How to Integrate Colourful Wallpaper into Your Home

Looking to breathe some life into your interior? There's no denying the power of colourful wallpaper. Although stepping outside the comfort zone of neutrals may be hard, decorating rooms with wallpaper in standout hues can instantly transform a space that muted designs simply can't do. So, whether you're after the brightest of brights or prefer pops of vibrant colour, there are endless wallpaper possibilities to suit every style.

Read on for our top tips for integrating colourful wallpaper into your home, from creating a distinctive feature to complementing it with paint…

Top Tips for How to Integrate Colourful Wallpaper into Your Home

So, you've decided to ditch your plain white walls for something that looks more interesting. The only problem? Working out how to add colourful wallpaper to your home. You can paper all four walls floor-to-ceiling with your chosen wall covering or apply it to a single wall as a striking feature. Below, we take you through the options...

Use Colourful Wallpaper for a Whole Room

Forget playing it safe, why not use colourful wallpaper for a whole room? Covering all four walls will completely change the feel of the space, giving it a striking update that's easy to achieve. After all, wallpapering is no longer the fiddly, time-consuming DIY job it used to be!

Integrate Colourful Wallpaper and Paint

If you've fallen for a colourful wallpaper but want to avoid it dominating a room, try pairing it with painted walls or even painting the top portion of the wall. This is also a useful trick for smaller rooms, as the bold wallpaper won't overwhelm the space by covering it from the floor to the ceiling. 

The best bit? It's now easier than ever to match wallpaper and paint in complementing shades. At Graham & Brown, each of our wallpapers has four partnered paint hues, eliminating the hassle of finding the perfect match.

Create a Highlight Wall

Want to add bold colour to your home but still love your tried-and-tested neutrals? You can always opt for the best of both worlds with a highlight wall. Combining vibrant and subdued hues will ensure your colourful wallpaper makes a real statement. To ensure it remains a focal point, select the wall that draws your eye as you enter a room or choose a wall with fireplaces. We'd recommend avoiding walls with windows or doors as they tend to detract from your wallpaper.

Match the Colourful Wallpaper to Your Current Room Style

When selecting a colourful wallpaper, it's a good idea to consider your current room style. You'll likely want your walls to blend seamlessly with your existing décor. Pick a wallpaper that pulls complementary colours from your accessories and furniture to create a cohesive interior style.

10 Colourful Wallpaper Ideas

With a broad array of patterns to choose from – striking florals and sophisticated damask included – and a seemingly endless palette of different shades, there's a wallpaper design to suit every taste. Now you've decided on how to integrate it into your home, take a look through ten of our best ideas for decorating with colourful wallpaper…

1. Colourful Floral Wallpaper

Whether you prefer your floral prints bold or soft and delicate, you'll find a colourful wallpaper to match. From elegant super-sized roses to dainty daisies, wallpapers using a vivid colour palette adds extra impact to the pattern and allows the design to really stand out. Let eye-catching blooms take over everything from your bedroom to your hallway with colourful floral wallpaper.

2. Damask Wallpaper

One way to add sophistication to any space? Paper your room with damask wallpaper! Choosing this striking pattern in bold colourways gives this abstract floral a contemporary feel. Whether you add it to one wall or all four, we guarantee it won’t go unnoticed.

3. Animal Wallpaper

You can't go wrong with animal wallpaper when you're looking to give your room an eclectic twist. From wood creatures to delicate bird prints, wallpaper printed with animals is a statement option in its own right. Adding lively colour into the mix only serves to bring the eye-catching design to the forefront even more. It's ideal for dull, tired spaces that could benefit from a refresh.

4. Feature Wallpaper

If you've decided to create a highlight wall, you'll need to choose something daring to create a focal point. From geometric shapes and skull prints to Baroque and Art Deco-inspired patterns, feature wallpaper is designed to make a statement. Use neutral tones like white, cream and grey on the other three walls to ensure it remains the star of the show.

5. Yellow Wallpaper

Brighten up your day – and room – with yellow wallpaper. Often thought of as the colour of positivity and optimism, this sunny shade can help boost light levels and bring a lot of warmth to any space. Mustard, lemon, canary and even saffron, whichever tone of yellow you prefer, there's a colourful wallpaper to match.

6. Pink Wallpaper

Got a passion for pink? From blushing rose to salmon, magenta and fuchsia, it's simple to find a tone that will work in any room. Decorating with wallpaper in slightly softer hues will give your space a calm and cosy feel, while more vibrant, saturated options can add a fun, flirty flair. Our selection of pink wallpaper will help you get the most out of this colour, no matter your style or design scheme.

7. Quirky Wallpaper

Quirky wallpaper can create a striking look, especially when used on every wall in the space. Ideal if you're ready to switch things up, you can expect to find playful wallpaper designs elevated with everything from sausage dogs to fish and parrots. You could even pair it with matching paint on the other walls for maximum wallpaper magic.

8. Green Wallpaper

Green is a versatile colour that can make your room stand out, and what better way to add it than with wallpaper? From bright limes and emeralds for instant character to seafoam and olive for a more soothing appearance, green wallpaper conjures up different effects depending on the tone you pick. If you want to match green wallpaper with your current room style, look to offset the colour with bright whites, golden brass finishes and hints of blue.

9. Textured Wallpaper

Another option to add warmth, character and personality to your space? Textured wallpaper. It not only pulls a room together and makes a design scheme feel more welcoming, but the textured effect is also a clever way of masking any bumps and imperfections on your wall. So, whether you prefer the look of chenille, denim, wood, bamboo or animal, you'll find an array of textured wallpaper designs that lend your interior a tactile touch.

10. Gold Wallpaper

Gold wallpaper is a design risk worth taking when it comes to the ultimate in glam décor. The perfect way to show off your style, metallic wallpaper comes in everything from plain and textured styles to printed and patterned varieties. And you don't need to wallpaper the whole room to enjoy the opulent touch this wallpaper offers either. It works just as well as an accent, too!

Our Favourite Colourful Wallpaper Designs

The simple addition of colourful wallpaper can easily transform your home. Whether you plan on upgrading your living room or brightening up your bedroom, it doesn't get any better than this collection of colourful wallpapers. Our favourites feature everything from twisting ferns and Anthriscus plants to tropical flowers, golden butterflies and vibrant birds.

Midsummer Fern Lush Wallpaper

Want to bring the outside in? Then look to our Midsummer Fern Lush Wallpaper. A mix of native ferns in gorgeous green contrasts the neutral white background. Botanical-inspired wallpapers are always a sophisticated choice, adding interest to a space without being overwhelming, and this gorgeous design is no different.

Anthriscus Summer Wallpaper

Now this is a modern take on colourful floral wallpaper. Bold and delicate at the same time, it's the ideal way to embrace your love of nature. Plus, metallic silver and a textured yellow backdrop give this design tons of personality. Let floral accents take over your entire room with this Anthriscus Summer Wallpaper, or use it to create a focal point with a single feature wall.

Jardin Grey Wallpaper

Why settle for simple floral wallpaper when you can opt for one with butterflies and birds, too? With vibrant pops of pink and blue set against a luxurious grey background, there's no doubt our Jardin Grey Wallpaper is for you if you're all for bold patterns. Capturing all the vibrancy and colour of a summer garden, it will make any room feel like a tropical getaway in an instant.