Which wallpaper should I use in a teenager's room?
Wallpaper can add a touch of luxury in a room. It can give a dull space much wanted energy, colour and even elevate the ambience. We usually apply it in our living room, dining room and sometimes in the master bedroom. With the right design, we can add opulence or fun into the design of the space. We can also add texture. With many designer papers and patterns to choose from, we are spoilt for choice. But what about when the room you want to wallpaper is your teenage son's or daughter's ?
They are likely to want to get involved. They are likely to object. They will probably shortlist wallpapers that you would never in a million years want to see in your home (graffiti wallpaper? No thanks). Where do you start from and how do you present them with few choices for them to choose from? I've rounded the best wallpapers for a teenager room right here for you!
Brick Wall/ unfinished wall effect
Let me start by getting the easy options out there. This is a popular choice with many teenagers, it's cool, it makes them feel older and it might even relate to a passion for outdoors sports or hobbies (like skateboarding). And if you want to see how it looks in real life, just check out this teen room decor with unfinished wall effect wallpaper by Nicola Broughton of The girl with the green sofa.
Photo: Nicola Broughton, The Girl with the Green Sofa
Albany - Brooklyn Brick, £10.99/roll
Arthouse - Rustic Brick, £10.99/roll
Geometric look
Cuboid pattern floor tiles might be all the rage at the moment but the craze for hexagons on our walls is far from over. Use a pattern that is fun without being too distracting, like Coloured Geometry from Mind The Gap (£150 for 3 rolls, Jane Clayton Interiors). This design is repeated every 3 drops, printed on 3 rolls hung alternately and is sold as a 3 roll pack (made to order).
With blues, reds, oranges and pinks, this is a unisex paper that is too busy to use on an entire room. You will likely need 6 rolls (total £300) to cover a standard 3m accent wall.
Above: Caselio Hexagon from 29/roll Jane Clayton. You can combine this wallpaper with Little Greene's Pale Wedgwood paint. As the colours are quite muted/pale, be brave and wallpaper two adjoining walls with it or the ceiling!!
Above: Caselio Mosaique from the Spaces collection cleverly mixes the geometric pattern and Scandinavian style in an original way. Available here.
A fun and flamboyant geometric wallpaper design made up of interlocking triangles will also be on trend and you can get the look without painting the wall yourself! This is the Albany Apex Geo from the Collage 2018 collection. Available in 4 colour ways.
Denim look
Your kids are at an age where they are starting to feel a lot more independent and want to express their views and fashion sense. They're likely to be little rebels too. The Denim Spirit from Mind the Gap seems to me the perfect wallpaper for a soon-to-be teenager. It's bold and punchy, what do you think? And to complete the look, use indigo coloured products like this table lamp or a big floor cushion. All the products in the gallery below are from Houzz UK.
Quirky
If you want just a touch of quirky design and no more, these patterns will definitely work for you. They are fun and your teen will (should!) love them!
Brian Yates - Lobster. An old copper engraving served as a template for this affectionate drawing of a lobster. Always brave, boldly coloured. £56/roll from Jane Clayton.
House of Hackney - Hackney Empire. A fantastic animal mural doing various quirky things in true Victorian style. Shown in natural colours on a vivid ochre yellow and white stripe.
House of Hackney - Troop. Black and white Colobus Monkeys climb twisting rope bringing an art deco twist to your walls. Shown here in dusk.
To recap, when choosing a wallpaper for a teenager's room, try to utilise grown up colours (avoid pastels for example), add some fun to the room with quirky designs and either colour coordinate all other furnishings and fixtures in the room or use the wallpaper to create contrast with accessories.
And remember: keep your teenager involved in the design process. This will help you get their buy-in.
