Unexpected but BRILLIANT places to use wallpaper in your home

It's tempting, when considering wallpaper for your home, to think just in terms of wallpapering full walls (or rooms). But wait! With a little bit of vision and some nifty handiwork, there are surprise spaces that benefit hugely from the addition of wallpaper. Here's our take on the best places to use it in your home (and they're not necessarily walls...)

Let’s start by looking up. 

The ceiling (sometimes known as ‘the fifth wall’) is the perfect place for wallpaper - and not just in maximalist households. Of course, a patterned or metallic wallpaper overhead draws the eye up and adds instant drama, especially in bedrooms or dining rooms. 

However, a soft colour or subtle pattern can have a soothing effect that turns rooms into an oasis of calm. Whichever look you prefer, wallpaper on the ceiling is unexpected, a little indulgent, and very Rockett St George.

It’s also a brilliant way to tap into the colour-drenching trend. Want to fully commit? By extending paper to all four walls and the ceiling, you create a cocooning effect that feels immersive and utterly magical, especially in smaller rooms like bathrooms. 

Tempted but a little nervous? Why not paper on one (or two) walls to experiment with this maximalist homeware trend? It's especially effective when pared with painted walls in complementary tonal colours. Minimalist artwork adds an extra dimension and lends a subtle contrast to walls for a seamless but curated look that adds depth without clashing or confusing the eye. Bold, beautiful and utterly extraordinary. 

Open a cupboard and - surprise! Wallpapering the interior adds a playful, secret detail that makes everyday storage feel special. Perfect for glass-fronted cabinets that deserve to be a little extra, this creates depth and contrast. 

It’s a brilliant way to style vases, books and trinkets - watch how they pop against a bold backdrop. Alternatively (or as well as), why not give a beloved wardrobe a makeover that makes you smile every time you open it. Add wallpaper to the panels on the inside of the door, for instance, as well as papering the back. Narnia has nothing on this - and be warned. It's addictive!

Now this takes storytelling in the home to another level - in every sense. 

Wallpapering stair risers - that is, the vertical panels that connect one stair to another - is a quirky homeware trend we are fully on board with. Choosing themed wallpaper means you can continue the decorative thread up the stairs, with each riser featuring a slightly different take of the same pattern. Alternatively, it's a great way to use up off-cuts of previous favourite rolls, and really mix and match. Wallpapering stair risers creates a layered, eclectic look that feels both vintage-inspired and modern. 

This won't work on carpeted stairs, of course, but it's a great way to add personality to an otherwise transitional, functional space.

A small but mighty detail, this. Lining drawers with wallpaper adds a luxurious, boutique feel to spaces in the home that can feel mundane and everyday. Think of it as treasure in your sock drawer! It’s an unexpected moment of joy, bringing colour and pattern into the places you use most but rarely think to decorate. Why stop at socks? Give your knicker drawer a little TLC while you're at it.

Skip traditional wall art and create a wallpaper backdrop for your bed. Whether it’s a full feature wall or a panel effect, it creates a focal point that feels considered and cohesive. 

It also helps frame the bed beautifully, adding depth, softness and a sense of luxury, while allowing pattern and colour to do the talking without the need for additional decoration.

Using wallpaper to highlight architectural details, such as arches and alcoves, is a inspired way to add a maximalist twist to an otherwise pared-back home, or create a deeply textured, rich space that's endlessly interesting to the eye. 

Papering inside an alcove or on the inside of the arch adds depth and perspective without overwhelming the room and is a great way to highlight architectural features, introduce pattern in a more subtle, considered way, and create a moment of visual interest that feels intentional, layered and effortlessly stylish within your overall scheme. 

Give it a try - our starry or floral wallpapers are perfect for this!

Wallpaper isn't just for main or 'big' walls. It's really effective in a bathroom on the wall behind the toilet, for example, or inside a vanity unit. Some of our more ornate or floral designs are perfect for this - try our traditional Japanese prints to introduce a crane in flight to your bathroom, or a rich, red, rising sun. Breathtaking.

Design your own work of art by framing sections of paper - or creating a collage made up of several different styles. It’s a brilliant way to experiment with bold prints and let your inner artist shine, especially if you're less than confident in your artistic abilities. No painting or drawing required - just pick your wallpaper style, and get going! 

Use 'tear strips', as a nod to the punk pop art that was so popular in the 1970s and '80s, or cut careful squares of four for a beautifully symmetric quadrant. It's a great to way to use up offcuts or unused rolls, and to get family and friends involved too - after all, artwork should always feel personal, and like a reflection of the person creating it. 

Hang your work in hallways, landings and bedrooms, or add to your gallery walls. Let your inner artist free!