WALLPAPERED KITCHENS

The kitchen is the room that adds the most value to your home if it is done well. Although your choice of kitchen units and countertops are the key design consideration, other decor elements are also important such as paint colour and wallpaper.

You might think that wallpapering the kitchen is a daring style move but it's actually a great way to brighten things up and add instant personality. It’s easier than ever to wallpaper with surprisingly easy-to-hang and remove papers when you’re ready to refresh your kitchen’s decor. Today’s colours and patterns are not inspired by your grandma’s decor. They’ve evolved to keep up with popular style trends. Top paint and wallpaper companies are partnering with designers to offer coordinated looks to make choosing the perfect pairings easier for us.

If you decide to add wallpapering to your spring to-do list, first determine which walls you want to wallpaper then decide on the type of paper you feel comfortable working with - an easy-to-install peel-and-stick temporary wallpaper or a more traditional strippable wallpaper. The type of paper and size of the space will determine whether the job will require a professional or be a simple DIY project.

There are various factors that can impact the cost of wallpaper, including the quality, the materials, the brand, the designer, and the retailer. Determine a budget and then have fun choosing the perfect wallpaper to suit the decor and cabinet style of your kitchen.

Tip: It’s important to remember that lighting greatly effects colour so the wallpaper you see in the shop may not work well on the wall in your space. It’s best to take home a selection of samples and see how they look in your space.

Here are a few inspiring looks that might tempt you to give wallpapering a try.

A small wallpapered wall in a bold pattern brings drama and energy to a small dressing room/yoga studio kitchenette complete with Thermador undercabinet fridge and freezer drawers, a wine fridge and a built-in coffee machine.

A dramatic large-scale floral wallpaper “Dark Floral” inspired by the style of Dutch still life paintings, gives the kitchen’s dining banquette the feel of a room-within-a-room.

Wallpaper Designer: Ellie Cashman @elliechashmandesign
Kitchen Designer: Casagrande Studio @casagrandestudio

Created exclusively for Designer Shea McGee of McGee & Co, this elegant Honeysuckle & Tulip Wallpaper is a signature 1876 Morris & Co. pattern reimagined in a new neutral color palette in a play of greens, yellows, grays, and charcoals.

@McGee&Co

New to wallpapering? Start with a flat plain wall like this one above wainscotting panels in a dining area of the kitchen. Perfect for renters and homeowners looking for an instant, DIY transformation to their interior spaces, this pretty self-adhesive “Blooming Honeysuckle” wallpaper is strippable and washable.

@nextwallwallpaper

Apply this whimsical smooth vinyl peel-and-stick “Entangled Lines Abstract” wallpaper from Simple Shapes on the back panel of a hutch or behind floating shelves to create a fun focal point.

@simpleshapes

Designed in a fresh blue and cream colour palette Hopwood Cottage Duck Egg from Graham & Brown is a washable, paste-the-wall patterned wallpaper that offers the look of overall colour.