are timeless, personal, and filled with artful living.