22 Beautiful Ways to Decorate Your Kitchen With Wallpaper
Wallpaper is back! And there's no better place to try it then your kitchen.
Like us, you've probably been noticing wallpapered rooms popping up everywhere. It's true, wallpaper is back and not just in bathrooms or kids' rooms (we're big fans of Erin Napier's collection with York). From subtle neutral patterns to bold graphic florals—and an overflowing fruit basket of whimsical kitchen-themed designs—today's wallpaper options offer colors and patterns just right for any and all styles of kitchens.
Even better, because the majority of kitchen walls are covered with cabinetry, appliances, and windows, you won't need to invest in a large quantity of wallpaper to make a big impact. You also don't have to commit to wallpapering the entire kitchen. Start small by creating a wallpapered accent wall, turning a drab corner into a cozy dining nook, lining the back of your cabinets or shelves with wallpaper, or adding some flavor—of the visual variety—to your pantry.
The best news, though, is that today's wallpapers aren't like the papers of the past. They are much easier to install—and to remove! There are also many stylish peel-and-stick wallpapers available, making DIY kitchen decorating even easier and virtually commitment-free. To complete your new look, pair your wallpaper with a new paint color on the walls or cabinetry, upgrade your light fixtures, and then tackle some of these stylish kitchen design ideas.
Add Age With a Period-Appropriate Wallpaper
For the whole-house palette, homeowner Melissa Duckworth looked to Benjamin Moore’s Historical Collection for colors that were just right for her early 1900s farmhouse. In the galley kitchen, which was previously the home’s hallway, she chose a timeless cornflower blue to pair with the reproduction wallpaper (“Larkspur 1872” designed by William Morris) and antique mint-colored—and mint condition!—enamel gas range she found on eBay. The century-old farmhouse sink and period sconces and pendant were all additional eBay finds.
SHOP MORRIS & CO. WALLPAPERS
Wallpaper an Accent Wall
Give your all-white kitchen a style upgrade by papering one end wall with a quiet single-color floral. A black-and-white print like in this Tennessee cottage will feel sophisticated, but you can't go wrong with the always right blue-and-white pairing or any accent color you love.
RELATED: Tour more of this Tennessee cottage (it's rentable!) here.
Choose a Long-Loved Botanical Wallpaper
Country Living Design Director Maribeth Jones gave her small Craftsman kitchen a twist of British style pairing her cheery yellow cabinetry with a botanical wallcovering designed by the well-known father of the Arts and Crafts Movement, British artist William Morris. The citrus and pomegranate pattern feels right at home in a kitchen, with framed artwork.
SHOP FRUIT BOTANICAL WALLPAPER
RELATED: See more of this charming kitchen here.
Create a Jewel-Box Bar Nook with Wallpaper
Homeowner Amy Whyte transformed a tiny 5- by 5-foot nook into a tucked-in-the-trees wet bar with an olive green on the lower cabinet and a bold wallpaper up top. The white countertop and wood trim adds some visual relief to keep the dark walls from overwhelming.
SHOP FOREST WALLPAPER
RELATED: See more of this storybook mountain cottage here.
Go With a Classic Gingham Wallpaper
You can't get more country than a classic gingham check, so what could be better in a farmhouse-style kitchen than gingham wallpaper? In this open and inviting North Carolina kitchen, designer Trinity Holmes paired a pretty brown-and-white check with warm-toned green cabinet and lots of natural woods.
Make a Statement with Wallpaper
To give her rustic kitchen a more contemporary vibe, designer Megan Pflug wrapped the walls above her open shelving with geometric Hicks Hexagon wallpaper. She balanced the bold pattern with calm gray walls below and accented with black metal accordion sconces.
See more at Megan Pflug Designs.
Create a Wallpapered Kitchen Accent Wall
Give your kitchen a pretty focal point by wallpapering just one wall. Don't be afraid to think outside the box when choosing a pattern. Let your kitchen reflect your personality with a design that speaks to you, like this airy egret design. Make your color choices even more impactful by using pretty and practical white subway tile in the kitchen work areas.
Wallpaper Your Kitchen Ceiling
Designer Brian Patrick Flynn (@bpatrickflynn) transformed a lackluster kitchen ceiling by covering it with geometric wallpaper. To prep the ceiling for the wallpaper, he had it patched, sanded, and primed with wallcovering primer. For easier installation, try a peel-and-stick wallpaper.
For even more interest up top, Brian fashioned pendant lights with upturned painted bushel baskets. The electrical cords and fittings are wrapped with rope.
Create a Sunny Wallpapered Breakfast Nook
Use wallpaper to transform a drab corner into an inviting in-kitchen dining space. Here, a lively lemon-patterned wallpaper sets the scene for a bright and cheery breakfast spot. Continue the palette with chairs painted with chalk-style paint and breezy café curtains.
Craft a DIY Wallpaper Refrigerator Front
Add an unexpected punch of pattern to a quiet kitchen by covering refrigerator doors with a pretty wallpaper. Here, homeowner Lauren Crouch gave her tired white refrigerator new life with an overscaled, hand-drawn floral. To complete her DIY upgrade, she applied the traditional wallpaper with wallpaper paste, for water-resistance and sealed it with polyurethane.
Choose Kitchen Wallpaper with a Twist
For her modern-meets-country farmhouse kitchen, singer-songwriter Holly Williams paired her classic blue cabinetry with an unexpected metallic black-and-white wallpaper. The floral pattern keeps with tradition, while the sheen of the metallic finish lends a modern edge.
RELATED: Tour more of Holly's renovated Kentucky farmhouse here.
Brighten the Kitchen Pantry with Wallpaper
Your home's hardworking utilitarian spaces don't have to be boring. Instead, use a pretty wallpaper to turn your kitchen pantry into your own secret jewel box. This shelf-lined pantry easily went from drab to wow thanks to a wallpaper wrap of a fresh watercolor design.
See more at Classy Clutter.
Add Nostalgic Charm with Vintage-Style Kitchen Wallpaper
Evoke the heart-tug of a long-ago farmhouse with a nostalgic vintage-style wallpaper. To keep this farmhouse kitchen looking fresh and current, designers John Loecke and Jason Oliver Nixon of design firm Madcap Cottage grounded the airiness of the classically country wallpaper with a rustic wood beam and soft-blue-painted tongue-and-groove rafters.
Hang Blue-and-White Wallpaper in the Kitchen
No color combination is more beloved than blue and white—especially for a kitchen. Just look at all the beautiful transferware, spongeware, and chinoiserrie ceramics available. Choose a playful pattern in a vibrant blue-and-white colorway to provide your kitchen a fresh-feeling backdrop for a collection of perfectly patinaed kitchen collectibles.
Look to the Farmers' Market for Kitchen Wallpaper Inspiration
What's more appealing than bountiful baskets full of freshly picked produce? Bring the farm-fresh beauty of your favorite fruits and vegetables to your kitchen through a graphic wallpaper. This cheery strawberry print brings fun color with a just a hint of nostalgia.
Go Bold with Colorful Wallpaper
Turn your kitchen into a bright and happy place with colorful floral wallpaper. If your open kitchen is large enough to accommodate a dining table, wallpapering just its surrounding walls is a great way to differentiate work and living spaces, as in this beautiful home by designer Nathan Turner. Paint your millwork a crisp white to make colors pop even more.
Line Built-ins with Easy DIY (Faux) Wallpaper
Give your open shelving an easy—and inexpensive!—style upgrade by lining the backs with adhesive shelf liner. The only tool you need is your scissors! Choose a small-scale pattern, such as a lattice, plaid, or even a polka dot, for the biggest impact.
See more at Lolly Jane.
Use Wallpaper to Brighten the Inside of a Kitchen Hutch
Colorful plates, platters, and glassware really pop when you line the inside of a dark storage piece with a light and bright wallpaper, such as this cheery yellow plaid. It's an easy DIY project that you can tackle over a weekend. Choose a peel-and-stick wallpaper to make it even easier and eliminate the need for messy wallpaper paste.
Keep It Classic with Plaid Kitchen Wallpaper
Choose a classic tone-on-tone gray plaid wallpaper to add subtle pattern and visual texture to a kitchen. It gives your kitchen personality without overpowering the other decorative elements, letting that colorful tableware and art still take center stage.
Go Bold with Graphic Kitchen Wallpaper
Make your kitchen the happiest place in the house with a wallpaper pattern that packs a playful punch. Your colorful wallpaper will have even more punchy impact when paired with crisp white cabinetry and trim.
RELATED: 20 Dutch Door Ideas for an Entryway With Double the Charm
Jennifer Kopf is the Executive Editor of Country Living. She also covers antiques and collecting.
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