How to add flair to your interior with wallpaper (2025)

One of the simplest and quickest ways to bring an element of surprise into your interiors is by using wallpaper. Not only does a simple feature wall in your chosen Resene wallpaper design add instant impact and give you the basis of a colour palette for the rest of the room, but by using wallpaper in more unpredictable ways you heighten the impact. It’s also a great way to refresh pre-loved items of furniture and décor.

Resene Colour Expert Amy Watkins suggests creating a wallpaper headboard for your bed. Simply paper a section of wall behind the bed that stands out against your Resene paint colour or, for an option you can take with you when you move home, paper a piece of ply or mdf and attach it to the wall. You could even add a floating shelf in the same wallpaper or paint it a contrasting colour. For an eye-catching artistic effect, try the sweeping arches of Resene Wallpaper Collection 10372-48.

Amy’s other tip is to consider wallpapering your ceiling. “It is a great talking point and ceilings are often overlooked when thinking about design.

“A wallpapered ceiling works particularly well in rooms with a high stud, but will work just as well in any space you want to feel dramatic, cosy or simply interesting.”

Opening a cupboard or wardrobe to find the inside has been wallpapered in a vibrant design is another simple, delightful upgrade. Connect the cupboard interior to the rest of the room by using the same pattern on a shelf or two or match it to your wallpapered headboard or ceiling.

Kitchens and bathrooms

A small, self-contained powder room is a great place to play with a bold wallpaper design like the Victorian style flora and fauna of Resene Wallpaper Collection E307300. Use this wallpaper as a feature wall with a jewel tone like Resene Persian Red or an earthier shade like Resene Quarter Karaka. Alternatively envelope the whole room in the wallpaper for total immersion.

This all-in approach with a bold wallpaper also adds unexpected personality to kitchens. Choose a botanical design like Resene Wallpaper Collection 291468, then lift out the colours to paint your cabinetry, using shades like Resene Watermark or Resene Freewheeling.

For a pared back approach, add a dramatic wallpaper behind a stove or sink and cover in glass as a unique splashback. Use a neutral like Resene Double Rice Cake or Resene Spanish White around the walls and trim of the kitchen so your wallpapered feature takes centre stage.

Wallpapers are best viewed at your local Resene ColorShop so you can see the design and colours clearly, but you can start choosing your favourites online at www.resene.com/wallpaper.

top tip In kitchens, bathrooms and laundries look for wallpapers that will hold up to moisture. Ask your local Resene ColorShop staff for advice on the best Resene wallpapers to suit your conditions. For added protection topcoat your wallpaper with Resene SpaceCote Clear, a low sheen clear finish.

New papers

Resene ColorShops are continually updating and adding to their range of wallpapers so there is plenty for you to choose from. Here are a few new ones to add to your mood board.

Resene Wallpaper Collection 10372-48

Resene Wallpaper Collection 39548-5

Resene Wallpaper Collection 93791-2

Resene Wallpaper Collection 39670-5

Wallpaper offcut projects to try

Avoid waste by adding wallpaper offcuts to:

• The sides or fronts of a dressing table or chest of drawers
• The top of an old coffee table, then finish with Resene SpaceCote Clear or a piece of strengthened glass
• Large offcuts of wood to use as bookends
• Old art canvases (wallpapers with large scale prints are great for this)
• Old cylindrical lampshades
• Stair risers
• Coasters and place mats, then finish with Resene SpaceCote Clear.

Colours mentioned in this article

Colours marked as "buy in-store" may not yet be available in our online ColorShop, however, the testpots can be purchased at your local Resene ColorShop or reseller.

Products mentioned in this article

Products marked as "coming soon" or "buy in-store" may not yet be available in our online ColorShop, however, they can be purchased at your local Resene ColorShop or reseller.

Want to get your own free copy of future issues of habitat magazine?

Printed copies of habitat highlights are available from late March 2024 at Resene ColorShops and resellers, while stocks last. You can view back issues of habitat magazine online.

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