4 Mistakes Avoid if You’re Pairing Paint and Wallpaper
If you want to turn your walls into a “wow” moment, why settle for paint or wallpaper when you can enjoy the best of both worlds? As the decorating pendulum continues to lean more maximalist, many design enthusiasts are mixing whimsical wallpaper patterns with colorful trims. When paired together, this combination makes a statement that’s bold, beautiful, and downright delightful.
But while combining wallpaper and paint is a personality-packed idea, it’s not exactly foolproof. One false brushstroke, and this charming combo can look a little … off. There’s added pressure to perfect the color and pattern pairing, too — because if you’re not happy with the end result, it’s a much bigger commitment to reverse or change.
“Knowing what the goals are will help inform your decisions and selections,” says Amanda Reynal, principal, founder, and lead designer of her eponymous firm in Des Moines and Palm Beach. “Do you want it to be quiet and tranquil or bold and jubilant?”
Ultimately, great design is entirely subjective. So you should always decorate a place that speaks to your unique point of view. However, if you want to make sure your design vision goes off without a hitch, three interior designers are revealing the biggest mistakes they see when pairing wallpaper and paint, as well as the best tips to avoid them. They even shared photos of their work from real client projects that effectively demonstrate how to fix each mistake. Hopefully, this will inspire you to recreate similar paint-and-wallpaper pairings in your own space.
Mistake #1: Going Too Subtle
For an eye-catching combination, designers insist balance is everything. “If the paper you’ve selected is a little more muted — or has a smaller, singl- color print — it’s always fun to paint the trim to really enhance the pattern and make it pop,” explains Chauncey Boothby, an interior designer in Norwalk, Connecticut.
A subtle wallpaper with an equally airy pigment might seem relaxing in the abstract, but it can also read snoozy. Meanwhile, it’s important to counter a brighter wallpaper with a more muted paint. “It’s always important to find balance in a room,” says designer Cara Fineman of DAG Design in Boston. “Everything can’t be colorful, or it feels too chaotic.”
Mistake #2: Ignoring Your Wallpaper
Whether you’re working with stripes, florals, or a mural-like motif, one thing’s for sure: You should always consult your wallpaper before picking out the paint. “I always try to pick up a color within the wallpaper to use for the trim and the millwork,” Boothby shares. “Even if the color is just hinted at in the print, it makes it look intentional and finished.”
If you’re looking to pull out one tone from your wallpaper, Boothby recommends matching them to perfection. “Don’t get lazy, and use something close,” she warns. “You’ll regret it.” If the usual suspects like Benjamin Moore don’t have exactly what you’re looking for, you can often find more nuanced options at companies like Farrow & Ball, Fine Paints of Europe, and Curator. “Remember that you can ‘cut’ colors to be a lighter shade, or ask your paint vendor to help you color-match a specific color,” Boothby adds. “It really will make a difference.”
Mistake #3: Adopting an “Anything but White” Mentality
Because painted trims are all the rage, it’s easy to assume that leaving your baseboards or wainscotting all white is so passé, but Reynal disagrees. “There are many moments when a room with wallpaper, printed fabrics, and lots of artwork begs for white, low-key trim,” she shares. Of course, just because you’re choosing to leave your trim white doesn’t mean all the millwork has to be this simple shade. “Sometimes, with all-white trim, we might choose a brighter color for the doors or a quite soft color for the ceiling,” she adds.
Mistake #4: Mismatching Your Millwork
That said, not everyone’s on board with painting your trim and doors two different shades. “I tend to prefer painting all of the millwork in a room the same color,” Fineman says. “It [feels] like the right choice [when] we want to add color and interest, but also a sense of calmness and tranquility.”
Color-loving design enthusiasts might see no problem with painting their door, trim, or built-ins different shades, but it’s not for everyone. Instead, choose one tone and use it for all of your millwork in the space. Or, for a cool, courageous color-denching effect, why not paint your ceiling the same hue while you’re at it?
Further Reading
Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Article’s DTC Furniture
See How a Stager Used Paint to Transform a 1950s Living Room
