Combining paint and wallpaper: why is it a good idea?
Painting is absolutely essential at home. It must be said that it is easy to apply and renew, and that it does not require a large budget. But unless you fall for geometric decoration and arm yourself with masking tape (and patience!) to paint a pattern on the walls, an interior where all the walls are painted can lack a bit of relief. This is where the wallpaper reveals its full potential!
Combining wallpaper with a graphic pattern with a very peaceful color such as blue can both energize the decor and give it a more assertive style.
Rule number 1 for a good combination of paint and wallpaper: a harmonious palette
The main challenge in combining paint and wallpaper elegantly is choosing the colors skilfully. If it’s a question of waking up a white interior, it’s very simple: anything goes… or almost! From an aesthetic point of view, it is indeed impossible to miss, because all the colors are associated with white. However, it is essential to reflect on the desired effect.
For a soft and peaceful atmosphere, we associate white paint with a cold-colored wallpaper, favoring rich shades for a hushed spirit. For a more energizing atmosphere, we prefer a warm colored wallpaper.
The combination of wallpaper and colored paint may seem trickier. Do not panic: composing a harmonious palette is easier than it seems!
The first solution is to bet on one of the major paint trends for 2023: the monochrome option. The principle is simple: start by deciding on the wallpaper you are going to adopt. All you have to do is choose a paint whose shade is strictly identical to that of the background of your wallpaper, and you’re done.
The alternative is to orient yourself towards another 2023 paint trend: monochrome. This time it’s about choosing a color and declining it in different shades through paint and wallpaper. Here, we have adopted a wallpaper that ranges from very light beige brown to a dark chocolate shade. The monochrome ensures an elegant decoration. If the result seems a little too modest, don’t hesitate to add an unexpected touch of color, like this touch of purple, which electrifies this trendy dining room.
Follower of colorful interiors, bet on the association of two complementary colors when choosing your paint and your wallpaper. This bias ensures a decoration that is both harmonious and perfectly balanced, since you combine a cold color and a warm color.
The right combination of paint and wallpaper: a question of balance
For the combination of paint and wallpaper to work, it is important to think carefully about how you are going to apply them.
The classic layout is to paint the walls and ceiling, and apply the wallpaper to an accent wall. This can be an opportunity to visually enlarge the room or simply to enhance the volumes.
Applying the wallpaper to two walls allows you to structure the room – for example to delimit a kitchen open to the living room without closing off the space. It is also a very safe choice to create a warm and enveloping atmosphere, without visually overloading the decor.
Wallpaper gives personality to an interior, and it introduces movement. However, completely covering a large section of the wall with wallpaper can be counterproductive. To break the monotony of a pattern, we put on elements such as baseboards, door and window frames, or even on moldings, which we paint in contrasting colors.
It is generally not recommended to apply the wallpaper on all the walls of the room, otherwise it will create a stuffy atmosphere. If you want to do it, choose the base which visually lightens the decor.
Easy to cut, easy to stick: non-woven wallpaper has had its little revolution. And we now dare to use original cutouts to combine paint and wallpaper. Here, a wide band of white paint has been left all around the wallpaper, applied like a wall hanging.
Traditionally, the wallpaper is laid on the walls, while the ceiling is painted white. At a time when rich colors are making their comeback on the front of the stage, we nevertheless dare the colored ceiling associated with the wallpaper. This choice is ideal for creating a cocooning bedroom, and it’s also a great way to adopt an intense shade in the bathroom.
The big trend in recent seasons is to play with codes by applying paint to the walls and wallpaper to the ceiling. To furnish a low-ceilinged room, opt for panoramic wallpaper, which visually boosts the height under the ceiling.