How To Choose The Right Wallpaper For Your Accent Wall, According To An Expert

Wallpaper is a fantastic way to add dimension and visual interest to a room. However, the hard part is deciding what sort of wallpaper will work for you and your unique needs. To help you get a handle on this design project, we spoke to an expert. In an exclusive interview with House Digest, Cinque Cerra-Saunders, interior designer and host of A & E's tiny dwelling show "Living Smaller," shared his thoughts on what you need to consider when picking out wallpaper for an accent wall.

Cerra-Saunders explains that "when choosing the right wallpaper for your accent wall it's important to consider scale, texture, color, composition, and of course objective." This is because "a wallpaper accent has the capacity to be the backdrop for an amazing piece of art or it can be the art itself — it can even transform the architecture of tight, dark spaces." Since wallpaper can have such a tremendous impact on a room, you'll want to spend some time familiarizing yourself with the categories that are on offer before you make a final decision. 

While many feel they need to go big and bold with their pattern selection, Cerra-Saunders also likes the possibilities that micro patterns offer. "Micro Patterns such as ditsies, tonal geometrics, (faux) grasscloths read more like wall texture and are a great way to add warmth and nuance to an area," he says, explaining that, "these kinds of wallpapers make excellent backdrops for artwork, photos, etc. because they draw one's eye to the area but don't detract from the main event." 

Micro patterns come in a variety of design styles, from modern geometric to quaint floral clusters. As Cerra-Saunders notes, they are great for gallery walls, so if you have lots of framed art prints or want to display several family photos, this could be a good choice for you. Because the pattern is smaller, it also won't cause as much of the visual fatigue that can come from bolder, louder patterns. 

Of course, there is always room for more drama, especially if you are only covering one wall, and that's where large-scale patterns come in. Cerra-Saunders says, "Large-scale patterns with repeats 16 inches and up are intrinsically graphic and work with minimal adornment if any. The larger the scale of the print, the greater its capacity to be the moment itself. I love using large-scale wallpaper patterns behind sizable pieces of furniture like beds or sofas." Because they work well with fewer decorations, this is a great choice if you don't have many art pieces to hang up, or don't want to fuss with creating a gallery wall.

"Pick wider walls to allow the large motifs to breathe," Cerra-Saunders suggests. Otherwise, the design may feel stifled or cut off, particularly when used around window trim or other features of the room. Scale plays a huge part in how the wallpaper impacts your room's design. 

Trompe l'oeil literally means optical illusion and is a technique that artists mastered centuries ago. In the case of wallpaper, this style typically has garden scenes or skyscraper backdrops and comes in more painterly, impressionistic styles, as well as more geometric, contemporary patterns. "Scenic murals featuring landscapes, foliage, faux windows, and other architectural elements can make a small room feel larger and spaces without much natural light, suddenly feel brighter. Trompe l'oeil wallpaper immediately changes the architecture of a space and is a great budget-friendly option for making seemingly structural changes without the cost or disruption," advises Cerra-Saunders.

While trompe l'oeil tends to be classical, it actually makes for a stunning contrast even in modern homes. A home that leans too much into one design style can feel generic or uninspired — adding the texture and grandness of a scenic mural can totally transform your space and give it more dimension. These patterns would look great behind low-profile furniture, such as a bed or sofa, as you don't want anything that will block too much of the sprawling scene.