How to Transform a Small Space With Wallpaper

Bigger doesn’t always mean better. Try out these tips and tricks for transforming a smaller home, all with the magic of wallpaper.

We’ve all been there. Making a house feel like a home is a challenge at the best of times, but transforming a smaller space into something that feels comfortable, looks beautiful, and doesn’t edge on claustrophobic can quickly turn into a mammoth task. Maybe you’ve moved in with friends and been saddled with the smallest room going, or, you finally found your dream home but there’s a cupboard-like room upstairs you’re not quite sure what to do with.

The good news is, bigger doesn’t always equal better. In fact, when it comes to interior design, a small space can actually work wonderfully with the right decor. With smaller rooms, it all comes down to the walls. With the right wallpaper, you can make a small room look larger, making an impressive impact that doesn’t require taking up massive amounts of floor-room in your limited space.

Whatever size, shape, and style your space is, help is at hand. If you’ve just moved into your new abode, are wanting to spruce up a lived-in space, or you’re just wondering what kind of wallpaper is best for a small room, we’ve got you covered with these tips and tricks for transforming a smaller home, all with the magic of wallpaper.

Prioritise Patterns

While it might sound counterintuitive, patterns are actually your best friend when it comes to wallpaper for smaller spaces. Patterns have the power of creating an optical illusion, opening up a room by making it appear bigger than it actually is. This is especially true for larger repeat patterns and all-over motifs.

If patterns have never been your forte, start slow and try to find something that celebrates your favourite colour palette, or take inspiration from the colour scheme of a different room in your home. Order samples of the designs you’re most drawn to and hang them up on the walls, just as you would with paint samples – you’ll soon know which one is right for the room.

When the time comes to put up your patterned wallpaper in its entirety, remember to centre the design on your wall with the pattern sectioned off equally on all sides. This will make all the difference in creating that illusion of depth that we’re after.

Add Depth With Texture

One of the biggest advantages of opting for wallpaper over paint is that you’re able to incorporate texture into your wall decor. When it comes to wallpaper for small rooms, think of texture in the same way you would pattern – a great way to add another layer of interest and creativity, without taking up any extra space.

Textured wallpaper is also wonderful for adding depth, which is another effective technique for opening up a smaller space. Try out a grasscloth texture for touch of elegance, or go for a sequin glitter for a subtle pop of glamour.

Style With Stripes

As any fashion guru will tell you, a simple stripe has unmatched influence over the way something appears to the eye. With wallpaper, a vertical stripe will make the wall appear taller, while a horizontal stripe will make the wall appear wider, both major advantages when trying to expand the appearance of a smaller space.

Experiment with different stripes to see which design is right for the room you’re decorating. Consider the unique shape of the space, where certain pieces of furniture are going to sit, and how each piece will complement the striped backdrop.

Opt For Light Colours

Nothing opens up a space like bright, light colours. When it comes to decorating smaller rooms, prioritising a lighter colour palette for your wallpaper is crucial for creating that all-important illusion of depth and maximising your space. This is because a lighter tone is reflective, which allows the natural light to bounce between the walls, making the space appear bright, airy, and larger than it really is. Darker shades absorb the light which can have the opposite effect, making a space feel smaller.

This doesn’t mean that you have to stick to plain white to get that fresh, spacious feel. Try out a pale avocado green for a cool, calming effect in a bedroom, or a warm, pastel amber to create a cosy, ambient feel with your wallpaper for a small dining room.

Go Geometric

If you’ve been searching for the perfect pattern but haven’t found anything that quite fits in with your small room, a geometric wallpaper could be the perfect answer.

Geometric designs offer smaller spaces the perfect middle-ground between beautiful and functional. With so many different designs to choose from, the world of geometric wallpaper is overflowing with creative shapes, colours, and textures, all of which can be used cleverly to maximise more cramped spaces. You can play around with different patterns and shades to find your perfect fit, whether that’s an intricate design with explosive colours or a more minimalistic design with muted tones.

Find a Balance

While it’s important not to feel inhibited, small spaces do require a certain consideration of balance when approaching your design strategy. You don’t want a room to feel overcrowded, and smaller spaces can pose the threat of becoming ‘busy’ if you throw too many clashing elements together.

A good way to tackle this is by implementing a feature wall into your space. If you’re looking for wallpaper for a small bedroom or living room, a feature wall is a great way to make a statement, expressing your unique sense of style in a way that isn’t overwhelming.

Feature walls also create a point of focus within a room, which is perfect for levelling out the composition of a smaller space. Add balance to your feature wall by papering each adjoining wall with an accent colour included in your feature piece for more of a sense of harmony.

If you want to find out more about how wallpaper can transform your home, feel free to browse our stunning selection of designs today, or get in touch with one of our friendly team if you have any questions.