11 kitchen wallpaper ideas to add character to your scheme

If you want to add character and warmth to your scheme, kitchen wallpaper ideas are a wonderful way to add an unexpected detail. From textural designs to pattern repeats, even a small amount of wallpaper can transform the look and feel of your space.

More personalized kitchen ideas are coming into their own, solidifying the notion that these spaces are more than just functional. And with so many beautiful wallpaper ideas to inspire your scheme, it's never been easier to find the right kitchen wallpaper design for your room.

From wall-to-ceiling designs to subtle feature panels, we've asked interior designers for their favorite kitchen wallpaper ideas to transform a scheme from plain to characterful – and there's something here for every interior design style.

11 kitchen wallpaper ideas to consider

While wallpaper might not be the first feature you think to introduce to your kitchen ideas, it's certainly a good one. Characterful, charming, and filled with visual interest, the right design can completely elevate your scheme.

1. Add interest to an empty wall with a small-scale print

If you have an unused wall in your kitchen – perhaps the window wall – adding a charming wallpaper design can instantly give it interest, rather than leaving it plain. Opting for a small scale-print will add a characterful element that doesn't detract from the other features of your scheme.

‘Kitchens can be quite stark spaces, filled with hard surfaces and reflective finishes. Adding wallpaper to a kitchen will create texture, softening hard surfaces, bringing pattern and design interest to a scheme,' says Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene.

'A versatile all-over, small-scale print such as ‘Ditsy Block’ will lend itself perfectly to busy kitchen environments, even when papering just a small section of wall,' she adds. In this kitchen, a golden yellow wallpaper with a small pattern repeated in a darker tone instantly adds more interest and warmth.

2. Stay on theme with a fruit-focused design

The kitchen revolves around food, so why not stay on theme and introduce a wallpaper print that reflects it? Wallpaper depicting fruit is a timeless choice and feels truly in keeping with a kitchen.

‘Choose a bold wallpaper pattern such as Pomegranate in Bazaar, a rare and early Baroque paisley design that creates a focal point when used on a single wall. For a fresh, vibrant finish that exudes energy, pair with the bright green tone, ‘Citrine’ and ‘Portland Stone Pale’ on surrounding walls to bring balance to the scheme,' says Ruth.

It doesn't have to be a pomegranate design – but whatever fruit wallpaper you choose, make sure it feels cohesive with the rest of your kitchen, even if it's just one consistent thread of color.

3. Add drama with dark kitchen wallpaper ideas

While the print or design of your kitchen wallpaper ideas is important, so is the color palette you choose. 'When building a kitchen scheme it's important to pick the perfect palette to support your family's lifestyle. Whether you opt for something playful or something elegant and fresh, it is best to start finding the perfect hue for you,' says Chloe Vince, of House of Hackney.

'Green is a fail-safe color to opt for in a kitchen and helps to create an energizing yet sophisticated scheme. For our Castle Kitchen, we teamed up with British heritage kitchen makers deVOL. With nature being our muse at House of Hackney, it was important to welcome nature into the heart of the home and PLANTASIA was the perfect print for this.'

In this kitchen, the wallpaper has been wrapped around every wall, with the more functional areas, such as the hob, covered in a tonal green to match the hues in the paper. 'Paired with our Trematon Stripe jacquard in Verdigris, this will create an elegant and timeless scheme that is the perfect space to come together and regroup in nature,' she explains.

4. Bring classic elegance with floral designs 

If you’re looking to create a feminine, elegant yet fresh feel in a kitchen you can’t go wrong with a vintage floral design – this Hollyhocks design by Sanderson is a perfect choice if you are looking at country kitchen wallpaper.

An archive print taken from a 1930s document, and recently launched as wallpaper in fresh contemporary colorways, the print would be perfect for a period home or vintage scheme.

For a lighter dose of pattern consider papering above a large backsplash – this will also prevent the paper from being damaged. This treatment is a great choice for kitchens with tall ceilings, too, as it will help divide up large expanses of wall, making the kitchen feel more intimate, homely, and welcoming.

5. Fill kitchen panelling with wallpaper

If you don't want to introduce wallpaper traditionally, adding unexpected accents can create a wonderful focal point in your space. One of the best ways to do this is by filling your kitchen wall paneling with a playful wallpaper design.

This kitchen features a traditional style of wall paneling, which offers a fun frame for wallpaper to be inserted into. By keeping the wallpaper in the same neutral palette as the kitchen paint colors, the space feels bright and airy, but with more visual interest.

This works especially well in kitchens with tall ceilings, as it can be particularly difficult to fill the walls in a way that feels stylish rather than forced.

6. Create a quirky look by pairing ditsy florals and sleek lines

If you've been keeping up with this year's kitchen trends, this design style might feel familiar. The 'kitschen' trend has been ditsy floral wallpaper prints making a comeback, proving that this cozy design has a place in kitchen design.

A fun way to introduce this style of wallpaper is by contrasting wall-to-wall dainty florals with sleek base cabinets, which is exactly the approach taken in this kitchen. Deep green cabinetry in a more contemporary style has been paired with an archive Sweet Pea Lathyrus Odoratus design from Cole & Son.

The juxtaposition of modern and traditional means this design can be introduced to almost any kitchen style, from cozy cottages and period townhouses to European apartments and new-build homes.

7. Choose stripes for a timeless feel

While you may be tempted by a dramatic large-scale floral or bold geometric design, kitchens are a big investment and where you spend a lot of time. So, if you’re unsure what dramatic print to use, it might be better to opt for a subtle wallpaper such as a delicate stripe which will bring just a hint of pattern.

Stripes are a classic choice, so you can be sure it's a scheme that will never date. There's still plenty of versatility here – opt for a wider stripe for impact, or narrower designs for a more traditional take. Plus, a stripe wallpaper pairs beautifully with lots of kitchen tile designs, so you can create something really playful and personality-filled.

8. Pattern drench a kitchen with matching wallpaper and upholstery

Pattern drenching is proving an enduring trend, and it's a guaranteed way to add abundant character to a scheme. In a kitchen, opting for wallpaper and upholstery in the same color and print is a fun approach.

If you are hoping to use a dramatic wallpaper, this will help tie the design into the rest of the room. Wallpaper on the walls and even the ceiling can tie in with softer furnishings such as barstools or a rug.

If you're opting for this kitchen wallpaper idea, consider playing with scale to create rhythm in the room. In this kitchen, the Anna Spiro fabric on the chairs creates impact, whilst the smaller repeat print on walls allows the pattern to be seen in full and is slightly more subdued.

9. Use wallpaper to zone spaces within a kitchen-diner 

Kitchen diners can run the risk of looking cold and bland. Wallpaper is a brilliant device for zoning a dining area in a kitchen-diner as it will help give the space its own identity whilst still being part of a wider scheme.

Consider picking out a shade from your chosen wallpaper to use on kitchen cabinetry to help coordinate the look, or add kitchen decor in the color to add cohesion and brighten a neutral kitchen.

In this kitchen, a bold, colorful William Morris wallpaper brightens the corner of the kitchen dedicated to a dining nook, making it more inviting to spend time in.

10. Celebrate design heritage with an archive print

If you live in a period home or simply love historic prints, then you may want to consider a wallpaper inspired by archive documents. Little Greene offer a wide array, including this Vine design which is taken from the archive at the Whitworth Art Gallery.

Not only is the design have a beautiful Arts & Crafts feel to it, the wallpaper has been printed using a traditional surface printing technique which gives a luxurious, raised, hand-printed feel. If you are thinking of using a surface printed design ensure not to use it near the sink or stove where it can easily be damaged.

11. Use an ornate paper above painted panelling 

Kitchens are high traffic areas, so papering to the floor may not always be practical, particularly if pets and young children are running around.

For a more durable solution, consider wallpapering a kitchen above a section of wall paneling or a section of plain wall painted in a washable formula – or if you're feeling adventurous, look to ceiling wallpaper ideas.

It's another way to pair paneling and wallpaper, but this one leans more classic in design. If you do opt for this approach, they to create some cohesion between the two by introducing a consistent color palette. In this space, green is the hero color.

Should you wallpaper a kitchen?

Decorating with wallpaper in a kitchen is a great way to channel your unique, personal style as it is one of the most used rooms in the home and the space in which guests usually congregate. Wallpaper is easy to apply and can instantly alter the look and feel of a space depending on what color, pattern, and scale you choose, plus there are so many wallpaper trends to choose from.

While kitchens offer a brilliant canvas to stamp your style and introduce beautiful colours and patterns, kitchens are also functional spaces meaning there are some practical considerations to take into account when deciding which papers to use.

What type of wallpaper is best for a kitchen?

The best type of wallpaper to use for a kitchen is ultimately a matter of personal taste but as kitchens are high traffic, practical spaces where moisture is present then consideration should be given to the material, printing method and durability of the wallpaper before making a final decision as well as the type of print.

‘As kitchens are humid areas, be sure to opt for wallpapers which are washable or made from vinyl as these are hard wearing and will withstand the humidity and moisture in the kitchen,’ says Shalini Misra, interior designer and founder, Shalini Misra Ltd.

'If you do decide to go for a regular wallpaper, then it is possible to coat it to make it suitable for use in the kitchen. Be sure to avoid wallpapers that are hand-painted or have embroidery as they are more susceptible to damage,’ adds Shalini Misra.

Nowadays, you can buy wallpaper that has been created with the wear-and-tear of a kitchen in mind. 'Wallpapers with vinyl coating are best suited for kitchens where there may be more moisture present, and it’s not recommended to put it directly against a sink or stove,' says Paula Taylor, head stylist and trend specialist at Graham & Brown.

To further prevent wallpapers from becoming damaged from splashes and grease, it’s a good idea to wallpaper above a durable splashback rather than flush with a kitchen worktop. Alternatively, you could consider adding a perspex screen over the paper.

Where should you use wallpaper in the kitchen?

'Depending on the quality of the wallpaper, you may want to install it in the least damp or steamy areas to avoid it peeling itself from the wall,' suggests Amy Stansfield from Wallsauce.

'You could also consider installing your kitchen wallpaper next to a breakfast bar area. This will help to slightly separate this eating space from the cooking area, creating the sense of a room within a room. If you have an open plan kitchen and dining room, install the wallpaper on the wall next to the dining table to achieve the same look.'

What color wallpaper looks best in a kitchen?

'Wallpapers with mid to large-scale patterns, nature motifs and a neutral palette tend to work best in kitchens,' suggests Lisa Rickert, Creative Director and CEO of Jolie Home. 'You’ll want to be sure that the colors in your wallpaper tie into your cabinet color, and any adjacent painted walls so that the space remains cohesive.

'A few of my favorite colors for country kitchens include warm whites, beiges and earthy greens. Consider layering different shades of the same color – for example, a wallpaper with a beautiful, deep green looks great paired with cabinets or walls painted in a lighter shade of green.'

There are so many stylish kitchen wallpaper ideas to consider. Whether you opt for subtle features or a pattern-drenched space, it's an easy way to infuse plenty of character into your kitchen.