Is wallpaper a bad idea

[MortarThePoint]

We've got to the stage of proceedings where 'client management' is a significant challenge. In that I mean trying to keep my wife happy. I need drawings, dimensions, products and decisions whilst she lives in mood boards and options. This isn't a picture of my wife but, I am getting used to this expression and worse:

 

 

She is keen on having wall paper in a couple of places:

• Hallway, above shaker panelling
• Downstairs loo, above v-groove cladding

I am sold on the panelling / v-groove but not the concept of wallpaper. A painted wall with pictures on looks much nicer to me and feels a better way to have the 'interest' that wallpaper adds since the pictures can be changed and don't damage the wall. It's very easy for wallpaper to end up kitsch. Also, I don't think I have ever seen wallpaper that hasn't started to lift at the joins.

 

Am I rightly concerned about wallpaper or should I get back in my box.

[Eric]

We have all seen that look 👀😬

Just my opinion but wallpaper should stay in the 80’s

[Redoctober]

Blimey, good luck with that! I completly agree with you and sympatise too, as we all know the female species can be a true force of nature at times😁

 

This dilemma you have - or build up of pressure before you yield - has beed discussed here at home, and somewhat unsurprisingly, Mrs W favours wallpaper in a cloakroom too!

 

That said, we don't have it in ours thankfully. So how did I win the day? Time is a great healer and I'm not entirely sure how the discussion ended in my favour but the points you raised were certainly at the forefront of my case. 

[nod]

As a child I grew up with both wallpaper and paneling Also and avocado four piece Best left in the 80s 😁

[nod]

If your looking for something a bit different Lime wash paint to the odd area seems to be the thing on many of our one offs Can look quite nice 

[G and J]

As the female of the partnership and the one who could be claimed to deliver "the look" (although in all honesty I think we can and do both deliver it) I would say a big no to wallpaper.....choose the most outrageous colour or colours you like, but leave the wall surface unblemished

 

Sp edit

Edited Saturday at 09:27 by G and J

[SteamyTea]

Who members this from 1998.

 

'Lord Irvine told the Commons Public Administration Committee on Tuesday he had no reason to apologise for spending £59,000 on wallpaper'

[Russell griffiths]

Just been to a mates place, some excellent wall paper in his place, if it’s a small area you can afford to go up market as the cost per m won’t kill you, it will always be dearer than painting, but will add so much more with a good design. 
the pic is something I’ve just done, loads will hate it, some will love it, it’s you house, no point asking other people’s opinion on this really. 
happy wife, happy life. 

[Nickfromwales]

All I can add is, that wallpaper can have a clear glaze (a-la a varnish) which is supposed to seal it and make it robust enough to have in a bathroom…….no peely edges. Takes a bit of scrubbing etc, apparently, but 🤷‍♂️. 

 

Put the 2 bits of wallpaper where your wife says to put them, and then admit to yourself in secret that it actually looks good just your knee jerk was against it.

 

Such a small issue, imho, but I guess I’d pull the plug on the marriage if the wallpaper is of Ken Dodd in various poses.

[SteamyTea]

10 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said:

wallpaper can have a clear glaze

This one has a wipe clean laminated finish.

 

[Nickfromwales]

3 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

This one has a wipe clean laminated finish.

 

At least you waited until after lunch….

[Mike]

3 hours ago, MortarThePoint said:

I am sold on the panelling / v-groove but not the concept of wallpaper.

I'm not keen on either, but maybe that's because - in older homes - they've often been used to hide something.

 

Maybe (if you have the budget) you could divert her towards decorative plaster finishes - Venetian / polished plaster / microcement / tadelakt?

[Benpointer]

Against the consensus on this thread, we will be going for big bold wallpaper on a few walls, having not touched the stuff since 1988.  

 

I should add, we are natural trendsetters - where we lead others tend to follow, we just can't seem to help it. 😉

 

Actually of course, this is a well-established trend (the wallpaper not our style-leadership) but still not quite mainstream.  We were taken by this type of look on a house that was on the market last year. 

 

 

[MortarThePoint]

44 minutes ago, Benpointer said:

We were taken by this type of look on a house that was on the market last year. 

Does look good

 

I wonder about peel & stick being a good compromise 

[Benpointer]

1 minute ago, MortarThePoint said:

Does look good

 

I wonder about peel & stick being a good compromise 

A compromise between what and what?  Wallpaper is a centuries-old technology, with no real mystique.  Any competent DIY-er can do it.  

 

If you don't like it in a few years, take it off and paint.

[MortarThePoint]

12 minutes ago, Benpointer said:

A compromise between what and what?  Wallpaper is a centuries-old technology, with no real mystique.  Any competent DIY-er can do it.  

 

If you don't like it in a few years, take it off and paint.

 

It could go up an if not liked or goes bad get taken down easily 

[G and J]

Maybe someone should invent wallpaper with post it note glue already on it. It could be marketed as reusable and hence eco.  

[Nickfromwales]

51 minutes ago, G and J said:

Maybe someone should invent wallpaper with post it note glue already on it. It could be marketed as reusable and hence eco.  

Less gin and more tonic perhaps, lol.

[scottishjohn]

wallpaper is a good way to hide the crappy plastering

 my dad was master painter and decorator and specialised in anaglypta

 and his biggest job ,so he told me,  was the free trade hall in manchester in the 30,s

 took months to do and he was not happy with the hieght of the saffolding !!!

 maybe he was the only one mug enough to do it

thats when it was made from rags not just paper and would last for ever and could have just large embossing , if done right

 you can still find it in victorian houses sometimes

 

[Kelvin]

There’s some funky wall paper nowadays. We don’t have any on this house but did on the last house. I secretly quite liked it. 
 

I eventually went tile blind and refused to look at another tile mood board. It was the only falling out moment we had. 


 

[Nickfromwales]

14 hours ago, Kelvin said:

There’s some funky wall paper nowadays

 

[Kelvin]

6 hours ago, Nickfromwales said:

 

 

Wrong thread however I have the 820mm in the upstairs bathroom (window above the loo ) and the 1120mm in the downstairs loo. It is somewhat annoying that the lid hits the flush plate but it does make sure you keep the lid down all the time. 

[JohnMo]

On 28/06/2025 at 09:24, MortarThePoint said:

client management' is a significant challenge.

It's simple - our relationship on building, I built house, wife decided finishing and furnishings. She dealt with kitchen design, tile choice etc.  I had input but she made the final call.

 

On 28/06/2025 at 09:24, MortarThePoint said:

should I get back in my box.

YES!

[Nickfromwales]

16 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

It's simple - our relationship on building, I built house, wife decided finishing and furnishings. She dealt with kitchen design, tile choice etc.  I had input but she made the final call.

I think this is the best collaboration tbh, as I would have a very ‘bloke’ looking house otherwise.

[Nick Laslett]

On 28/06/2025 at 09:24, MortarThePoint said:

 

• Hallway, above shaker panelling
• Downstairs loo, above v-groove cladding

 

My resident design guru, concurs that these are good places to have wallpaper. The panelling/wallpaper combo is a winner.