35 Wall Covering Ideas To Transform Your Space

2018 Idea House in Austin, Texas Dining room — 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.

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Grasscloth With A Stencil Border

2021 Idea House Library Built in Banquet — 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.

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Latticework

2022 Idea House dining room — 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.

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Floating Shelves

Living room TV console — 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.

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Mixed Media

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.

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All-Over Tile

Lookout Mountain cottage kitchen large island tile covered hood and walls — 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.

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Board And Batten

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.

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High-Gloss Paint

Entry with high gloss green walls and ceiling — 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.

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Corkboard Panels

2023 Idea House Twin Bedroom — 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.

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Statement Shelves

White Shelving for Collection of Pots and Urns — 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.

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Brick

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.

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Fabric Wallpaper

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?

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Beadboard

Hanna Seabrook Louisville, Kentucky White Kitchen After — 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.

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Limewash

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.

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Mirrored Panels

Living Room with Mirrored Wall Behind White Fireplace and Two White Sofas — 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.

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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.

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Bold Wallpaper

Idea House 2020 Twin Bedroom Seating Area — 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.

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Stenciled Faux Wallpaper

Idea House 2023 Twin Bathroom — 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.

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Whitewashed Wood Paneling

Mountain House Sitting Room with light wood paneled walls — 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.

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Color Drenching

Walk-in Pantry — 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.

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Faux Flowers

faux floral accent wall with birdcage chair — 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.

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Wainscoting

Traditional trim and a modern chandelier — 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.

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Wallpapered Built-Ins

Dana Gibson Colorful Richmond Home Living Room Alcove — 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.

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Stone Accents

After: Lake House Living Room — 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.

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Strié Technique

2021 Idea House Front Powder Room — 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.

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Wallpaper And Tile

Twin Bath — 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.

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Tonal Shiplap

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.

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Cozy Velvet

Idea House 2023 primary bedroom — 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.

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A Colorful Cornice

Nat Note Natalie Steen Living Room — 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.

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Wallpaper Mural

Idea House 2023 Breakfast Room Breakfast Nook — 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.

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Grasscloth And Wood

Sitting room with four chairs and rustic decor — 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.

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Classic Stripes

Ashley Hanley blue girls bedroom — 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.

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Narrow Shiplap

Julia Engel of Gal Meets Glam Charleston, SC Home Blue and White Bedroom — 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.

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Timeless Toile

After: Stable Overhaul Bedroom — 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.

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Tonal Mix Of Materials

Guest Suite: The Bath — 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.

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Dark Paneling

Ben and Erin Napier's Study — 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.

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