Dolling up the walls

Raseel Gujral Ansal

Easy to use and available in a variety of textures, colours and patterns, wallpaper can render a designer touch to your space. Using wallpaper is the easiest and the most hassle-free way of lavishly doing up a room. You will be surprised to learn how the entire experience and energy of a room can be metamorphosed from dull and mundane to exciting and eclectic by introducing rich graphic elements in the form of wallpapers.

The au courant home accents available at several home décor stores are akin to artwork. It is important to make the best use of these to add an aesthetic value to the interiors.

Pick wisely

Bold is always beautiful when it comes to interior designing. It’s very important to follow your instincts and showcase your sensibilities, especially in a personal space. Wallpapers are a great way to introduce art to living area. Using graphic art for wallpapers is an evergreen option one can go for, appropriate for all seasons.

Designs of wallpapers have evolved, from the usual ones to elaborate storyboard-like wallpapers. These act as a medium to tell a story and lend a character to the space. Pick wallpapers that depict famous tourist spots. For example, depiction of Cypress Forest on wallpaper makes for a visual treat. It also gives a feeling of space and openness to the closed area. Pick lighter shades for dark rooms and darker shades for rooms that have a lot of sunlight coming in. The contrast never goes wrong.

Double check

Wallpapers with geometric patterns promise a timeless appeal and can be used for many years. On the other hand, the elaborate, rich and ornate designs, inspired from royal architecture even make an ordinary room look so regal. Today, while wallpaper designs are available in basic patterns like floral, geometric and stripes, high-end designer wallpapers that are virtually art for your walls. These are also available in a rich variety of textures and designs.

The designs of wallpapers range from traditional to modern and can be easily used in any room to add drama to the interiors. Wallpapers are an effortless way of breathing art into interiors. Pick those which have depiction of famous art pieces or those which have motifs inspired from rich architecture. Ensure that wallpaper goes well with the shade of paint of other walls; else the mismatch can cost you a lot.

Get experimental

Don’t be afraid to experiment but be judicious. Wallpapers are truly an economical way to change the look of the rooms. You can transform the look of any closed space from traditional to contemporary in the shortest span of time. Also installing wallpaper is a quicker and less messy way to do up the interiors as compared to paints. These are also easier to remove.

Wallpapers can make small rooms look bigger. For example, Trompe l’oeil wall paper (in French it means ‘fools the eyes’) are art pieces that make two-dimensional designs look like three-dimensional ones. There are options galore in the market, but before you buy, consider what complements the overall décor of the house and the room.

(As told to Shashi Sunny)

Raseel is a Delhi-based interior designer