Get ideas to updated dated wallpaper that you’re not ready to remove! You can give old wallpaper a fresh new modern look with just a few tricks and techniques.
When we purchased our lake cottage, there were a lot of things to love and a lot of things that needed some work. In fact, the first thing we said is “we have to get rid of all of this wallpaper.”
We’ve updated so many spaces in this home. Take the full before and after tour, along with a modern bathroom update, a nautical bathroom, and the lake living room. You can even see our incredible new vinyl deck right here!
When we first stepped into this house for a tour, the amount of floral wallpaper was a little overwhelming. In fact, the pattern in the kitchen is what my sister had in her kitchen a couple homes ago and the basement bath has a pattern that a friend of mine had from her childhood. That’s a few more years than I care to admit.
However, once we moved into the home, we began to appreciate the cottage for what it is, rather than taking it at face value. It’s a lake front home, with beautiful views of the water in a peaceful setting.
Suddenly, it didn’t seem to matter quite as much and I decided that rather than spending a significant amount of money to remove this wallpaper, we would embrace it.
First, a few before photos…
Table of Contents
Embracing Dated Wallpaper in a Modern Home
A couple neighbors warned us that their wallpaper (which was installed when the homes were built) was difficult to remove because it was applied directly to the drywall.
Eek, right? I was brave and took the chance in the kitchen and girls’ bunk bed room, but for our master bedroom, I decided to take a different approach.
First, we re-positioned the bed to embrace the view. It really opened up the room and allowed the view to be front and center, changing the entire focus of the space.
The floral wallpaper is so busy, so I kept the decor simple for the cottage master, integrating texture, a hint of color and subtle patterns.
We brought in a little neutral texture by integrating a rattan headboard. It makes the space feel fresh and modern while adding to the vacation vibe that plays well with the floral background.
It is the most significant piece of furniture in the room, so it provides a little balance as well.
We lived with the original carpet for several years but I didn’t love it, so I selected a large wool rug in a soft green tone. This was an effort to make the room feel lighter and brighter!
We placed the rug under the bed so that it extends for the length of the room and on each side of the bed. Later, we replaced the old carpet with fresh new patterned carpet for more of a modern update!
Bedroom Wallpaper Ideas
The previous homeowners were kind enough to leave us a few pieces of furniture, like this blue / grey chest of drawers. Ironically, it’s the same as my sister’s childhood set that was yellow!
It pulls from the color in the wallpaper. I added a mirror just above it to reflect light and add a little height. Chris adorned it with a piece of driftwood and of course I try to add fresh flowers or a plant to bring the room to life whenever possible.
Read on for more of my favorite tricks to create warm and cozy vibes in your home.
As time and money permitted, it was replaced with an inexpensive white dresser, but you can see how you can make the most of just about anything!
A statement light fixture (like this $60 pendant from IKEA) accentuates vaulted ceilings while drawing the eye away from wallpaper.
Looking out the window at the foot of the bed…
How to Choose Bedding to go with Wallpaper
It was really important to us to have a calm and cozy retreat to escape to, so I kept the bedding soft and simple, selecting a matelassé coverlet that conforms to you. It’s so soft!
And well, I’m not really one to make a bed and it looks beautiful just draped on top. I complimented it with a couple of ivory shams, hemstitch sheets and the most beautiful quilted shams for a little pop of color in our master bedroom.
While I love a little pattern mixing, I really wanted to make sure that we didn’t let this space become too busy, so solids were the best choice for this bed!
Similarly, we used a solid bedding in the downstairs guest room as well. Texture and cozy whites helped to break up all the busy pattern!
More Patterned Wallpaper
In this lower guest bedroom at the lake, there’s more cottage inspired floral wallpaper. Again, once we moved in, I found that it was a pattern I could live with if we just chose the right accessories.
In this room, I knew that breaking up the pattern would make a big impact. I added this headboard to help break up the pattern around the big and give a visual rest in the space.
Again, choosing textures like these stools and light fixture help to draw the eye away from the slightly dated wallpaper. It helps the whole space feel fresh without the time or expense of changing the walls themselves!
Suddenly the 90’s wallpaper feels like it belongs in a current catalog and I feel at peace with it. A little bedding can go a long way and save so much effort and this guy loved it, and that’s all that really matters, right?
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You can see more of our lake cottage here. Do you have dated wallpaper you’re trying to work with?
I love sharing simple lifestyle and decorating ideas with my readers. Looking for more inspiration? Start here!
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I have a bathroom with ugly maroon flowered wallpaper n green leaves what decor would you suggest to make it more modern? Btw I have ugly brown cabinets that I can’t change cause we rent. My style is glam/farmhouse
Share a photo in my FB group Celebrating Simple and I’d be happy to weigh in!
Good Morning!
I am struggling with very ugly wallpaper. It is on every wall upstairs and in the stair well leading to the upstairs. I have tried to live with it but I wish I could get rid of it. Unfortunately, the previous owner glued it right on to the drywall. We cannot get it off. Can we paint it? Any suggestions? Thank you!
You can paint it – we had to do that at our previous home. So frustrating!
Good job Julie, you really updated that room. At first I really noticed this wallpaper but then I went back and looked at all the updates again and didn’t really notice the wallpaper as the first thing in the room. Amazing! The view out the window is even better. Thanks.
It looks amazing!!! Doing that really pulled the green in the wallpaper. So pretty.
Thank you!
you did a great job of updating the master. The cookies look great also ๐
Thank you, Pamela! Have a great weekend!
I just love that you didn’t take the wallpaper down. You show such a great example of how to make it fresh. I am soooooo tired of the usual blog formula– talk about how terrible the old outdated style is, rip it all out, and replace it with linked and sponsored products that all look the same. I am loving your blog because you provide great examples of how to work with what you have and make it elegant and new. The result is unique and creative design and truly useful inspiration. Thank you! And I’ve also got some wallpaper here in our temporary house and I think I made it look very nice by updating the company it keeps!
Thank you, Jody! You made my day! I truly appreciate you taking the time to express your thoughts. Sometimes I rip things out, but I love finding ways to embrace what we have, when I can. I hope you have a day as bright as you made mine.
I love your headboard. Where did you buy it?
Thank you
Simone
I found it at Serena and Lily. Enjoy!
So you might not know this- but the furniture was in fact yellow (it was my sisters bedroom furniture from way back in the day too) and when she was tired with yellow she painted it that grey color when in her teens (now late 40’s!). Just proves everything comes back just needs some some time to get a new life, or re-purpose. Thanks for showing us how you have updated the home and yes the wallpaper was a task (hence why we never took it down) and for us it was more about being outside than in. ๐
Agreed, Cathy! We absolutely love it here. It’s such a beautiful home filled with love and charm. We’ve been spending most weekends here. Actually, I knew that it was yellow, but only because my sister had the identical set growing up! I hope I make you proud ๐
You have some magic in your hands! You make everything beautiful and eye catching.
I agree with Chris! Such a serene place — I would be tempted to stay there all day ๐
You always make everything look so chic…even outdated wallpaper! ๐
It is gorgeous!
Thank you, Stacy!
I love the wallpaper! And even more so your way of making it beautiful and fresh.
Ah, thank you, Becky! {Insert huge hug!}
I like wallpaper in certain situations, and this is one of them. It’s very charming!
Thank you, Brenda!