Dear Jill,

I want my living room to look great.  I am having trouble deciding between paint, faux finishes and even wallpaper???  For some reason the paper scares me a bit.  What do you think?

Love your blog and work.  Thank you very much,

Anne in KC

Hello, Anne!

I get asked this so often…but who doesn’t love a great paper?  If you are thinking about your grandmother’s kitchen, your aunt’s bathroom or the guest room in the house you grew up in, you are thinking way too long ago.

Today’s papers are gorgeous, crisp and exciting.  They add such beauty to a space.  Paint is just not cutting it anymore!

Faux Finishes -vs- Wallpaper -vs- Paint

Faux paint finishes?  My thoughts are this:  Just like with anything in life and design, there are good ones and there are bad ones.  Just be certain you truly have a talented person do your faux finishes that have done them a million times before.  I would rather see a solid paint than a bad faux.  It can be easier to strip wallpaper that has been correctly applied (using sizing first) than to sand down and paint over a faux (depending on the faux)!  Many faux finishes are stained or have the color mixed in so if one was to paint over those finishes, the paint would “fill” the small cracks and the look would be lost.

Paint is well, just paint.  Yet there is nothing like the richness of a beautiful paint job highlighting trims and architectural details. Paint is easy to change or, even paper over!  Texture should be a consideration for you with paint too as there are so many different textures now…even metallic paints.

A few well said thoughts from Seabrook papers:  With so many design options in the world of home decorating today, why use wallpaper? Besides the obvious beauty that wallpaper brings to a home, the practicality of its durability and cleanability is a definite bonus in adorning your walls. Wallpaper is the single most effective way to change a room’s decor. By simply applying paper to a wall, elegant design is instantly present in your home to enrich your living quarters and your everyday experience. While wallpaper has astonishing historical relevance, it is also completely en vogue for today’s home fashions. Artistic designs and contemporary color palettes will enhance your home’s interior and ultimately contribute to the value of your home.

The opportunity to add depth, complex textures, intricate patterns, and varied colors is easily achieved when you choose to use wallpaper. Modern technology has integrated sophisticated printing techniques into today’s wallpaper, providing everyone with the chance to incorporate stunning art into their homes. The colors and patterns of wallpaper can subliminally affect your emotional well-being and attitude, adding a boost of energy, serenity, or cheer to your daily living.

Much attention has been turned to our children’s’ rooms within the world of interior design. Pattern is very important in decorating for children because of the repetition within a design. This repetition, or rhythm, of a pattern promotes problem solving and gives the child a sense of stability. Many visual learning aids have been combined into the designs of Seabrook’s recent children’s lines.  Yet another reason to use wallpaper in a child’s room is the inherent durability and ease of cleaning – always welcome where kids are concerned!

Add to your individuality by choosing a wallpaper pattern that is particularly suited to you, and watch your home transform into a one-of-a-kind backdrop that is a reflection of your life!

So, Anne….I vote wallpaper!  Just find a really great one!

Next blog:  How to choose wallpaper and install it correctly.

In the meantime, make it fab!

-Jill

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More blogs by Jill on Wallpaper,click here. Jill Tran is a Kansas City Interior Designer and creates beautiful, custom interiors for Kansas City Interior Design clients and clients around the country.