If you want to bring some colour, pattern and even character into your living room then wallpaper is the best way to go about it. This is especially true in the last few years as wallpaper has had something of a resurgence, becoming popular and modern again after being thought of as old-fashioned. And while all rooms can benefit from a beautiful wall covering, as the heart of the home, we’d start with living room wallpaper ideas first.
When considering living room ideas for your lounge’s walls, the right wallpaper idea can often be more durable and create more of an ambiance than most paint ideas. Wallpapers can also have more of a visual impact - something you could call a wow factor - due to the differently textured and patterned designs.
And interior designer Julie Anne Burch predicts wallpaper is not going anywhere anytime soon so you can be sure you’re creating a timeless design in your living room with our top tips. ‘I believe wallpaper is here to stay. The resurgence of wallpaper in interior design is driven by a desire for unique and personalised home decor. Advances in materials and printing technology have made wallpaper more durable, versatile, and easier to apply and remove, making it a practical choice for long-term use. Moreover, the variety of designs available, from classic motifs to contemporary patterns, ensures that wallpaper can evolve with changing tastes and trends.’
Living room wallpaper ideas
‘The living room is the centre of your home, it’s where you relax after a long day and where you spend lazy weekends lounging around,’ says Hannah Swift, marketing manager at family-run wallpaper retailer Beautiful Walls. ‘You want this space to be inviting, calming and relaxing.’
And these are 27 ideas how you can create a living space like this with the help of nothing else wallpaper.
1. Add depth with texture
It’s not all about colours and patterns with wallpapers. One of the other elements a wall covering can also offer is texture which in turns brings extra depth and warmth into a living room. It’s also coincidentally one of the latest wallpaper trends.
‘Textured wallpaper adds depth and dimension to a room, creating a cosy and inviting atmosphere,’ Julie Anne says.
Chelsea Clark, head of marketing at I Love Wallpaper, agrees, ‘Opt for wallpapers that offer both aesthetic appeal and practicality—like textured designs that add depth and warmth.’
Whether you introduce texture through a fabric finish, embossed effect or other ways is up to you. Additionally, it also makes for the perfect small living room wallpaper idea.
2. Go for an understated look with neutral shades
Living rooms are often used as a place to relax and unwind – and wallpaper can help further that very feel of the space, as long as you choose the right colours and patterns. For a soothing and undisruptive finish, interior experts recommend a soft, neutral colour scheme.
‘Lighter colours and neutrals are often a top choice for living rooms, as they evoke a sense of freshness and make the space appear larger and more open, creating an airy and comfortable atmosphere,’ Chelsea says.
Interior designer Rena Sarant adds, ‘Soft colours and neutrals in one tone are ideal, as they avoid high contrast, which can make the room feel too busy and overwhelming.’
3. Incorporate a mural of a natural landscape
‘A living room wallpaper trend that is growing in popularity is the use of panoramic landscape murals that wrap around multiple walls, sometimes even all the walls of the space,’ says James Mellan-Matulewicz, CEO and creative director at Bobbi Beck.
Nature-inspired sceneries make for both serene and grandiose mural designs that work just as well as a living room feature wall idea or covering multiple walls as James suggests. It’s just one symptom of the overall tendency toward biophilic design as we all strive to bring the outdoors in at least a little bit.
‘Stylistically the designs tend to be akin to late 19th century landscape paintings or feature Chinoiserie or Oriental themes. This gives the feel of stately country homes and grand manors which were often decorated with hand-painted murals across the walls,’ he explains.
Hannah at Beautiful Walls agrees, ‘This year has seen an increase in scenic murals, large scale, immersive designs that transport you somewhere beautiful. Murals have been used in interior design for centuries and although the design trends change regularly, the overall concept of a large-scale, immersive image remains popular.’
Graham & Brown is the master of murals. So unsurprisingly, the brand has created one of the most beautiful landscape murals with lush trees and greenery we've ever seen. The pink sky is the cherry on top.
We are obsessed with this I Love Wallpaper mural mainly for its serene, shadow-like look. The depicted palm trees on a light beige background are almost just whispered.
Get lost in a tropical jungle with Dunelm's vintage-style mural. Its old-world charm and beauty make this a masterpiece in our opinion - and for an affordable price, starting at £50.
4. Opt for vinyl wallpaper
While paper is literally in the name of wallpaper, that doesn’t mean your wallcovering needs to be made from paper. Especially as it’s often not the most long-lasting of materials. And there are others that are more hardwearing.
‘When it comes to material, you should consider not only an attractive pattern but also practicality for the living room,’ says Nataly Bolshakova, interior designer of Bolshakova Interiors. ‘For example, silk or paper wallpapers may be too delicate for areas where you entertain guests or where your children play. Vinyl wallpapers, which are not recommended for bedrooms, are more suitable for living rooms or bathrooms because they are thicker and more durable.’
5. Work with the shape of your room
When choosing where to wallpaper in a living room, consider working with the natural shape of the space. This may dictate which areas of a wall to decorate if you can't decide, and it might make the most sense visually too.
If you have a section of the wall that is recessed or sits further out, consider adding wallpaper to this to lean into the more statement angles.
6. Don't be afraid to wallpaper smaller spaces
It can often feel like wallpaper works best in large spaces where you can go all out with pattern and colour, but wallpapering small or narrow living rooms is having a resurgence.
Living rooms are synonymous with relaxation, so a cosy and welcoming environment is often just what you're looking for. Instead of adding a feature wall that might work in larger living spaces, consider wallpapering the entirety of the room. While this may seem daunting, the effect is high-end and inviting.
'The days of the feature wall are over,' announces textile designer, Clarissa Hulse. 'Plus you will be surprised at how it can actually make the room seem less busy! It may be counterintuitive, but often stark plain walls next to one that is highly decorative can actually emphasise the pattern.'
7. Clad a chimney breast in wallpaper
Just like working with the natural structure of a room, a chimney breast offers the perfect positioning for wallpaper. Living room fireplace ideas are a prime spot for accessorising with art, family photographs or your favourite accessories, so adding a playful wallpaper will extend a characterful look.
If you're unsure about opting for an entire feature wall, a chimney breast is a great middle ground. It's a good way to use pattern in interior design as It creates a focal point in the middle of the room but can be sandwiched in a block colour for a more versatile approach.
8. Contrast with another feature wall
When wallpapering a living room, it can be tempting to contrast with painted walls in areas without paper. Instead, opting for another statement wall feature, such as wall panelling, makes for an interesting design packed full of character.
Wood panelling is a great way of achieving this as the warm tones complement many wallpaper colours. You can even double up on wallpaper by opting for a panelled-effect design that achieves the look for less.
'If you have a modern house, using wallpaper with a printed texture is a brilliant way of injecting some character into a room. I recently covered my own newly built MDF bedroom cupboard doors with one of the plain textured wallpapers in my own collection, coupled with interesting door handles, and am delighted with the results,' says Clarissa.
9. Wallpaper above the dado rail
If you've fallen for a patterned paper but don't want it to dominate your space, reconsider where to wallpaper. Stick to covering only above the dado rail, keeping the rail itself and the lower portion painted in a complementary tone.
This is also a great technique for small living room ideas as the pattern won't overwhelm by covering from the floor to the ceiling.
10. Embrace a retro motif
Mid-century living rooms are having a serious moment right now - who among us hasn't picked up some retro furniture? Enhance the feel of the era by choosing a vibrantly coloured print for your living room wallpaper ideas. Yellows, especially, echo this time period, and helpfully boost light levels.
11. Use a photorealistic mural
A surprisingly simple living room idea is to opt for adding photorealistic mural wallpaper. You can plump for whatever design appeals to you, but by choosing a design which echoes the nature outside you'll help blur the indoor-outdoor boundaries. This will make the room seem larger, brighter and feel altogether more calming.
These can look expensive, but they don't have to be. Wait for seasonal sales or use home decor discount codes to find bargains year round.
12. Reflect your flooring
Work your wallpaper in tandem with living room flooring ideas for a considered finish. Choose a design which reflects some sense of your flooring, perhaps the colour, pattern or texture. As well as opening up the room, this will add a cool design element to a simple project.
13. Wallpaper the lower half of your walls
Keep your bank account a little happier by looking to budget living room ideas for your wallpaper. Papering only the lower half of the room is a great way to save on costs and you'll need a lot less material to work with. This is also a useful trick if you only have a small amount of a discontinued wallpaper available.
14. Choose a classic floral print
Once seen as fussy and dated, or solely for country living room ideas, florals are back in the lime light and back on our walls.
'Floral living room wallpaper ideas wrap your walls in nature and tend to incorporate a number of colours,' notes Melanie Adams, global manager at WallpaperDirect. 'This can be a great way to really imbed your colour palette into the space to make it feel cohesive yet natural.'
15. Pair blues and greens
'The old adage may go 'blue and green should never be seen', but we disagree! Mix just about any blues with green (plus their sophisticated love child, teal) and you've got yourself an effortlessly harmonious blend that's vibrant yet calm and soothing at the same time.
A lot of arts and crafts styles of living room wallpaper ideas will have this combo, adding a neat nod to a stylish tradition.
16. Co-ordinate with your paint
Choosing wallpaper doesn't mean that living room paint ideas aren't also an option too. The two can actually work beautifully together, especially if you have any kind of panelling on your walls, but you want to pair your paper with the right shade.
'When pairing a wallpaper with paint it's important to match the paint with a hue used in the wallpaper,' advises Zoe Hopgood, designer at Graham & Brown.
17. Try a terrazzo print
Terrazzo is going nowhere as a trend, seen on floors and tiles alike. This cool pattern also works really well on wallpaper, giving the illusion of texture and adding just the right amount of pattern.
The design comes in any manner of colourways, so choose for pebbles to be in a tone that's complementary to, without overwhelming, the rest of the space.
18. Match with your window dressings
For a totally cohesive look, why not match your wallpaper with your living room curtain ideas? It's the ideal way to extend your chosen wallpaper design over window dressings and ensure there is no break in the pattern.
Many brands and designers will produce wallpaper, fabrics and accessories in the same print, so it's easy to keep to a matching look. If opting for full length curtains is a little too much pattern for your taste, try going for a couple of cushion covers in a matching print to your wallpaper, so the design is echoed more subtly around the room.
19. Amp up a rustic scheme
Use living room wallpaper ideas to add character to a decor scheme, such as in rustic living room ideas. Use a striking design to enhance the natural elements of your living room, such as woodland scene to add character to a cottage living room with exposed wooden beams and low ceilings.
Choosing a wallpaper design around your existing decor will create a subtle yet stylish approaching to decorating.
20. Create the illusion of a distressed finish
Where you're looking to add interest to wall surfaces but not wanting fully-on pattern, seek an alternative design that emulates the look of a distressed surface. By doing so your walls will ooze character and interest without overpowering the scheme by layering too much pattern.
21. Team turquoise with teak
If you have a fair amount of wooden furniture in your living room, from sideboards to dressers, coffee tables, side tables and perhaps even a hardwood floor too, it might be in serious need of some colour to lift the scheme. Punchy turquoise living room wallpaper ideas will bring vibrancy and life to your room, without becoming too bright and garish.
22. Zone a larger space
Use living room feature wall ideas to help zone a larger space. Use wallpaper to define areas, such as a reading nook, home office, or bar area. With open-plan spaces so commonly used, this is a useful way to visually break up these larger areas.
23. Make art from wallpaper
Make a statement of a wallpaper by framing it. This creative idea allows you to use a wallpaper in your living space, in a more imaginative way. It's great for not only adding a quirky touch to the decor, it's also great if on a budget. Only one roll will be required to cover a smaller section of wall.
24. Smarten up with pinstripes
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 or pastels so the scheme doesn’t feel overly masculine, however.
25. Welcome in nature
Embrace the great outdoors and cover your wall in botanical beauties. Foliage, birds and florals are all traditional ways of dressing walls and will instantly make a space feel smarter. As classic as this is, it can stick work with modern living room ideas. Simply choose a design with a crisp white or dramatically dark background (rather than old school pastels) , depending on your aesthetic.
26. Proceed with a painterly pattern
Introduce brushstroke-style patterns in bold colours. Drawing on the work of French painters Bonnard, Monet and Seurat, painterly wallpaper pays homage to artistic spirit.
Impressionist-style living room wallpaper ideas effortlessly showcase the graduated, ombre-effect that we have all come to know and love.
27. Wallpaper furniture
Who says wallpaper needs to go on your walls? Make a striking statement in your living room by wallpapering a key piece of furniture, such as a sideboard. This is also a fantastic way to upcycle an old item that might otherwise end up at the tip. Go for wood or brick-effect wallpaper for an on-trend trompe l’oeil look.
FAQs
Where to buy wallpaper?
When deciding on a new wallpaper scheme for your home, the first step will be finding where to shop so that you can explore different options.
There are so many shops, both online and bricks and mortar, where you can browse through different patterns and colour palettes. If you're shopping online then we always recommend ordering a sample where possible so you can check out the texture and tones in person.
Here are a few of our top places to shop for wallpaper:
- Wayfair are a firm favourite for hundreds of different wallpaper choices
- Wallpaper Direct features some of the top collaborations from designers we love, like Clarissa Hulse
- I Love Wallpaper has a huge range of patterned papers in modern prints
- Dunelm offers great wood-panel effect wallpapers and self-adhesive options
- John Lewis - we love their ANYDAY range for affordable style
- Amazon is the go-to for finding what you need quickly and easily
What type of wallpaper is best for a living room?
It can be tricky to know where to start when choosing a wallpaper for your living room, but choosing a design that you love and excites you is a good place to start. You might also want to consider the size of your room and also its positioning.
'When choosing your living room wallpaper ideas it’s important to note whether the room is north or south facing,' advises Zoe from Graham & Brown. 'If the room faces south then it will get a lot of sunlight, allowing the use of the cooler colours in the spectrum, however a north facing room will need warmer colours to make the space feel cosy. Using a patterned wallpaper creates a focal point for the room – try pulling colours from it using accessories to create a cohesive interior style.'
Also think about how you want to feel in when you're in your living room and how it is being used. Is it a place to entertain? To relax? To multi-task as a home office? Once you know how the space will be used, you can start to think about whether you want a more invigorating, colourful design or a calming, muted one.
Where do I put wallpaper in a living room?
Before you start wallpapering away, make sure you consider where a pattern or design will enhance the space and what sort of statement you want the room to make.
'Many living rooms tend to have an existing focal point, such as a fireplace or entertainment system and so it’s not always recommended to have a conflicting feature wall,' notes Melanie Adams from Wallpaper Direct. 'Consider using living room wallpaper ideas on all four walls that complements the focal point for a more visually relaxing result.’
Just remember that whatever wallpaper you pick or whichever wall you choose to cover, be confident in your choice and know that it can always be recovered or painted if you change your mind.
