A Designer’s Guide to Wallpaper by Woodlands Style House

At Little Cocalico, we believe the most memorable projects are personal, intentional and unique. Whether you’re sourcing materials for your next fabric project, dabbling in DIY or launching a full-scale room redesign, it all comes down to choosing elements that bring both beauty and function to a space.

For designers, wallpaper is more than a finishing detail. It is a strategic layer within the overall composition of a space. The right pattern can anchor a room, guide the eye, and complement surrounding materials, while the wrong choice can disrupt the flow. Add in the need to accurately reflect your client’s vision, and making the right choice becomes even more essential.

Few understand this better than designer team at Woodlands Style House, who partner with us for custom wallpaper prints used to elevate their projects. Here, they share their top tips for incorporating wallpaper in a way that adds depth, texture and a refined sense of personality to a space. Keep reading for expert insight on how to bring dimension and cohesion into your next design.

Why Work With Wallpaper?

Wallpaper has made a decisive return to the forefront of interior design—and not as a fleeting trend, but as a foundational tool for creating layered, memorable spaces. As designers, we have an opportunity to not only reintroduce wallpaper to our clients, but to position it as an essential element of thoughtful, high-end design.

Over the past several years, we’ve found that incorporating wallpaper—strategically and confidently—has elevated our projects and our client relationships. Here’s how we approach designing with wallpaper and, just as importantly, how we successfully incorporate it into our projects as part of a cohesive design vision.

When to Consider Using Wallpaper in a Design

Wallpaper works best when it’s intentional. We typically introduce it in moments where the design calls for depth, personality, or a focal point that paint alone simply can’t achieve.

Some of our go-to applications:
– Powder baths and small spaces where you can take a bold, immersive approach
– Dining rooms to create a sense of occasion and warmth
– Primary bedrooms for softness, texture, and subtle pattern layering
– Entryways to set the tone immediately upon arrival
– Ceilings and accent walls when a full-room application isn’t necessary

If a space feels like it’s missing something—but you can’t quite define what—it’s often wallpaper.

How Wallpaper Opens Up Design Possibilities

Wallpaper allows us to do what paint cannot: introduce pattern, movement, and tactile richness all at once.

It becomes a storytelling element in a home. Whether it’s a delicate block print, a large-scale mural, or a tailored stripe, wallpaper can:

– Anchor a color palette
– Bridge traditional and modern elements
– Add architectural interest to otherwise flat walls
– Bring cohesion across adjacent spaces

In many projects, we actually begin with the wallpaper and let it inform the rest of the design—fabrics, finishes, and furnishings fall into place more naturally when there’s a strong visual anchor.

How to Incorporate Wallpaper Into Your Projects

1. Show it, don’t just describe it. Clients need to see and feel wallpaper. We always bring physical samples into presentations and, when possible, tape larger sample sheets onto the wall during meetings.

2. Address concerns upfront. Common objections include permanence, cost, and maintenance. We proactively explain:
– Many wallpapers are removable or strippable
– Performance-grade options exist for high-traffic areas
– The longevity often outweighs repainting cycles

3. Use real project examples. Nothing builds trust like showing how wallpaper has worked beautifully in past projects. Before-and-after photos or installed shots make the impact undeniable.

Choosing the Right Wallpaper: Substrate, Scale, and Design

Substrate Matters
Not all wallpapers are created equal. Choosing the right material ensures longevity and performance:
– Vinyl: Durable and ideal foar high-traffic or moisture-prone areas
– Non-woven: Easy to install and remove—great for residential applications
– Grasscloth and natural fibers: Beautiful texture, best for low-traffic spaces
– Fabric-backed options: High-end feel with added durability

Scale is Everything
A common mistake is selecting a pattern that’s too small—or too large—for the space.
– Small rooms can handle bold, large-scale patterns beautifully
– Large rooms benefit from patterns that have enough visual weight to hold the space
– Always consider ceiling height and sightlines

Color + Cohesion
Wallpaper should complement—not compete with—the rest of your materials. Pull secondary colors from the pattern into textiles, trim, or accessories to create a layered, cohesive look.

Making Wallpaper Easy with a Custom Printer

One of the biggest shifts in our workflow has been partnering with a custom wallpaper printer like Little Cocalico. It removes so many of the friction points that designers—and clients—often worry about.

Here’s why it makes a difference:

– Custom sampling: Being able to order samples (and even adjust colorways) helps finalize decisions with confidence
– Personal service: Having a responsive, knowledgeable team behind the product streamlines timelines and reduces risk
– Customization: Scale, color, and repeat adjustments ensure the wallpaper fits the space perfectly

When the process is this smooth, it’s much easier to recommend wallpaper without hesitation.

Wallpaper Trends for Spring & 2026

This year, wallpaper is leaning into a balance of timelessness and personality. The trends we’re seeing—and using—most:

1. Soft, Nature-Inspired Palettes
Think warm neutrals, muted greens, dusty blues, and sun-washed terracotta’s. These tones feel fresh for spring but grounded enough to last.

2. Organic Motifs
Botanicals, florals, and landscape-inspired prints continue to evolve—less traditional, more artistic and abstract.

3. Subtle Stripes & Tailored Patterns
Stripes are having a moment again, especially in understated, tone-on-tone applications that add structure without overwhelming.

4. Murals and Large-Scale Statements
Clients are becoming more open to bold moves—especially in dining rooms, offices, and primary suites.

5. Textural Illusions
Printed designs that mimic grasscloth, linen, or plaster offer the look of texture with more durability and consistency.

Final Thoughts

Wallpaper is one of the most powerful tools we have as designers—not just for creating beautiful spaces, but for elevating the overall experience we provide to our clients.

When introduced thoughtfully, specified correctly, and presented with confidence, it becomes an easy “yes.”

And with the right partners and resources, incorporating wallpaper into your projects doesn’t have to feel complicated—it can become one of the most seamless and rewarding parts of your design process.

If you’ve been using wallpaper sparingly, consider this your sign to lean in a little more this year. Your projects—and your clients—will be better for it.

Woodlands Style House is Home & Event Stylist company. The business was founded by Sondra Lagasse and Jill Simms with a shared passion for beautiful, and yet accessible design. Design for ANY space, in ANY style. Woodlands Style House knows that each person has a unique style, and that every home has different needs. Because of this, they accommodate a wide range of budgets and design-styles to keep clients and their families the focus of every project. Through home decorating, consulting, e-design, renovating, organizing, and event styling – the WSH team is committed to ‘bringing style home’ to their clients everyday. You can visit their webiste at woodlandsstylehouse.com