Wallpaper is Making a Comeback and It’s Fantastic
Harmonious colors, dimensional fabrics, ultra-stylish prints… no, we’re not talking about Fashion. We’re talking about wallpaper. That’s right, wallpaper. Believe it or not, it’s making a huge comeback in home decor. The technology available these days allow for new material that is not only easy to apply, but easy to remove as well. 
But, Why?
We could thank those TV design shows, style bloggers, or even Instagram (don’t forget to follow us!). However, the renewed interest is in part a need to break away from those clean, sterile lines and the grays, whites, and neutral colors people have been fond of for the past 2 decades. You can’t blame the Realtors for trying, though . A neutral “canvas” shows much better to potential home buyers than a shocking purple wall full of peacock feathers! Designers also believe millennial’s had a hand in this. They grew up in those clean, neutral homes and are now eager to express themselves and their style. In big, bold ways. 
Your Style
Everyone wants their home to be unique and inviting. If you do it right, paper is the perfect way to showcase your style. The paper that’s popular today is immensely different from the “old school” prints your granny had. Today’s prints are dramatic, oversize, whimsical, and reminiscent of a fashion runway. Rich colors, textured fabrics, and sharp, lifelike images are all thanks to modern digital printers.
Less is More
Wallpaper can be a conversation piece, too, and many hotels and restaurants already use it in their bars and bathrooms. However, less is more when you’re getting ready to paste your walls. Designers suggest using it sparingly and purposefully, in one or two rooms. Or perhaps choosing a single accent wall. Although fabric paper (like grass cloth) could easily cover an entire room and look fantastic. 
Easy Peasy
Thanks again to technology, wallpaper is now a low-maintenance option. And that is huge in today’s fast-paced world. Gone are the days of steaming, scraping, and stress. It’s even a viable option for Renters! There are several DIY options to choose from, including pre-pasted (just add water) and self-adhesive (peel and stick). Installing and removing paper is now easy and efficient. Just ask our very own Team Member, Katie Hofer. She and her fiancee Mike chose a gorgeous whimsical mural paper from anewall.com for their little ones nursery. She said “it was done in about 2 hours total,” adding that she may be slightly obsessed now and thinking about other rooms that could use a little flair.
Have you tried using wallpaper or thought about it recently? Let us know in the comments section below.
The JS Realty Team is dedicated to building lifelong relationships, and helping clients fulfill their dreams through ethical, honest, and fair real estate solutions. Contact us today if we can be of any assistance!
What does it mean to “depersonalize” your home? It means making it look as neutral and clutter free as humanly possible. Start by removing any and all personal photography. We know you & your family look great and that picture above the mantel is AMAZING, but a potential Buyer does not really care how cute your kids are, and in fact, it may be a distraction. So go ahead and pack up ALL of your personal pictures. If you have a wall of family photos, that needs to come down too. Consider replacing the images with a large, neutral art piece. Another quicker, easier option is just patching the nail holes and repainting the wall.
Now that you have depersonalized the home, look around at the paint. One of our favorite ways to make a home feel like home, is to add some color to the walls! However, preparing your home for sale is the time to turn your home into a “blank canvas”. Take a quick peek at our previous blog about 
The single most important thing you can do is CLEAN! Then clean, clean, and clean again. Give your house a FULL cleaning – meaning top to bottom. Pay special attention to bathrooms, the kitchen and appliances, the pantry and the refrigerator – inside, underneath, and behind! Cleaning the windows of your home makes a remarkable difference, as well. And if you have screens on the windows, consider removing them and placing them in a safe spot. You would be surprised how bright your home looks with clean windows and no screens.
Walk around the house and repair any of those little nagging items that have been bugging you – a loose toilet seat, the stopper in the bathroom that doesn’t shut, etc. And remember to check and make sure that every single light bulb in the house is working – even the one in the oven!
Our #1 recommendation is to clean the home you are about to move in to. It is the only time that the home is vacant and ready for a full cleaning. Clean things like cabinets, drawers, corners of closets, window, lights, etc. Most homes are cleaned before you move in – but if not, make sure you take a couple hours to put the elbow grease in before you pile all of your things in the home.
Pack a box or bag of essentials that you will need the next few days after the move. Things to include: a few changes of clothes, kitchen utensils, towels, sheets, a can opener, electronic and phone chargers… anything you might need for a few days while everything else you own in still in a box! The last thing you want to do is dig through a dozen boxes to find these little essentials. Also, keep a folder handy that has your most important papers in it, so it is easily accessible in the event you needed to get to them quickly (this helps keeps them safe, too).
family or friends. Remember to label your boxes clearly. Packing and labeling them by room is a great start, and label boxes on their sides, as you will most likely be stacking them. It also helps to make a list of what is in each box if you are considering storing your boxes after moving.
