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Back in the day the thought of wallpaper may have conjured up images of your grandmother’s bedroom with the tacky, completely unstylish pattern. Sorry grandma, but those days are long gone and wallpaper is making a comeback with trendy, modern looks that can turn any room into a work of wall art.

Whether your taste is funky or classic, today’s wallpaper choices have you covered…literally. Traditional patterns and bold images are being offered up as an easy, yes, easy way to decorate and an excellent alternative to painting. Don’t want to commit to four walls of wallpaper or looking for a way to quickly update a room? Try these decorating ideas:

SHELVES, BOOKSHELVES & CABINETS
Sure, wallpaper has the world “wall” in it but that doesn’t mean it’s strictly just for walls. Expand your decorating to your shelves or cabinets. Don’t be afraid to go bold if you’re in need of color or keep it simple with just a hint of color. For bookshelves, wallpaper the back of the unit only to add some texture. Leave the shelves themselves alone and you’ll be surprised at what that backdrop of paper does. For bathroom or kitchen cabinets, line the outside cabinet doors with wallpaper and you’ve got instant accent appeal. Turn your bathroom or kitchen into the room you’ve always wanted.

CLOSETS & DOORS
I’ve always felt that closets have been overlooked in the sprucing up department. Our closets are where we get inspiration for our “looks,” our “moods” and therefore should be given proper attention. I’ve actually decorated my wall closet with wallpaper and I absolutely love it! Imagine how pretty would your closet look if you added a wall of bold color or pattern to it? You could make it look like those cool changing/dressing rooms. If you’re not keen on papering your closet, you could easily cover a door. It’s a fast way to give your space a fun look without too much effort.

WALL SPACE
Ah, wallpaper for your wall. Genius! But, don’t get trapped in the old school way of thinking by plastering every wall in your room with paper or limiting yourself visually. What I mean is, you can just wallpaper one of your walls without having to do the whole room. By doing so, you’re adding a dramatic effect to your space by drawing attention to that specific wall. Or, if you prefer to paper the entire room, keep in mind how the colors and textures will play with your existing décor. If you go with a paper that is incredibly detailed (like an image that has 3 or more colors in the design), you can decorate one wall with this design and play it up by decorating the remaining walls with just one of those colors in that existing palette. For a muted but still dramatic feel, go with a black and white wallpaper design. A room with paper on all sides can be incredibly chic.

Remember, when using wallpaper, keep your mind open to decorating ideas. There are so many ways to use wallpaper for small or large effects. If you’re unsure about the paper you chose, apply it to one wall first before committing to the remaining ones. And, shop around before your commit. If you don’t fall in love with a wallpaper design, it’s not for you. Most importantly, have fun. You’ll be amazed with the results.

Check out these gorgeous wallpapers we found from top to bottom: Birdcage from TimorousBeasties.com; Wallpaper Frocks from DebarahBowness.com; Multigirls by Susan from Orangepiel.com.