I hear it all the time. "I love wallpaper... I just don't know what I like."
And every time, I want to say the same thing. Go open your closet.
Seriously. You've been building a pattern library for years without realizing it. Every dress you couldn't walk past, every shirt you've worn until it's soft... that's your taste, already edited and paid for. So if you're stuck on how to pick wallpaper, start with the clothes you already reach for (the ones that still have tags on them don't count).
HOW TO PICK WALLPAPER: start in your closet
Pull out your favorites. The real favorites, the ones in the laundry pile every week. Lay them on the bed and look for the repeat. Is it stripes? Plaid? A whole lot of florals?
Your closet is the most honest mood board you own.
STRIPES: for the tailored type
If your closet is full of crisp button-downs and striped everything, you like order. Clean lines. Things that hold their shape.
This striped Tobie Shirtdress from Anthropologie is basically the wallpaper version of a perfect stripe, and it's exactly why I love Vintage Ticking Stripe in a kitchen or hallway. It's structured without being stiff... the wallpaper equivalent of a shirt you can dress up or down.
PLAIDS: for the cozy collector
Plaid people are my people. You probably own at least one flannel that belonged to someone else first, and a blanket you'd fight over.
If this plaid dress from Pilcro (a fave) is your kind of thing, Classic Plaid is going to feel like home. It's warm and familiar, and it makes a powder room or a little study feel like a hug.
FLORALS: for the romantic
If you can't pass up a floral dress (guilty), you like a little feminine softness and story in a room. A moody floral like this floral dress really gives the same vibe as the floral we see in the Francine Wallpaper pattern. Florals carry a bedroom or dining room all on their own, and they get better the longer you live with them.
This whole Somerset Collection by Anthropologie is honestly so good. It's such a good mix of florals and structure that speak the language of good design. Apply that same principle to your wardrobe, to your home... Anyway, I digress.
WHAT IF MY CLOSET IS ALL THREE?
Then congratulations, you're a pattern mixer. Pick your favorite as your "hero" and let the others support it in other rooms. I wrote a whole guide on how to mix and match wallpaper patterns if you want to dive in a little deeper.
But this is a good thing. It means you're already thinking in terms of a collection. Having a variety of clothing styles just means you will have a variety of layers in your home.
Also, my biggest tip!! Your "loud" statement pieces can be saved for smaller rooms. ...just like when you wear a neutral outfit with a statement piece necklace. Your loudest pattern doesn't have to be in your largest space.
DON'T FORGET COLOR
Patterns are half the story. Look at the colors you wear most, too. If your closet is mostly neutrals with one bold color you always come back to, that's your clue. That's a great place to start when you're figuring out how to pick wallpaper for a room you'll live in every day.
TRY IT ON FIRST
You wouldn't buy a dress without trying it on, right? Okay, online shopping... but you know what I mean. Same goes for walls. Order a few samples, tape them up, and live with them for a week.
What if my closet is mostly solid colors?
That's a clue too! You probably love texture more than bold pattern. Look at small-scale, tonal patterns that read almost like a texture from across the room.
Should my wallpaper match my clothes?
No, please don't show up to dinner matching your dining room. Your closet just shows you what you're drawn to. The wallpaper should feel like it belongs to the same person, not the same outfit. For example, you wear a lot of denim. It's not that we want denim walls, we probably want our walls to feel more like a cozy, comfortable staple where we accent with color or pattern in our accessories.
Can I mix stripes and florals or multiple patterns in the same house?
Yes. Yes. YES. Keep the scales different and let one lead. A big floral in the dining room and a small stripe in the hall is a classic combo for a reason. Mixing a big colorful floral with a small scale floral is also okay! When you practice pattern pairing, you'll know when it feels right.
How do I know if I'll still love it in five years?
Pick the pattern you've been wearing for five years already. That's the beauty of starting with your closet. You've already tested your taste.
So next time you're wondering how to pick wallpaper, skip the scrolling and go stand in your closet for a minute. The answer's probably hanging right there.
