Wallpaper for Walls

Wallpaper for walls is a printed or patterned wall covering. It comes as paste-the-wall or peel-and-stick, and adds colour, pattern or texture to a single feature wall or a full room. At Giffywalls, every design is made to measure and printed to your exact wall dimensions per square metre. It fits smooth plaster, lining paper and lightly textured surfaces in period and modern British homes. The range covers William Morris-inspired florals, Scandi-British muted prints, cottage core botanicals, contemporary geometrics and bespoke designs. Each suits Victorian sitting rooms, new-build lounges, the snug in a 1930s semi, hallways and stairwells. Browse the full range below.

Wallpaper for Walls in Period and Modern Homes

Wallpaper for walls has moved on from the heavy, head-to-toe look of the 1970s. The current range covers softer florals, muted contemporary prints, 3D wallpaper for wall designs with quiet texture, and period-friendly motifs that sit well in Victorian and Edwardian rooms. The right wallpaper for wall choice should behave like a piece of furniture in the scheme. It should stay calm when the sofa or bed is the hero, and step forward when the wall takes the lead. This range covers chimney breasts in a Victorian sitting room and the space behind a four-poster in a country cottage. It also handles wallpaper for staircase wall placements in a Georgian townhouse, along with full rooms in a new-build flat where every surface is flat plaster. You’ll find prints that flatter white mouldings, dado rails and picture rails, and calmer options that suit the warm wood in a 1930s semi.

Contemporary wallpaper for walls in a new-build flat

Open-plan new-builds often need a larger pattern with plenty of negative space so the kitchen doesn’t feel crowded. Pull one tone from the print into a rug or throw and the room settles.

Wallpaper Designs for Walls with British Palettes

Wallpaper designs for walls look their best when they pick up one or two colours from what’s already in the room. A William Morris-style botanical works well behind a sage-green velvet sofa, with brass lamps and a warm oak coffee table. Cottagecore florals pair well with pine, elm and natural linen, which is why they land so well in country cottages and older terraces. For a cooler Scandi-British scheme, a soft putty or mushroom-toned print lifts a room without fighting the furniture. A dado-rail room benefits from paper above the rail only, with painted panelling below in a Farrow & Ball-style chalky shade. Keep curtains in the wall’s lightest tone, and skip the feature cushions in the exact pattern colour. Matched cushions make the room feel sample-book rather than lived-in.

Pairing wallpaper for bedroom with linen and brass

For wallpaper for bedroom walls, match the paper with off-white linen bedding, a warm brass bedside lamp and a natural wood bedhead. Skip anything high-gloss, as it competes with the print.

Wallpaper for Feature Wall or Full Room

Choosing between an accent wall wallpaper placement and a full four-wall scheme depends on two things: the size of the room, and how much light it gets. A small bedroom tends to look bigger with paper behind the headboard only and calm paint on the other three walls. A generous sitting room or a knocked-through lounge-diner can take paper on all four walls, particularly where the ceiling is high and the windows face south or west. For wallpaper for accent wall living room schemes, the chimney breast or the wall opposite the sofa tends to work best as the single feature. Victorian rooms with a chimney breast often look smartest with paper on the breast alone, letting the original mouldings sit either side. For a dim north-facing room, pick a pale background with a smaller-scale pattern so the print doesn’t swallow the light.

Wallpaper for accent wall in bedroom

A single papered wall behind the headboard is still the easiest bedroom move. Keep bedside lamps in a quiet shape so the print stays the main event.

Fitting Wallpaper for Walls: Paste, Peel and Damp Care

Peel and stick wallpaper for walls is the easiest pick for a rental in London or Manchester, or for a weekend lounge redo. The paper lifts off cleanly and won’t pull paint with it, which keeps deposits safe. Paste-the-wall suits long-term homes and holds up on lining paper over older plaster. Paintable wallpaper for walls is handy if you want to choose emulsion later. It has a textured white base that takes colour neatly. Wallpaper for bathroom walls should be rated for humid rooms, and leave a few centimetres above any splashback in a downstairs loo. Heavily textured surfaces work better with a peel and stick wallpaper for textured options with a slightly thicker base.

Best wallpaper for textured walls in older homes

Older Victorian and Edwardian walls often carry small cracks and texture, so pick a matte-finish paper with a subtle botanical or geometric style. Avoid tight small repeats, which show every bump.

Wallpaper for Walls Around Life Moments: Moves, Nurseries, Spring

Most people come to wallpaper around a life moment. That might be a move into a first flat in Bristol or Leeds, or a nursery being set up ahead of a baby arriving. Others arrive after renting a terrace in Brighton that needs a bit of warmth without paint, or during a spring refresh before hosting Easter lunch.

A custom wallpaper design works well in a new home where you want one room to feel properly yours from week one. Make-your-own wallpaper choices also work for a child’s room, where a personalised name print or storybook scene grows with the child for several years. Seasonal swaps are easy with a peel-and-stick range: a lighter botanical for the spring, a warmer ochre pattern for the darker months.

The Right Wallpaper for Room Walls in Your Home

The right wallpaper for your room pulls a scheme together and echoes one or two decor tones you already love. It settles in for years rather than clashing with the sofa. This range spans William Morris-inspired florals, Scandi-British neutrals, cottagecore botanicals, contemporary geometrics and bespoke prints. Peel-and-stick and paste-the-wall bases suit period flats, new builds and long-term family homes across the UK. Over two hundred designs sit in this collection. You can match one paper to a sitting room, a snug, a stairwell or a downstairs loo without hunting elsewhere. Scroll back up to browse the full range.

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FAQs

Which materials is best for wallpaper?

Wallpapers are made from standard paper, canvas paper, premium paper, peel and stick materials for durability and style.

How Do I Measure My Wall for a Wall Mural?

Measure the wall's width and height, adding 2–4 inches for trimming. Check for obstacles like windows or doors and note their dimensions. Double-check measurements before ordering!

How Do I Order Custom Size Wallpaper or Wall Mural?

Pick a design, enter wall dimensions, choose material, and place your order. Contact support for help!

How do I measure my wall for wallpaper?

Measure the full width and height of each wall you want to cover, then multiply to get the square footage. Round up to the nearest foot on both dimensions to give yourself a small trimming margin at the edges. For walls with doors, windows, or sloped ceilings, measure the largest rectangle that covers the whole area. If you’re unsure, send your measurements and a quick photo of the wall to our team and we’ll confirm before printing.

What’s the difference between peel-and-stick and paste-the-wall wallpaper?

Peel-and-stick wallpaper has a self-adhesive backing and is the easier install for a renter, a first-time installer, or anyone who wants to swap the look in a year or two. Paste-the-wall wallpaper uses a separately applied wallpaper adhesive and is the stronger choice for a long-term home or a high-traffic room, since it holds up better over time. Both options work on clean, dry, smooth walls. Pick peel-and-stick if you might change the wall later, and paste-the-wall if you’re committing for five years or more.

How long does wallpaper last?

Paste-the-wall wallpaper typically lasts 10 to 15 years or more when installed on a properly prepared wall in a dry, stable room. Peel-and-stick lasts 3 to 5 years on average, longer in low-traffic rooms, and shorter in bathrooms or kitchens where steam and temperature swings can lift the edges. Direct sunlight fades any wallpaper over time, so walls that get strong afternoon sun will age faster regardless of install type.

Can I use modern peel and stick wallpaper in a bathroom or kitchen?

Yes, you can! Many modern peel and stick wall coverings are specifically designed to be water-resistant or even waterproof, making them suitable for high-moisture areas like bathrooms and kitchens.

Can I install wallpaper on a textured wall?

You can install wallpaper on a lightly textured wall, but the pattern reads cleaner on a smooth surface. For orange-peel or knockdown textures, pick a thicker peel-and-stick or apply a lining paper base first to mask the surface. For heavily textured walls like popcorn or stucco, sand the wall smooth or apply a liner before the wallpaper goes on. A matte finish hides small imperfections better than a gloss or metallic finish.

Is wallpaper removable without damaging the paint?

Peel-and-stick wallpaper comes off cleanly from a properly prepared wall, which makes it the go-to choice for renters and anyone who wants to change looks without repainting. Wait at least three weeks after any fresh paint job before applying, and pull the paper off slowly at a low angle when removing. Paste-the-wall papers take more effort to remove and often need a wallpaper steamer, so they’re less suited for short-term homes.

How much does wallpaper cost?

Giffywalls wallpaper is priced per square foot since every order is custom-printed to your wall dimensions. You measure your wall, enter the width and height at checkout, and the price is calculated from the total square footage needed. There are no standard sizes, no offcuts, and no wasted material. A small feature wall behind a bed usually covers 50 to 70 square feet, and a full four-wall living room runs closer to 300 to 400 square feet depending on ceiling height.

Do I need to prep the wall before installing wallpaper?

Yes, every wallpaper install starts with a clean, dry, smooth wall. Wash the wall with mild soap, let it dry fully, and patch any holes or cracks with filler. Sand the filler flush, wipe the dust off, and the wall is ready to hang. For freshly painted walls, wait three to four weeks before applying peel-and-stick so the paint fully cures. Paste-the-wall papers usually need a coat of wallpaper primer on bare plaster or drywall before the adhesive goes on.

Can I wallpaper a single accent wall, or does it need to cover the whole room?

Either works. A single accent wall behind a bed, sofa, or dining table is the easiest starting point and the most forgiving install for a first-timer since you’re only handling one wall. A full four-wall install creates a more immersive effect and suits generous rooms with high ceilings. For a small room, an accent wall usually makes the space feel bigger than papering all four walls would.