Wallpaper requires just "one coat", unlike many paint systems.
Many brands of wallpaper are now scrubbable, pre-pasted and dry-peelable, meaning the top vinyl layer can be easily peeled off before the thin backing paper is also removed.
Bye bye Auntie Beryl . . .
Forget those dreadful patterns your auntie or nana used to have in the lounge: designers are now using wallpaper for its textural qualities and sometimes mix paper and paint on walls within the same room.
Oversized floral patterns, bright and bold, are in vogue, as are glamorous metallic shimmers, which can be used as a contrast to a matt background.
Go for impact . . .
Imagine an evocative entranceway decked out in breezy neutral patterns, or a calm space augmented by a botanical print.
Feel free to have feature walls, too: the space behind the headboard in the master bedroom might be a good place to start.
Go green . . .
Grasscloth utilises natural reed, arrowroot and jute fibres and can add both texture and serenity to an interior.
Ask for help . . .
Talk to the salespeople at the decorating shop; check the catalogues; ask about what's available; and take home test swatches to see what works then look at them during day and night (colour varies depending on light source).
When buying . . .
Don't be caught short: having worked out what you'll need, buy an extra roll of wallpaper.
Children, crayons or alterations may mean it's money well spent.
Ask about returns: if you've bought way too much, you might be able to take back a roll or two.
And beware of variations: make certain all the rolls of paper are from the same batch.
Wallpapers supplied by Aqua Paints Direct.
