How to choose wallpaper for the living room?
The most important thing in choosing wallpaper for the living room is that it matches the interior style of the apartment or house. It is better to choose wallpaper for the living room that is more elegant than for the bedroom or children's room, without going beyond the scope of the apartment's interior design.
We have already written in detail about the types of wallpaper and their differences, but now let’s talk about choosing the color of the wallpaper.
Features of wallpaper for the living room
Calm colors look great in the bedroom and children's room, and in the living room you can please your inner aesthete with a brilliant environment.
Of course, there should be enough glitter; a light shimmer is quite suitable, adding a sense of ceremonial elegance on a bright day, and introducing an element of romance and mystery in the evening.
To prevent the living room from turning into a mirrored room, it is better to choose simple drawings, small images and calm colors.
Dark wallpaper
The main concern in choosing dark wallpaper is the risk of visually making the room smaller. To prevent the room from looking gloomy and gloomy, we recommend using dark wallpaper in the living room interior in fragments, for example, in the sofa area or behind the TV.
You can cover one wall opposite the window with dark wallpaper, thus refreshing the room with a contrasting combination.
If the dimensions of the living room are not close to a square and the room is very elongated, you can also reduce it by covering the opposite walls with dark wallpaper.
Black wallpaper
Black wallpaper can conflict with pure bright colors - yellow, red, blue, green. To prevent the room from being perceived as gloomy and aggressive, try to use no more than 1/4 of the surface of the walls in the room.
Purple wallpaper
Purple wallpaper in the interior has a contradictory effect on the psyche - it is a mixture of exciting red and calm blue. Purple color goes well with blue, burgundy shades of red, white, gray, brown. This color is also best used in fragments. Pay attention to the purple wallpaper with a gilded pattern; thanks to the contrast, the interior will look advantageous and elegant.
Brown wallpaper
Brown wallpaper will look elegant in the living room; Thanks to the ability to choose wallpaper in different shades, you can decorate the entire room in brown without creating too oppressive an atmosphere. For example, you can ensure smooth transitions between chocolate, coffee, champagne, milk and beige shades. For interiors in a classic style, wallpaper with a gilded relief pattern is suitable.
Wallpaper texture in the living room
Textured wallpaper will not only become an unusual decoration for the room, but will also be able to:
- Add volume;
- Take it to the future, or at least to another continent.
It is believed that the more clearly the 3D impression is expressed, the more fashionable and cool the room looks. But do not forget that a too spectacular finish will resemble plastic panels, and not all inhabitants of the house will like this option.
A more sophisticated effect will help to create:
- Embossed wallpaper made of paper and non-woven fabric;
- Glass wallpaper;
- Liquid design options;
- Plant components;
- Linkrusta.
Such options are sure to attract attention and turn an ordinary room into a precious box.
Realistic photo wallpaper will complement the living room in an original way. Moreover, instead of the usual ancient streets and sea coasts, you can create any images to order. Such paintings will perfectly complement any design, and the unusual design will be emphasized by the texture of a fresco, antique plaster, coarse sand or linen canvas.
Colors, shades, tones: features of wall materials
Even the simplest plain wallpaper can become the main highlight of any design, because the main property of such materials is the ability to set the background and the right mood for the entire space .
As a rule, wallpaper of this type is used to darken or brighten the interior , less often - to highlight accents on individual walls or some areas thereof.
Since the use of plain wallpaper for walls in the interior does not imply the presence of expressive patterns on the walls, such a design may seem banal and boring to many.
To solve the problem of monotony in design, you can implement several techniques that allow you to fill the interior with additional colors and details :
- create bright accents around the entire perimeter of the room;
- choose wallpaper with a pronounced relief or textured surface;
- Plain wallpaper with a pattern created using a stencil will also attract attention in the interior;
- plain wallpaper without a pattern can be harmoniously combined with any curtains;
- The combination of plain wallpapers with each other, using companion wallpapers, is becoming increasingly popular.
In the photo of plain wallpaper, you can note many more features of such coatings: they can expand the interior, correct the irregular shape of the room, disguise the imperfections of the walls (when choosing wallpaper with a relief surface), and set the mood.
Wallpaper without a pattern for walls is an excellent basis for paintings, photo frames, shelves and other accessories.
Geometry of wallpaper for the living room
Geometric shapes continue to hold leading positions. They look especially good in modern design styles, giving the room additional space and energy.
The rules of use remain the same:
- A vertical strip will raise ceilings;
- Horizontal lines will lengthen the walls;
- Diamonds and zigzags will add energy.
There are no restrictions on the clarity of application: the lines can appear drawn in pencil or create a monumental impression.
Furniture with geometric patterns is perfect for such wallpaper, but they use lines and shapes of different thicknesses.
Ready-made solutions for decorating plain wallpaper
To get the intended result, you can choose one of the two most suitable methods:
- Make an organic selection of budget options for plain wallpaper;
- Choose a wallpaper material that is ideal for painting in the desired color. This is especially true in cases where it is necessary to mask the joint areas, as well as when the color may differ slightly in individual areas.
There is a suitable wallpaper for almost any style:
- The light and cool shade is ideal for both minimalism and high-tech;
- The corresponding shades will bring warmth to the room when the interior is decorated in country or Provence;
- Saturation and brightness are a colorful feature of the oriental theme;
- The restraint of shades is ideal for the classic version, along with the provincial style.
Abstract wallpaper in the living room
Another unusual design will be wallpaper with abstract patterns. This design is best suited for people who think outside the box, who are ready to challenge routine, and for romantic people who are able to see a complex picture in the strangest drawing.
Strict and straight furniture is perfect for this option.
Combination techniques, photo catalog with finishing examples
To create an unusual modern design in the living room, an original finish can be used using two colors of material or several textures of wall covering. There are several types of combinations of materials. Each of them is individual and selected in accordance with the characteristics of the guest room. Let's consider each of them separately.
Vertical
The vertical combination of stripes helps to achieve a visual effect that will amaze with its simplicity on the one hand, and originality on the other. You can combine both companion colors and contrasting shades and even textures. But in the second option it is more difficult to find a match. Combining a coating of two colors is considered successful. Choosing more color shades can lead to inappropriate paint smearing.
In addition to the color scheme, you need to think about the sequence of gluing the stripes. A 2:1 combination is considered winning when two main lines are combined with one additional one. To combine contrasting wallpaper, it is better to select the same stripes in width and with the same pattern.
Horizontal
Combining horizontal stripes in wall decoration is much more difficult than vertical ones. In this case, combining stripes with different designs is considered successful. Alternation is done with wallpaper of two colors to divide the room into two parts. To decorate the upper part, lighter plain or patterned wallpaper is used. The lower part is usually done in darker shades.
You can also use a textured combination. The upper part can be finished with wallpaper on a paper or vinyl basis, and to cover the lower part you can use silk liquid wallpaper or wooden panels, for example.
Patchwork
Using a patchwork combination makes it possible to highlight certain areas of the interior, create a panel or make a border for windows or doorways.
When choosing this type of combination, the main thing is not to overdo it with the number of flaps. You should also take care of the correct combination of colors and textures with the overall design of the space.
Inserts
Inserts are becoming popular in interior combinations of wall coverings. As inserts, you can use a variety of materials from regular wallpaper to photo wallpaper and 3D images.
If the interior decoration involves the use of inserts, then you should think through and design the general background in advance. Plain wallpaper, painting, or liquid wallpaper can be used as the main coating. The inserts are installed on the finished surface. This combination will help zone the space. The inserts will look especially natural in the interiors of spacious apartments. To decorate them, you can use liquid or other textured wallpaper.
When decorating a guest room, you can use a variety of wall coverings; the main thing is to choose one suitable option from a variety of proposals, be it the most ordinary paper sheets or trendy liquid ones. And with the help of photo examples that show the decoration of modern apartments, you can choose the most suitable option for any interior.
wallpaper gradient
Another attractive new feature in living room design is gradient wallpaper.
The following are in greatest demand:
- Exquisite design of pink-blue-purple;
- An original combination of yellow-pistachio-green;
- Delicate transitions of blue-azure-blue.
Gray and pink gradients look great. At the same time, they try to decorate the upper part of the living room with more delicate tones, increasing the color saturation towards the floor.
Palette of shades
The opinion that light wallpaper is only white is erroneous. The palette of shades is so diverse that when you get to a hardware store, you get lost in the desire to get delicate mint wallpaper, vintage olive wallpaper with gold, and a lavender coating with a glossy sheen and a green floral print.
But there is a color that will be unmistakably chosen for any interior. It is called classic in design - it is an ivory color. This is the warmest and softest shade of white. Because it is so close to beige, it is also called light beige. Bright furniture looks beautiful against its background.
Each room has its own shade, because it affects the human psyche and creates the mood in the room.
- For example, light lilac and pale blue bring a feeling of lightness. That is why they are often chosen for children's rooms, bedrooms, and recreation rooms.
- The role of an antidepressant is performed by light green. In his office he gets ready to work.
- If the owners want to add sun to the room, and therefore warmth, then pastel yellow will help.
Important: Warm shades reflect light, and there is no association that you are in a hospital ward. The warm color palette is suitable for small spaces. For rooms with a large area, light colors of wallpaper in cool shades are recommended.
Tip: The dimensions of the room are adjusted with light-dark wallpaper. These canvases from one collection are called companion wallpapers. The central part of the room is highlighted with light canvases, and the corners and niches are darkened. In the same way, imperfections on the wall are smoothed out.
- The atmosphere in a large room will become calm and warm from dark gray wallpaper. It becomes compact and cozy.
- The light gray finish brings freedom and light.
Maps on the wall in the living room
Geographic maps will add sophistication to the design. At the same time, in classic interiors they are selected with light wear, in modern ones they are made clear and bright.
Features of plain wall coverings
The choice of wallpaper directly depends on the type of room whose walls are intended to be covered.
If the owners of the room do not plan to use wallpaper in a given room for many years, it is more advisable to buy paper wallpaper. They differ:
- many design features;
- environmental cleanliness;
- the ability to seamlessly decorate any wall in the house.
This wallpaper is preferred when renovating a bedroom. These wallpapers are extremely good for children's rooms.
In rooms where the wallpaper is at risk of deterioration because it will be constantly affected by some specific factors, it is recommended to cover the walls with vinyl or non-woven wallpaper.
Non-woven vinyl wallpaper can be mechanically cleaned. It is this important quality that will allow the walls to maintain a satisfactory appearance for a long time.
Directly plain non-woven wallpaper differs from other types of coating in its highest strength and wear resistance. In addition to these parameters, the relief texture characteristic of this wallpaper will additionally emphasize the unique style of the interior.
Color scheme for wallpaper in the living room
To decorate the living room, already established colors are used:
- White shades (except pure white) will become an excellent background for furniture and decorative items;
- Beige tones will add warmth and comfort to the living room;
- Gray shades will add elegance and style;
- Black paints will be an original solution for large rooms. But it is better to use them in contrast with the furniture.
A living room with bright colors will look unusual and stylish:
- Red color will add boldness (but too much of this bright color can cause aggression or depression, so it must be diluted with calm tones of furniture);
- Blue will add depth and nobility to the walls;
- Purple and lilac will give you a mood of tenderness and romance;
- Yellow and gold will create a feeling of joy and prosperity;
- Greens will calm you down and relieve stress.
These rather new colors will be a real highlight of the interior. But the most fashionable is the combination of gray with pink, beige or light brown.
Light wallpaper for Scandinavian style
This interior style, now especially popular, is distinguished by a small set of primary colors. You can count them on your fingers: white is the leading one, as well as black (contrasting), gray and wood color.
In Scandinavia, walls are decorated with natural materials or simply painted white. However, Scandi style options allow the use of wallpaper for walls and the addition of shades. And this is a vivid illustration of the excellent decoration of rooms with light wallpaper.
Most often, when arranging a room in a Scandinavian style, they choose the following tones:
- White,
- Lactic,
- Light beige,
- Ivory,
- Bleached grey,
- Pearl,
- Powdery pink,
- Olive.
These colors are harmonious, for example, in the following combinations.
White or milky colors on walls, ceilings and furniture are a Scandi classic.
Gray smoky walls are complemented by white furniture and wooden floors.
Olive-colored wallpaper goes harmoniously with white wood furniture.
A bedroom with powder pink and light beige wallpaper on the walls, a white ceiling and a bed of the same color will look good.
Light textured wallpapers and coverings with minimalist patterns fit perfectly into the interior. Sometimes the option of using liquid wallpaper is considered for the living room. Light-colored photo wallpapers are also partially used in wall decoration (for example, with graphic patterns, images of deer, imitation of tree bark).
Types of wallpaper for the living room
Cheap paper wallpapers are increasingly being replaced by:
- Non-woven coverings, characterized by greater durability and resistance to sunlight;
- Liquid wallpaper, which allows you to create the effect of expensive plaster, light decoration or a simple concrete coating;
- Fiberglass, which helps change the color of the wallpaper without extra effort (the canvas can be repainted up to 10 times);
- Textile luxury, creating an impression of sophistication and nobility.
Wallpaper for the living room can be chosen to suit every taste: most of the paintings fit perfectly into absolutely any design and area.
Subtleties of choosing light wallpaper
For a small room, light decoration is simply necessary. It visually expands the space. A photo of light mint-colored wallpaper demonstrates how the rays of the sun are reflected from the walls and the room is filled with sun.
If the room is poorly lit due to problems with electrical appliances, then light wallpaper, for example, champagne color, acting as the same light reflector, will become an additional source of lighting.
In a house with small children, light-colored flooring quickly gets dirty. But wallpaper in an expensive price category is not afraid of wet cleaning and the problem is quickly solved.
But for pet lovers, bright walls are simply a salvation. Against such a background, scratches are practically invisible.
