Your surface materials set the foundational style of your space, which is why covering your walls in the right one is so important. From texture-effect wallpapers to three-dimensional materials, these wall-covering ideas will spice up any room in a big way. We're spotlighting 20 popular wall coverings so you can decide which ones you'd like to replicate, or how to style the ones already featured in your home, including brick, wood panels, plaster, concrete, and more. And then there's still so much you can do to bring them to life with paint, wallpaper, and decorative tapestries... So without further ado, read through all our wall covering ideas ahead.
Designer Celerie Kemble wasn't able to wallpaper the walls in this NYC rental, but she didn't let that stop her from using some in this teenager's bedroom. The loophole? Hanging a trio of ceiling-high panels covered in the wallpaper of her choice.
Brushed concrete walls mimic the polished concrete flooring in this contemporary dining room by Catherine Kwong Design. The wood tones establish a timeless warmth that complements and contrasts with the edgy concrete surfaces beautifully. Using chalk paint or a super flat finish can also help you accomplish this look even if you don't have concrete walls.
The color variations of zellige tiles make them a sure-fire way to create a lived-in, unique, and earthy atmosphere. They're particularly well-suited for bathrooms, like this one by Romanek Design Studio, since they're water-resistant and also create a spacious illusion when extending from the floor up to the ceiling.
Velvet upholstered walls create an undeniable sense of luxury and elegance to this room by Alison Pickart Design. She padded the walls too, which dampens sound and makes the room feel extra intimate, like a world of its own.
Design firm Kureck Jones painted the floors of this dining room a bright blue f0r a fun pop of color while the more neutral light wood-paneled walls connect the indoors with the outdoors. The natural ash wood was inspired by the hull of a boat. "Even at night, the house has a sort of golden glow to it," they tell House Beautiful.
Hang a woven tapestry to warm up a space without veering on boho by sticking to a cooler color palette and incorporating more industrial materials as Nicole Hollis Studio did here.
Eliza Carter hung curtains over a bright green accent wall to soften it up, accentuate high ceilings, and introduce an extra kick of pattern. The value of curtains extend beyond their use as window treatments—they can really add dimension to any wall.
Though classic and timeless, this living room by interior designer Kevin Dumais is also having tons of fun. To make the room feel even more soft and intimate, Dumais upholstered the walls in leather and then framed it with wood panels.
Kris Cochran of Good Living made the gas fireplace stand out even more as the room's focal point by accenting the wall around it with a custom copper sheet.
Matching an upholstered headboard to the fabric hanging behind the bed makes it feel endlessly tall and also brings in extra dimension against a different wallpaper, as Eliza Carter did here. You could also just hang a piece of affordable fabric behind the bed as a makeshift headboard.