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Wallpaper can be fun and whimsical, adding another layer to the style of your home,” says designer Jamie Merida of Jamie Merida Interiors. “In a space with subtle furnishings, colorful patterned wallpaper can be the main attraction.” In a Rehoboth Beach home, his colleague Leigh Mayhew dressed a bath in Thibaut’s Jellyfish Bloom wallpaper. PHOTO: Stylish Productions

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Pros weigh in on the powers and pitfalls of wallpaper

By HOME & DESIGN

Bonnie Ammon, Bonnie Ammon Interiors

“Few elements elevate a room more immediately than a stunning wall covering. Whether it’s a bold print or a textured grass cloth, wall covering creates mood, movement and depth. For me, it’s instant art for the walls.”

bonnieammoninteriors.com, 703-778-5755

Suzanne Manlove, Manlove & Company Interiors

“Wallpaper can create an ambiance of sophistication and luxury, playfulness or restrained elegance. We consider a room’s intended use, mood and the client when determining how far to push pattern, scale and saturation. A quieter space like a bedroom can benefit from a textural grass cloth, while a young family’s breakfast nook may allow for a bold, colorful print to start the day happy.”

manloveandco.com, 703-520-2125

Rebecca Penno, Penno Interiors

“When fabric is our jumping-off point, we may coordinate a woven or grass-cloth wall covering with the textile. But when we want the walls to make a statement, we’ll select a bold, colorful wallpaper pattern. Rather than only covering an accent wall, I prefer to paper an entire space, embracing the pattern and allowing it to envelop the room.”

pennointeriors.com, 703-859-9749

PHOTO: Angela Newton Roy Photography

Laura Fox Wolff, Laura Fox Interior Design, LLC

“One mistake to avoid is using a type of paper that isn’t practical in a space, like paper wall covering in a high-traffic bathroom. You can wallpaper the space, but it should be vinyl. Another mistake is overlooking scale. A super-busy pattern in a powder room, for example, can be dizzying to some.”

laurafoxinteriordesign.com

Barbara Hawthorn, Barbara Hawthorn Interiors

“One major benefit of wallpaper is durability. Unlike painted walls, which are prone to scuﬀs and chips, wallpaper is more resistant to everyday wear and tear. Many modern wallpapers are washable and can be wiped clean with a damp cloth, making them ideal for high-traﬃc areas like mudrooms and baths, where dirt and moisture are common. With proper maintenance, high-quality wallpaper can retain its beauty and appeal for many years.”

barbarahawthorninteriors.com, 703-241-5588

PHOTO: Kenneth M. Wyner Photography