Home Home Decor Ideas 35 Wall Covering Ideas To Transform Your Space Never settle for blank white walls. By Quincy Bulin Quincy Bulin Quincy Bulin is a writer focused on lifestyle, among other topics and has contributed to Better Homes & Gardens, Reader's Digest, and more. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on July 31, 2024 Close Photo: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller A fresh coat of paint is often the first step to updating a room, but it isn't the only option. From beadboard and built-ins to grasscloth and gallery walls, there's something for every aesthetic, budget, and DIY ability. The right wall covering can conceal damaged drywall, show off your personality, and even create the illusion of more natural light. Here are 35 wall covering ideas to start your search. 42 Beautiful Wallpaper Ideas To Update Any Room 01 of 35 Grasscloth With A Stencil Border Marta Xochilt Perez; Styling: Page Mullins On its own, the texture and subtle tonalities of grasscloth is already stunning. The hand stenciled border is a delightful surprise for the eye that adds an artisanal touch. 02 of 35 Latticework PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAUREY W. GLENN; STYLING BY KENDRA SURFACE Garden-inspired latticework paneling is elegant, elaborate, and absolutely showstopping. Paired here with floral fabrics and woven accents, it brings the outdoors in. 03 of 35 Floating Shelves Courtesy of Urbanology Designs, by Matti Gresham Simple yet effective, floating shelves offer both storage and styling opportunities. In this case, along with a couple of pieces of art, they frame the television and take up a lot of empty wall space. 04 of 35 Mixed Media William Waldron This room is a masterclass in mixing materials: toile wallpaper, bleached wood, German schmear fireplace, and chartreuse built-ins. It's a feast for the eyes that's undeniably eclectic—but works. 05 of 35 All-Over Tile Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Lindsey Ellis Beatty Why stop at the backsplash? This kitchen takes tile to the next level by covering the hood and walls as well, contrasted by the more matte shiplap on the ceiling in a complementary tonal hue. 06 of 35 Board And Batten LAUREY W. GLENN One of the easier types of paneling to DIY, board and batten first became popular in America during the 19th century. Its resurgence makes sense: the design is simple, making it versatile, while still being visually impactful. 07 of 35 High-Gloss Paint Mary Britton Senseney; Styling by Dakota Willimon Reflect light and get the jewel box look with a couple coats of high-gloss paint. If you're going to be updating your walls regardless, it's the easiest way to make a shiny statement. 08 of 35 Corkboard Panels Laurey W. Glenn; Stylist: Matthew Gleason Ideal for a home office or teenager's room, without any pins, these elevated corkboards look just like regular panels. The trick is to cover the cork with fabric and then frame it out. 09 of 35 Statement Shelves Max Kim-Bee; Styling: Lydia Pursell A wall of shelves offers endless styling possibilities. Depending on the room, you could do books, art, shoes, a combination—the only limit is your creativity. 10 of 35 Brick Brie Williams; Styling: Kate Malpeli Brick brings distinctive texture, character, and warmth to a room, as proven here. The best part is, you don't even have to do anything with it—just let it be, exactly as is. 11 of 35 Fabric Wallpaper Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Fabric wallpaper is exactly what it sounds like: paper-backed fabric that has the advantage of providing a little more texture and warmth. It's a small detail, but isn't that what good design is all about? 12 of 35 Beadboard Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Elly Poston Cooper We have the early English settlers to thank for bringing beadboard into our homes. Depending on its surroundings, the charming design element can be interpreted as everything from cottage to country to coastal. 13 of 35 Limewash James Ransom Bring Europe to the South with limewash paint, made of slaked lime or chalk, natural pigments, and water. The mottled appearance provides one-of-a-kind character that ages beautifully. 14 of 35 Mirrored Panels Max Kim-Bee; Styling: Lydia Pursell Nothing reflects the light quite like mirrors. Having an entire wall of them will make your space feel infinitely bigger—and make it stand out. 15 of 35 Gallery Wall Perfect for the family photographer or an art collector, a gallery wall tells your story, proving that a picture is indeed worth 1,000 words. To create the most dynamic look, opt for a mix of frames and sizes. 16 of 35 Bold Wallpaper Robbie Caponetto; Styling: Kendra Surface The wallpaper trend has shown no sign of slowing down, and that's just fine by us. It offers a major opportunity to have fun and make a statement. Plus, you have an unlimited amount of choices. Don’t Be Intimidated By Peel-And-Stick Wallpaper—9 Things To Know Before Installing It In Your Home 17 of 35 Stenciled Faux Wallpaper Laurey W. Glenn; Stylist: Matthew Gleason Real wallpaper not in the budget? Have spare time and a steady hand? Give stenciling a try, which creates the same exact look but is way easier redo or cover up. 18 of 35 Whitewashed Wood Paneling Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Lizzie Cullen Cox Wood paneling runs the risk of looking dated, but whitewashing can help. It lightens and brightens the room, not to mention highlights the natural grain and knots. 19 of 35 Color Drenching Alison Gootee; Styling: Kate Malpeli You could decide to only paint your walls—or you could paint everything else too. Color drenching packs a serious punch, and can even make a room look bigger by creating continuity. 20 of 35 Faux Flowers Courtesy of Katie Kime; by Kate LeSeuer Reminiscent of an installation you might discover in a gallery, the key to recreating this whimsical wall of faux flowers is to opt for a mix of blooms in a curated palette. 21 of 35 Wainscoting PHOTO: MAX KIM-BEE, STYLING: HEATHER CHADDUCK HILLEGAS A design element that spans centuries—and all kinds of styles)—wainscoting is one the more traditional approaches to wall coverings. It instantly makes a home look older (in a good way) by adding character. 22 of 35 Wallpapered Built-Ins Photo: Helen Norman; Styling: Lizzie Cox Built-ins need a pop of personality? Consider wallpapering the interior. Bonus points for intentionality if the pattern is incorporated elsewhere in the room. 23 of 35 Stone Accents Photo: Erica George Dines A stone fireplace is just one way to incorporate the natural material into your home. In this living room, the accent wall and pillars help pay tribute to the outdoors surrounding the lake house. 24 of 35 Strié Technique Marta Xochilt Perez; Styling: Page Mullins From afar, the walls look like they're covered in a soft grasscloth. In reality, they've been painted using a technique called strié. Executed properly, this look for less is even convincing closer up. 25 of 35 Wallpaper And Tile Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller The practicality of using both wallpaper and tile in a bathroom is two-fold: first, you cut your wallpaper costs in half, and second, all the tile lowers the risk of water damage. Plus, in this case, the white subway tile gives your eye a break from the bold pattern above. 26 of 35 Tonal Shiplap Photo: Laurey W. Glenn We have Joanna Gaines to thank for shiplap's comeback over the last decade. Take the trend and modernize it by painting the room different tonal hues, as seen in this kitchen with three shades of green. 27 of 35 Cozy Velvet Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Stylist: Matthew Gleason This caramel-colored velvet evokes everything you want a bedroom to: softness, warmth, and coziness. Keeping it reserved to the niche helps turn the bed into a focal point. 28 of 35 A Colorful Cornice Alison Gootee; Styling: Page Mullins. Window treatments do more than simply cover and frame windows. In this case, it's a defining moment in the room, at once bold and traditional. 29 of 35 Wallpaper Mural Laurey W. Glenn; Stylist: Matthew Gleason Is this a wallpaper? A mural? The answer is both. Depending on the scene, it'd be right at home covering a dining room or as an accent wall in a nursery. 30 of 35 Grasscloth And Wood Joseph De Leo Here, the rustic wood runs horizontal on the bottom with the more elevated vertical grasscloth on top. It may sound counterintuitive, but the stark contrast is exactly why the two materials work so well together. 31 of 35 Classic Stripes James Ransom; Styling: Alya Hameedi There's hardly a pattern more timeless than stripes. Make your room appear taller with vertical ones, or go horizontal for the illusion of a wider space. 32 of 35 Narrow Shiplap Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Lizzie Cullen Cox Wide shiplap became an overnight sensation thanks to the modern farmhouse era, but narrow shiplap often looks more authentic. The only downside? Because of its size, it takes longer to install. 33 of 35 Timeless Toile Photo: Laurey W. Glenn Toile is as old school as it gets, which is exactly why we love it. Take it a step further by using the same toile fabric throughout the room, as illustrated here. 34 of 35 Tonal Mix Of Materials Photo: Laurey W. Glenn Instead of going for just grasscloth or just tile, this bathroom incorporates both. The contrasting textures and finishes create visual interest, while the shades of gray create consistency. 35 of 35 Dark Paneling Larsen & Talbert When you want your space to feel moody and masculine, dark paneling should be at the top of your consideration list. It's especially appropriate for libraries, home offices, and lounges, which are often designed with the academia aesthetic in mind. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit