Joanna Gaines' unusual wallpaper tip will add instant depth to your small space
The celebrity designer's secret will turn your tiny space into a focal point – and create an unexpectedly stylish statement
The question of how to enhance your small space is a favorite amongst designers worldwide, but Joanna Gaines has the answer.
If anybody knows how to style spaces of all sizes, it is Joanna, the Fixer Upper star who has curated rooms of all shapes in front of a global audience. So, when she shared the simple secret to enhancing a tiny room, we were taking notes on everything she had to say.
Revealing her interior design tips, Joanna suggests that instead of turning away from a bold pattern (which is sometimes expected in a small space) – you should experiment with bold, patterned wallpaper that will enhance the area.
'Small spaces like bathrooms, mudrooms, and entryways are ideal for trying out a bold pattern because they're fairly low-risk in terms of the amount of real estate you're covering,' she explained in a post on Magnolia. While conventions may have previously encouraged you to avoid audacious patterns in tiny spaces, Joanna's tip will not only add depth to your room – but it will create a statement too – and Wallpaper designer Elizabeth Ockford agrees.
'There's a bit of a myth that small rooms require plain, light wall coverings,' she begins. Elizabeth builds on Joanna's wallpaper idea, suggesting you choose a 'medium or large-repeat pattern' that will add a 'sense of depth' that did not exist before. This will ensure your room appears 'more expansive and rooms feel more spacious.'
'The key to making the most of your small space is choosing a wallpaper with a large or medium repeat and hanging it correctly. Wallpapers with a larger repeat will create a cohesive look which will visually expand the sense of space.'
'Once you've committed to your chosen wallpaper, it's best to avoid breaking up the space by painting some walls or using other patterns, as this can emphasize tight quarters and make the space feel even smaller,' Elizabeth adds.
Sign up to the Homes & Gardens newsletter
Design expertise in your inbox – from inspiring decorating ideas and beautiful celebrity homes to practical gardening advice and shopping round-ups.
Following Joanna's new wallpaper rule, Elizabeth also shared her small hallway ideas, explaining how you should use wallpaper with a meandering pattern that will 'lead the eye and create a feeling of movement in a connecting space.' 'In narrower areas, pattern adds visual interest without encroaching on precious square footage,' she says.
It's time to redesign your hallway, the Joanna Gaines way.
Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens. She first joined Future Plc as a News Writer across their interiors titles, including Livingetc and Real Homes, before becoming H&G's News Editor in April 2022. She now leads the Celebrity/ News team. Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph, following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds. During her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, she gained writing experience in the US while studying in New York. Megan also focused on travel writing during her time living in Paris, where she produced content for a French travel site. She currently lives in London with her antique typewriter and an expansive collection of houseplants.
-
This Upstate New York home epitomizes a new kind of warm minimalism that's cozy yet effortlessly chic
For this country estate, the design team at Light and Dwell combined moody hues, natural materials, and a few standout pieces to craft a simple but sumptuous look
By Ruth Corbett Published
-
If you struggle to get houseplants through winter, you're probably making one of these 5 common mistakes – experts share how to avoid them this year
Give your houseplants some extra care to get them though the coldest months
By Tenielle Jordison Published
-
Joanna Gaines loves retro Christmas decor, and it just so happens that nostalgic ornaments will be the biggest holiday trend for 2024
Take a step back in time by decorating with your favorite childhood ornaments...
By Jennifer Ebert Published
-
Joanna Gaines's Christmas living room reinvents 90s minimalism for 2024 – and proves that white can be warm and cozy
Forget stark minimalist interiors, Joanna Gaines has found a way to warm up a predominantly white and silver color palette – just in time for Christmas
By Jennifer Ebert Published
-
Joanna Gaines's festive front porch is decorated with a garland, wreath, and an unusual floral display – and it is not a Christmas tree
Do away with traditional decor in favor of something that will still work after Christmas
By Jennifer Ebert Published
-
Joanna Gaines' Christmas living room is a masterclass in traditional decorating for 2024 – it is timeless, sophisticated, and will never date
Celebrate the timeless beauty of Christmases past with classic decor, plenty of foliage and cozy colors inspired by nature
By Jennifer Ebert Published
-
I struggled for years to style my dining room until I saw Joanna Gaines's 'quiet luxury masterpiece' – it is the perfect blend between chic and calm
Dining rooms should have a special ambiance, whether for cozy lunches or elegant dinner parties. Joanna Gaines's space gets the balance just right
By Jennifer Ebert Published
-
I was getting modern farmhouse burnout until I saw Joanna Gaines's latest remodel – this is the best living room she's ever designed, and achieving the look is so easy
It is warm and welcoming, not contrived
By Jennifer Ebert Published
-
Joanna Gaines's mid-century modern kitchen is the best room she's ever designed – 6 chic and functional buys to replicate the look
Chip and Joanna Gaines's latest project – to celebrate their 10th Fixer Upper anniversary – is their best one to date
By Jennifer Ebert Published
-
Joanna Gaines' Castle kitchen is the best example of 'modern country' I've ever seen – and we should all be replicating it in 2025
Whether you live in a quaint cottage or want to bring some rural charm into your urban home, follow Gaines' lead with this pretty yet practical trend
By Jennifer Ebert Published