LIVING ROOM WALLPAPER IDEAS

Choose a pattern like terrazzo for a subtle effect

Use... pops of yellow

Yellow is a sunny, make-you-smile colour that will bring warmth to your living room whatever your style

FRAME THE FIREPLACE WITH PATTERN Wallpapering either side of a fireplace helps to cement your choice of wallpaper as the focal point for the room. Choose a wallpaper that contrasts but has accents that work tonally with the paint shade on the chimney breast to help balance the scheme.

BALANCE WITH NEUTRALS Neutral linen upholstery and washed wooden furniture help to anchor the look. The yellow armchair highlights the accent colour while the neutral flooring gives it more prominence.

TRY A TERRAZZO PRINT Try on-trend terrazzo to give your living room a fresh, energising feel. Thanks to the plain background on the print, terrazzo is similar to a leopard print, as it can almost be seen as a neutral.

SMALL SCALE PATTERN Because of terrazzo’s small scale pattern, it doesn’t distract too much – perfect for letting a statement piece of furniture take centre stage in a living room. The pattern adds interest to a living room wall, but will still allow a hero piece like this vibrant chest of drawers to sing.

Pair bright teal with rich jewel shades to make your scheme pop

Add a modern touch with a vibrant pattern

Use... rich teal and blue

These vivid colours work perfectly in mid-century schemes, or give modern country a smart update

TEAM TURQUOISE WITH TEAK If you have a fair amount of dark or mid-toned wooden furniture in your living room, teal is a great colour choice that will lift the scheme. A punchy turquoise wallpaper like this one will bring vibrancy and life to your room, without becoming too bright and garish.

PAIR WITH WHITE White shutters and white painted woodwork give the striking wallpaper a smart twist for an elegant living room scheme, finished off by the stylish sideboard. Thoughtfully chosen accessories in a similar teal hue bring the look together so it feels sophisticated and cohesive.

BLUE WITH GREEN ‘Blue and green should never be seen’? We disagree! Mix blues with greens and you’ve got yourself an effortlessly harmonious blend that’s lively yet calm and soothing at the same time.

LAYER COLOUR The blues and greens combined in this Arts and Crafts style wallpaper create a gentle backdrop for brighter hues like royal blue and lime, perfect if you prefer a colour scheme with a little more energy.

Upcycle a chest of drawers in leftover wallpaper samples for an eclectic look

Use... characterful designs

Striking wallpaper designs and patterns will enhance your living room space and make a real style statement

PERSONALISE YOUR WALLS Work a world map into your décor for a cool artwork with international appeal. Maps come in a myriad of styles and scales, and they make great wall art, as this scheme demonstrates. For a vintage vibe, go for a multi-map design like the one shown here.

GO OVERSIZED For country-house grandeur, try a blown-up oil-painting mural that will create a decorative focal point in the room. Or why not try a photo print of trees, and welcome the outdoors into a city flat?

BRING IN TEXTURAL ELEMENTS Mimic the look of stacked stone and exposed brick walls with realistic-looking faux wallpaper. Great for modern, urban spaces as well as country dwellings, this brick-style wallpaper effectively depicts a traditional, weathered brick wall.

MAKE IT A FEATURE WALL Faux wallpapers look all the more striking if kept to just one feature wall, with neutral furnishings and accessories. Less is more, so don’t use them in more than one or two rooms or the effect will be diminished.

Keep woodwork and flooring light in colour to let the pattern shine

Use... f lorals in a modern way

Florals are back in the limelight and back on our living room walls, proving more popular than ever

WORK WITH VIBRANT HUES Transform a plain white room into a tropical paradise with a wallpaper teeming with exotic plants. Continue the rustic jungle feel in the rest of your scheme, with cane furniture, wooden shutters and a cocktail trolley for those early evening gin and tonics.

CHOOSE COLOURS FROM NATURE ‘Floral wallpapers wrap your walls in nature and tend to incorporate a number of colours, which can be a great way to really embed your colour palette into the space and make it feel cohesive yet natural,’ says Melanie Adams, global manager at Wallpaper Direct.

THINK ABOUT BACKGROUND Choose a wallpaper with a white backdrop and your scheme will still feel light and airy, despite the vibrancy of the pattern.

PICK YOUR ACCENT SHADE With a fairly busy print like this one, try to pull out one key colour and echo it further around your room, in accessories and large pieces of furniture. A blue sofa and cushion help to tie the look together here, while the wallpaper remains the star of the show.

Warm up a monochrome design with pops of colour or metallic finishes

Pick curtains and a rug with a similar design for a cohesive look

Use... timeless patterns

Classic wallpaper designs such as stripes, trellis or simple geo patterns are great for a look that won’t date

MATCH SOFT FURNISHINGS TO YOUR WALLPAPER DESIGN Immerse the whole living room in coordinating pattern to add a real wow factor. Just be sure the room is large enough to take the look – in small spaces too much pattern can sometimes be overwhelming and make it feel claustrophobic.

PICK A CALM COLOUR Take this fine example as best practise, where the pattern is soft and subtle, with a mid-tone green on a neutral ground. The light contrasting background helps to inject a brightness to the scheme.

THINK SMART WITH PINSTRIPES Stripes never date, so this is a classic look that will last. You can easily give stripes a modern twist by mixing in super-contemporary accessories such as this sleek black floor lamp.

MAKE IT TAILORED Create a tailored, designer look in your living room with pinstripes – they look just as smart on your walls as they do on suits. Choose soft greys so the scheme doesn’t feel overly masculine, and add a luxe touch with accents of gold in your accessories and soft furnishings.