
Although it might seem like wallpaper is too busy for a small space, used thoughtfully it can actually make a room appear larger. By choosing one accent wall or one architectural detail to highlight in your space, you can make a big statement on a small scale. The best part? Papering a small space means you can splurge on the pattern you really want...


In this hallway, a mirror reflects one patterned accent wall, making the space appear larger. Photo: Palace White from Urban Source.

Wallpaper with a metallic pattern reflects light. Photo: Graham & Brown Linda Barker Serenity Wallpaper from Design Public.

Subtle patterns add visual interest without overwhelming. Photo: Montague Wallpaper from Twenty2.

Vertical Patterns can make a room seem taller. Photo: Bamboo Wallpaper from Ferm Living.

Wallpaper can be framed as art, used in a nook, or used to highlight an architectural detail. Photo: Herringbone from Palace Papers.
Wallpaper that has some perspective depth in the pattern can also make a room look larger.
view becky12345's profile
I concur! Wallpaper can be great in a small space. In my own 500-square-foot home, I've gotten great strokes for the bold silver and taupe floral on my walls (you can see a photo here). While I was initially afraid of adding other patterns in the room, I realized that, as long as I unified the color scheme -- in my case, browns, taupes, and oranges -- the wallpaper could act as a fantastic backdrop that provided visual interest and depth in such a tiny space.
view allisonlindsay's profile
if i do get the guts to submit my apartment for Small Cool by the 14th, you'll see my dramatic wallpaper section. ;-)
view *heather leaf*'s profile
check out the bright graphic wallpaper that I just put up above the chair rail in my all-white kitchen!
http://mylittleapartment.blogspot.com/2008/02/if-i-didnt-live-here-id-move-in.html
best decision I've ever made in my tiny studio apt.
view goodnightdean's profile
i'm in love with the idea of grass cloth paper right now
view SD913's profile