The best time to decorate for Christmas? Before Christmas takes over.

October is the sweet spot for tackling those decorating projects you've been putting off. The festive rush hasn't quite begun, the hosting season is approaching, and there's still time to make your home feel exactly how you want it.

And few decorating changes can make as much impact as wallpaper.

From a statement dining room for long dinners to a guest bedroom ready for visitors, wallpaper can completely change the mood of a space without replacing the furniture.

It can bring personality to a downstairs loo, make a hallway feel more welcoming, or turn an overlooked wall into the most interesting part of the room.

Whether you love expressive prints, elegant stripes, or softer patterns inspired by nature, here's how to choose wallpaper for different rooms and make it work with the rest of your interior.

Explore wallpaper at Beaumonde.

1. Make an Entrance With Hallway Wallpaper

Your hallway sets the tone for the rest of your home.

It's the first space guests see, yet it's often one of the last rooms we think about decorating.

Wallpaper can make even a relatively simple hallway feel much more intentional.

For a dramatic entrance, the Brand McKenzie Showtime Wallpaper introduces a bold decorative statement.

If you prefer something more structured, the Ohpopsi Simply Stripes Bloc Stripe in Onyx offers a graphic alternative.

Stripes are particularly useful in hallways because they can introduce rhythm and structure without relying on a large illustrative design.

What Wallpaper Works Best in a Hallway?

Think about the size of the space, the amount of natural light, and the view into adjoining rooms.

In a narrow hallway, a smaller-scale pattern or vertical stripe can work beautifully.

In a larger entrance, you have more freedom to introduce a dramatic print.

You don't necessarily need to wallpaper every wall.

One feature wall, an alcove, or a section above panelling can be enough to create an impact.

2. Create a Dining Room Worth Gathering Around

The dining room is one of the best places to experiment with wallpaper.

Unlike rooms where you spend most of the day, a dining room can often accommodate a little more drama.

Think rich colour, expressive patterns, and designs that look particularly beautiful in the evening under softer lighting.

The Josephine Munsey Rubia Wallpaper is one option to explore when building a decorative dining room scheme.

For something with a more playful personality, the Brand McKenzie Canine Cards Wallpaper offers a distinctive alternative.

The key is to balance the wallpaper with the furniture.

If the walls are making a statement, you don't need every other element to compete.

A beautiful dining table, comfortable chairs, and warm lighting can provide the quieter foundation.

Should You Wallpaper All Four Dining Room Walls?

You can.

A continuous wallpaper pattern can make a dining room feel immersive and complete.

But if you're working with a particularly bold print, a single feature wall may be enough.

Another option is to use wallpaper above a dado rail or wall panelling, allowing the lower half of the room to remain painted.

This can work particularly well in period homes.

3. Give the Guest Bedroom a Proper Refresh

A guest bedroom doesn't need to be elaborate to feel welcoming.

Comfortable bedding, good lighting, somewhere to put a suitcase, and a few personal touches are usually enough.

But wallpaper can give the room a much stronger sense of identity.

The Ohpopsi Hanashi Shizu Sable Mix Wallpaper is one design to explore for a more decorative bedroom scheme.

For a classic approach, the Josephine Arber Stripe Wallpaper can introduce pattern without requiring a completely new colour palette.

Try wallpapering the wall behind the bed to create a focal point.

Then repeat one or two colours from the design through cushions, throws, or bedside accessories.

The room will feel connected without looking overly coordinated.

4. Make the Downstairs Loo More Interesting

If there's one room where you can afford to be adventurous with wallpaper, it's the downstairs loo.

Because it's usually a small, enclosed space, you don't need to worry quite as much about making the pattern work across an entire open-plan interior.

A dramatic wallpaper can turn a purely practical room into something memorable.

The Brand McKenzie Ocean Waves Wallpaper is a distinctive option for a room where you want to introduce personality.

Alternatively, the Ohpopsi Riches of Nature Eve Toile in Noir offers another decorative direction.

Pair a bold wallpaper with a simple basin, statement mirror, and good lighting.

In smaller spaces, the wallpaper can do much of the decorating for you.

Can You Use Wallpaper in a Downstairs Toilet?

Yes, provided the wallpaper and installation method are suitable for the room's conditions.

A downstairs toilet without a shower or bath will generally have different moisture demands from a bathroom.

Check the manufacturer's guidance before choosing wallpaper, particularly in areas exposed to splashes or humidity.

5. Try Striped Wallpaper for a Timeless Look

Stripes are one of the most versatile wallpaper designs.

They can feel traditional, contemporary, playful, or graphic depending on their width, colour, and arrangement.

The Ohpopsi Simply Stripes Bloc Stripe in Onyx provides a stronger, more graphic look.

The Josephine Arber Stripe Wallpaper is another option for introducing a striped design.

Striped wallpaper works particularly well in hallways, bedrooms, home offices, and living rooms.

You can also combine stripes with floral or illustrative patterns elsewhere in the home.

The trick is to repeat a colour or two so the different designs feel connected.

6. Bring Nature Indoors With Botanical Wallpaper

Nature-inspired wallpaper remains a useful way to introduce pattern without making a room feel overly formal.

Botanical motifs, organic shapes, and decorative designs inspired by the natural world can work particularly well alongside wood, linen, stone, and other tactile materials.

The Ohpopsi Riches of Nature Eve Toile in Noir is worth exploring if you're drawn to more illustrative wallpaper.

Pair decorative wallpaper with simple furniture silhouettes and a restrained colour palette.

Natural materials can help balance a busier pattern.

7. Use Wallpaper to Create a Feature Wall

Feature walls are useful when you want to introduce wallpaper without committing to an entire room.

The most obvious location is behind a bed, sofa, or dining table.

But there are other possibilities.

Wallpaper can work beautifully:

Inside an alcove
Behind open shelving
On a chimney breast
Above wall panelling
In a home office
Behind a console table
In a reading corner

The best feature walls usually have a clear reason for being there.

Rather than choosing a wall at random, look for the natural focal point of the room.

8. Experiment With Playful Wallpaper

Not every room needs to be serious.

Wallpaper is one of the easiest ways to introduce humour, personality, and unexpected detail.

Brand McKenzie is particularly interesting if you enjoy interiors with a more expressive point of view.

The Canine Cards Wallpaper and Showtime Wallpaper are both options to explore for a more distinctive scheme.

These designs can work particularly well in smaller spaces, where a bold decorative choice can become the defining feature.

Pair them with simple furniture and let the wallpaper take the lead.

9. Create a More Relaxed Living Room

Living room wallpaper doesn't always need to be dramatic.

Sometimes, a softer pattern can introduce enough interest to make the room feel more layered.

Look at the existing furniture first.

If you have a statement sofa, patterned rug, or colourful artwork, choose wallpaper that complements rather than competes with those pieces.

If the furniture is relatively neutral, you have more freedom to experiment.

The Josephine Munsey Letti Wallpaper collection is one option to explore when introducing a decorative backdrop.

Other available variations include:

Compare the individual colourways against your existing furniture and order samples where available before committing to a full room.

10. Use Wallpaper Above Panelling

Wallpaper and wall panelling are a particularly effective combination.

The panelling introduces architectural detail, while the wallpaper provides colour and pattern.

It's also a useful way to introduce a more decorative design without covering every wall from floor to ceiling.

This approach works beautifully in dining rooms, hallways, bedrooms, and downstairs toilets.

You can keep the panelling neutral to allow the wallpaper to stand out, or choose a paint colour taken directly from the pattern.

The result feels connected without requiring every surface to match.

11. Make Wallpaper Part of the Wider Room

The most successful wallpaper schemes don't stop at the wall.

Think about how the colours, patterns, and materials connect with the furniture.

If your wallpaper includes warm brown tones, repeat them through wood or upholstery.

If it introduces black, connect that colour with lighting or picture frames.

If it contains softer neutral shades, layer them through cushions, curtains, and rugs.

You don't need to match everything exactly.

A few repeated colours are usually enough to create a cohesive room.

How to Choose Wallpaper for Your Home

Before choosing a design, think about the practical details.

Consider the Room's Natural Light

A wallpaper can look very different depending on the amount and direction of natural light.

A darker pattern may feel dramatic and intimate in one room but much more dominant in another.

If possible, view samples in the room at different times of day.

Think About Pattern Scale

Large-scale patterns can create a striking focal point.

Smaller repeating patterns can introduce texture and interest more subtly.

Neither is automatically better for a small room.

The important thing is understanding how the design will repeat across the walls and how much of it will remain visible behind furniture.

Look at the Existing Furniture

Wallpaper doesn't need to match your furniture, but the two should work together.

Think about the dominant colours and materials already in the room.

A neutral sofa gives you freedom to introduce a stronger wallpaper.

A patterned rug may call for something quieter.

Natural wood can provide a useful balance against expressive prints.

Order Samples Before Committing

Where samples are available, it's worth seeing the wallpaper in the actual room before ordering the full quantity.

Colours can appear different on screens, and the scale of a design isn't always easy to judge from a product image.

View samples in daylight and artificial light, and place them beside your existing furniture and fabrics.

How Much Wallpaper Do You Need?

Before ordering, measure the height and width of each wall you plan to cover.

Then check the dimensions of the wallpaper roll and whether the design has a pattern repeat.

Patterned wallpaper may require additional material to align the design correctly between drops.

Doors, windows, alcoves, and unusual wall shapes can also affect the amount required.

Don't assume every wallpaper roll covers the same area.

Check the individual product specifications and allow for pattern matching and installation waste.

It's also sensible to order sufficient wallpaper from the same batch where possible to reduce the risk of slight colour variation.

How Long Does It Take to Wallpaper a Room?

That depends on the size of the room, the condition of the walls, the complexity of the pattern, and whether you're installing it yourself or using a professional.

A single feature wall may be a relatively manageable project.

A full dining room with multiple doors, windows, corners, and patterned wallpaper will usually require more preparation and installation time.

If you're decorating ahead of Christmas, allow time for ordering, delivery, wall preparation, installation, and any additional decorating.

Starting earlier gives you more flexibility.

Should You Wallpaper Before Christmas?

If you're planning to redecorate rooms that will be used heavily over the festive period, October can be a practical time to begin.

It gives you an opportunity to finish decorating before guests arrive, furniture needs moving for entertaining, and the calendar becomes busier.

Prioritise the rooms that will make the biggest difference.

A dining room where you'll host Christmas dinner.

A guest bedroom for visiting family.

A downstairs loo guests will use.

Or the hallway everyone passes through.

You don't need to redecorate the entire house.

One completed room can make a significant difference.

Wallpaper Trends: What's Worth Choosing?

Wallpaper trends change, but several approaches remain consistently useful in interiors.

Stripes: Versatile designs that can feel traditional or contemporary.

Botanical prints: Patterns inspired by nature that work beautifully with natural materials.

Decorative toiles: Detailed designs that introduce illustration and character.

Statement prints: Expressive wallpaper that becomes the main feature of a room.

Warm neutrals: Softer palettes that introduce pattern without overwhelming the space.

Dark wallpaper: Richer designs that can create atmosphere in dining rooms, bedrooms, and smaller spaces.

Rather than choosing a wallpaper simply because it's popular, think about whether you'll still enjoy living with it after the season has passed.

Wallpaper for Interior Designers and Commercial Projects

Wallpaper can play an important role in hospitality and commercial interiors.

In hotels, it can give guest bedrooms a distinctive identity.

In restaurants, it can create atmosphere and help define different dining areas.

In reception spaces, it can establish a visual impression from the moment visitors arrive.

Smaller areas such as private dining rooms, washrooms, and corridors can also provide opportunities for more expressive designs.

Beaumonde supplies wallpaper, furniture, lighting, and home accessories for residential and commercial projects, with trade pricing available to eligible interior designers, architects, property professionals, hotels, restaurants, and other commercial customers.

There is no minimum order, whether you're sourcing wallpaper for one feature wall or products for a larger project.

Discover Beaumonde Trade.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wallpaper

What wallpaper is best for a small room?

Both small-scale and large-scale patterns can work in smaller rooms. The best choice depends on the room's proportions, natural light, and the atmosphere you want to create.

Is wallpaper still fashionable?

Yes. Wallpaper remains a popular way to introduce pattern, colour, texture, and personality into interiors, from traditional stripes to contemporary statement designs.

Should you wallpaper every wall or just one?

Both approaches can work. Wallpapering every wall creates a more immersive effect, while a feature wall allows you to introduce pattern more selectively.

What wallpaper works best in a dining room?

Dining rooms can accommodate everything from subtle stripes to expressive decorative prints. Choose a design that complements the furniture and creates the atmosphere you want for entertaining.

Can you put wallpaper in a downstairs toilet?

Yes, provided the product and installation method are suitable for the room's conditions. Always check the manufacturer's guidance, particularly where moisture or splashes may be an issue.

Does dark wallpaper make a room look smaller?

Not necessarily. Dark wallpaper can create depth and atmosphere, particularly when combined with appropriate lighting and complementary furniture.

Can you wallpaper over existing wallpaper?

Removing existing wallpaper and preparing the wall properly is generally preferable. The correct approach depends on the condition of the existing surface and the manufacturer's installation instructions.

How do you choose wallpaper that won't date?

Choose a pattern and colour palette you genuinely enjoy, and think about how it works with your existing furniture and architectural features rather than relying entirely on a current trend.

Is wallpaper good for a guest bedroom?

Yes. Wallpaper can give a guest bedroom a stronger sense of identity without requiring lots of additional furniture or decoration.

Decorate Now, Host Later