Wallpaper can completely change the feeling of a room which is probably why choosing it can feel like a much bigger decision than choosing a paint color (and that can be hard too!).

I suggest starting simple.

Before thinking about what's trending or even which pattern you love most, think about how you want to feel when you walk into the room.

From there, pattern, scale and color become easier decisions.

ASK:

scattered bird sketches in soft pinks for a nursery wall — gentle - delightful - sweet

1. How Do You Want the Room to Feel?

Before choosing flowers versus stripes or blue versus green, think about the mood you're creating.

Do you want your bedroom to feel quiet and restorative? A powder room to feel a little unexpected? A child's room to feel cheerful and imaginative? Or do you want your entryway to immediately reveal your personal vibe?

Try this: Choose three words to describe how you'd like your finished room to feel. Keep those words in mind as you look at patterns.

Wallpaper can be a backdrop, but it can also establish the personality of a room. So keep the question top of mind “How do I want this space to feel?

2. How Much Pattern Do You Want?

As a pattern designer, this is something I think about all the time.

Up close, we notice individual flowers, leaves, brushstrokes, and colors. Step back several feet and we begin to see something different: the rhythm of the pattern.

That's why scale is so important with wallpaper.

You want to love the beautiful details when you're nearby, but you also want to love what the pattern becomes when you walk across the room.

An airy botanical with plenty of background showing can feel open and relaxed. A denser floral creates more movement and can make a wonderful statement.

And don't assume a small room can’t have a big pattern. A generous-scale design can make a small room feel surprisingly special.

Try this: Instead of asking, "Is this pattern too big?" ask, "How much visual expression do I want happening on my walls?"

3. Does the Color Work With the Room?

Your wallpaper doesn't need to perfectly match everything around it.

In fact, rooms can be more interesting when colors relate rather than match.

Look at what's already staying in the room: flooring, wood tones, tile, upholstery, and accessories. Then look for connections within the wallpaper.

Maybe a tiny yellow flower picks up the warmth of an oak floor. A soft green relates to the landscape outside. A blue ground makes cream upholstery feel fresher.

Creating relationships and enjoy mixing things up a bit.

And then sometimes, it just works!

Love thinking about color? Read my July post,Color Pairings I Return to Again and Again.

One Last Step: Order the Sample

Once you've narrowed down your choices, get away from the screen.

Put your samples up on the actual wall you will be covering. Look at it in morning light and again at night. Stand close to it and then walk across the room. Hold it beside the flooring, furniture, and fabrics that are staying, and take it to the paint store to look for coordinating colors that excite you.

Ask yourself if this is giving you the feeling you want in the space. If it does, don’t hesitate. You did the work, now lean in and place the order. You got this!

Find my wallpaper designs on Spoonflower: Click here for a direct link

How to Choose a Wallpaper Pattern You'll Love

ASK:

1. How Do You Want the Room to Feel?

2. How Much Pattern Do You Want?

3. Does the Color Work With the Room?

One Last Step: Order the Sample

Ink + Sun™ is a company of Janet Hild Design