12 Painted Walls That Look Like Wallpaper

The walls of your house should be sturdy, but they don’t have to be boring. Amp up the appeal of your interior walls with a little painter’s tape and some bright ideas.

By Andréana Lefton | Updated Mar 30, 2020 07:22 PM

Pretty and Paper-Free

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Painted walls that look like wallpaper

Transform bland walls into bold canvases—no wallpaper required. Instead, paint your way to an original wall treatment, inspired by these bloggers and serial DIYers who have tried out a bunch of techniques and found some real winners. Here we've collected 12 of their best ideas for adding personality and pizzazz to your walls at little cost.

istockphoto.com

Painted “Wallpaper”

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Stencil

With a geometric stencil and your favorite paint color, you can design your own customized “wallpaper.” Feel free to devise your own graphic pattern, or print the template provided by Elsie and Emma of A Beautiful Mess. The result will be bold and unique, guaranteed to produce a gasp of admiration from friends and family.

Related: 10 Incredible Updates That are Totally Reversible

abeautifulmess.com

Bathroom Stripes

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Painted bathroom stripes

Painter’s tape and a little interior paint are all you need to create this subtle yet dramatic effect in your bathroom. Jessica, a DIY blogger at Four Generations Under One Roof, transformed blank cream walls by adding a warm gray horizontal stripe, bringing brightness and sophistication to a dark space.

fourgenerationsoneroof.com

DIY Art Deco

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Art Deco stencil wall in bathroom

We love this angular Art Deco-inspired pattern from Mandi at A Beautiful Mess. She offers lots of helpful tips and tricks, including this sage advice: “Stenciling is not perfect…it's better for your sanity's sake if you just don't go into the job expecting that.”

Related: 20 Unexpected Spots for Accent Colors

abeautifulmess.com

Paint Pen Accent Wall

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Paint pen accent wall

Use a paint pen to add an artistic twist to a statement wall. Over the base color, layer on a geometric pattern with a cardboard stencil and a white paint pen. The bloggers at A Beautiful Mess tested the process and report that the entire wall required just a couple of hours to finish—and only $10 in supplies.

abeautifulmess.com

Herringbone Patchwork

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Herringbone patchwork painted wall

If you don't fear pattern, try your hand at a herringbone patchwork accent wall like this one created by Bethany at Reality Daydream. The woven effect looks hard to pull off, but the dedicated blogger will guide you through the whole process. The lively effect is particularly appropriate for a kid's bedroom or playroom.

realitydaydream.com

Shiny Swirls

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Swirl painted wall kitchen

Bethany Sy at Reality Daydream found the perfect way to bring pattern into her home without overdoing it. She opted for a vibrant emerald-toned flat paint, which she then revved up with a swirly, shiny design in high gloss to add life and dimension to her spacious kitchen.

realitydaydream.com

Aged to Perfection

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Faux finish painted dining room

If your new home feels a little too new, bring texture and timeless elegance to your walls with an aging effect that's reminiscent of a Spanish villa. The decorator used Dove, a warm gray from Behr, as well as actual bricks and mortar to reproduce a timeworn beauty—without the decay.

inhonorofdesign.com

Striped Dining Room

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Striped wall painted wallpaper

Painted-on stripes are one of the easiest ways to add a wallpaper-like effect to your walls. For the ultimate in sophistication, choose two paint colors in the same tonal family. Christy at Confessions of a Serial DIYer alternated Behr’s Classic Taupe with Toasted Wheat stripes, for a formal yet welcoming dining room.

Related: The Cheapest Ways to Make Your Home Look Brand-New Again

confessionsofaserialdiyer.com

Dynamic Brushstrokes

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Brushstrokes painted wall

If patience is not your best virtue, has Amy of Delineate Your Dwelling got a project for you! Her "falling brushstroke" wall is nothing if not delightful, and it requires neither taping nor measuring. Just grab a brush, do a few practice strokes, and start painting.

delineateyourdwelling.com

Rainbow Raindrops

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Raindrops painted walls

Sprinkle your child’s bedroom or nursery with a shower of multicolored raindrops. If your youngsters are old enough, let them pitch in by selecting colors they love (that also complement the decor). The finishing touch? Paint the door a bold shade of your kid’s favorite hue.

younghouselove.com

Feather Design

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Feather design painted wallpaper look

It's hard to believe that this subtle, feathery design is not wallpaper. Young House Love proves that with the right colors, precise technique, a nature-inspired stencil, and careful attention to detail, you can transform your living space into an airy retreat.

younghouselove.com

No-Paint Diamonds

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Duct-tape and paint to look like wallpaper

Update your bedroom with this no-paint diamond accent wall, courtesy of the Nesting Place. The magic ingredient is white craft-grade duct tape. To get the diamond pattern exact, be patient and measure with care.

Related: These 8 Home Makeovers Prove the Power of Paint

thenester.com

Wow-worthy Walls

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12 Painted Wall Ideas

Grab your painting supplies and transform an ordinary room into a stylish space. 

bobvila.com

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