Tips For Picking The Perfect Wallpaper For Your Kitchen

The kitchen is, without a doubt, the most crucial space in a home. It's the place where you cook, eat, and entertain guests. Some would even consider it the central hub of a home. According to Las Vegas Review-Journal, it's also the most used room in your home, so it only makes sense that you want it to be absolutely perfect. 

Generally, one of the first steps people take while renovating their kitchen is choosing how they'd like to decorate the walls. Of course, there is the obvious new paint job, but have you ever considered wallpaper? While you might think wallpaper in the kitchen is an absolute no, Walls By Me says it's a great way to add texture to the space that paint can't. Additionally, wallpapering your kitchen allows you to stay up-to-date on the latest home interior trends (i.e., realistic faux brick), and replacing the wallpaper is much easier (and cheaper) than replacing tile or backsplash.

Before taking on any renovation project, the first step is to figure out your budget. In this case, there is no point in making any decisions on wallpaper, only to find out later that what you chose is more than you are willing to pay for. For those on a tight budget, you might consider foil or mylar wallpaper, which runs about $2.14 to $2.71 per square foot, according to Angi. If you have a little more wiggle room and want to try something like flocked wallpaper, it's going to cost you somewhere between the $2.33 and $5.83 range.

If you're a renter, Tempaper recommends peel-and-stick wallpaper for your kitchen. It's extremely easy to remove (it's basically a giant sticker for your wall), and leaves behind a clean wall. Not only is traditional wallpaper and pain to get off, but it can leave behind residue which your landlord will not be happy about. Plus, removable wallpaper has tons of patterns and textures, so you won't feel like you're missing out by not having the real thing. All that being said, you should still ask your landlord about their policy on renovating the walls.

In order to choose a theme for your kitchen, you need to understand your personal style. If you don't know your style, take a look at your closet to get a feel for what you like, says My Move. You can also take a personal style quiz or search the internet for inspiration. Once you have a feel for your style, it's time to pick a theme for your kitchen and a wallpaper that suits it. HGTV suggests choosing a theme that is cohesive with the rest of your home (although you absolutely don't have to).

You probably have concerns about the longevity of wallpaper in your kitchen, considering the humid atmosphere and inevitable grease stains, which is completely normal. However, Wallpaper from the 70s suggests choosing a wallpaper with a vinyl finish, which acts as a barrier against moisture. Vinyl is treated with a plastic coating, such as resin lacquer, a specific foliation, or a protective vinyl layer, which is key to creating water-resistant wallpaper. If you have little ones that tend to make a mess of the walls, you can put your mind at ease with this choice.

Walls Republic recommends lighter (specifically patterned) wallpaper for smaller kitchens because it makes the room feel more spacious, whereas darker colors can make the room seem more cramped and confined; however, you can still create a spacious-looking kitchen without compromising your love of dark wallpaper. If you decide on a light wallpaper, My Domaine recommends pastels and wallpapers with large patterns. This gives the illusion that your kitchen is larger than it is. If you'd like to keep your kitchen on the darker side, use dark wallpaper for a feature wall. This way, you get the best of both worlds!