WOW! The Wonder of Wallpaper!

I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with wallpaper.  I love the way it looks but I hate the thought of such permanence.  As I became more experienced with wallpaper, I realized that removing it shouldn’t make you want to pull your hair out. As long as the wall is properly prepared, wallpaper  install and removal is not so intimidating! Nine times out of ten “Mr. Builder” doesn’t prime the walls so you end up ripping off sheetrock as you remove the paper.  If a primer is used, the paper should peel off without  much effort.After my corporate office days, my first job was in a wallcovering store.  This was back in the days of when you had a stripe below the chair rail, a floral above the chair rail, a border on top of the chair rail and a border at the top of the ceiling all the way around (OMG – how gross!!)Thankfully, those days are long gone!  Wallcovering today is sophisticated, dramatic, and hi-tech!  Gone are the florals, stripes, paisleys and tiny prints. Welcome high-end, sleek and vibrant wallcoverings that are hand printed, flocked, velvet and textured!  You can put them on the ceiling, run them horizontally, and use them unexpectedly like on table tops and inside frames.Personally I love wallcovering in small spaces - powder rooms, laundry rooms, mud rooms, nook offices, etc.  These are often small, uninteresting and forgotten spaces so why not make it as dramatic as possible?Another form of wallcovering that is increasing in popularity is the “stick on” type with quotes, monograms, etc.  The great thing about them is they peel  off when you’re tired of them. Don't think Winnie the Pooh stick on here - think creative wall coverings that are customized and look like they are painted on the wall.Don’t let the fear of wallpaper removal or the stigma of Grandmother's wallpaper scare you off!  Go for it - paint can only have so much personality!! To incentivize you, here's a little eye candy for you. (Photos courtesy of Graham & Brown, Dali Decal and Wallpaper Weekly).