The Controversial “Wallpaper Box” Trend is DIVIDING the Design Community

If there is one thing that seemingly makes everyone, of all ages, giddy, it's the act of receiving a beautifully wrapped present. And over the last several decades, we design editors couldn't help but notice that the wrapping paper industry has stepped up its game: Gone are the days of boring or cheesy patterns. Now, wrapping paper has become so aesthetically pleasing that it almost looks like it could be wallpaper, which begs the question: Are interior designers covering every inch of their projects in patterned, colorful wallpaper to make them look more like whimsically wrapped gifts?

More and more, we have noticed myriad rooms—some tiny powder rooms and others expansive primary suites—drenched in the most sumptuous of wallpapers that we had to ask: Is the "wallpaper box" a thing—and what's more, do people actually want to live in one? Of course, some designers avidly insist that they, design-minded folks with a penchant for panache, do, while others say that a room whose walls and ceilings are covered in the same wallpaper may be a bit too much. Keep reading to find out if this trend will stick around or fall out of fashion.

A Case for the Wallpaper Box

Don't get us wrong; the wallpaper box is definitely a look that may not suit everyone's taste and style, but for those who embrace a sense of maximalism, color, and texture, we think you'll have a thing for this trend. Just ask New York designer Sasha Bikoff, who is arguably most famous for her very bold use of, well, everything. "I absolutely love a fully wrapped wallpapered room as opposed to, say, an accent wall, which to me feels less luxurious," she says. "Wallpaper—whether it be a mural or a repeat pattern—is meant to make you feel like you are in a jewel box and encapsulated."

While some designers choose a rather muted grasscloth or quiet pattern, Bikoff would rather go big. "A wallpapered room—depending on the print, colors, and texture—can drive the entire narrative of the space, but it ultimately will make the space feel finished, layered, and rich."

Bikoff isn't the only one enjoying the whimsy of a completely wallpapered space. Baltimore-based Jay Jenkins also gets a kick out of an abstract, colorful pattern that's repeated on every inch of wall space in a room. In a six-bedroom Annapolis home, the guest bedroom was lacking personality, so he enlisted a Scalamandré print to give it a boost of playfulness. "Using wallpaper to cover the entire room creates a great envelope. Most often, you can hide myriad problems the architecture presents, including odd ceilings, unsightly accesses, or electrical panels. It all just disappears under wallpaper," he says.

When it comes to wallcoverings in particular, another firm's designers consider themselves big fans of the wallpaper box. Carola Pimentel, principal designer at Assure Interiors, says, "As a studio, we are firm wallpaper fans! With wallpaper, you can create unique statements that reflect the clients' personality, as well as adding a moment of surprise and delight. Fully wallpapered powder rooms, dining rooms, or bedrooms can be cute, bold, or serene, depending on the choice of wallpaper."

A Case Against the Wallpaper Box

While plenty of designers are more than ready to install wallpaper on every exposed inch of wall (and ceiling) space, some are still hesitant. After all, if you get bored easily, we have a feeling you won't love living in a wallpaper box after some time. Few designers can relate more than New York designer Betty Ann Gilrain, who says, "I love patterned wallpaper in several rooms, but in bedrooms, I prefer to keep the walls and ceilings a matching color that's solid and dynamic; it just feels so calming." Calming, she insists, does not translate to boring, so if you're concerned that opting out of wallpaper will take all of the charisma out of your space, worry not. "I like to add moments of visual interest through pops of colorfully patterned fabrics that tie the room together," she adds.

Interior designer Diane Rath is in agreement, noting that paint can be just as, if not more, transformative as wallpaper—without the visual effort often required. "Where wallpaper brings in pattern and texture, paint allows for a more subtle kind of drama. It gives shape, light, and materiality room to breathe, letting the rest of the design speak," she insists. "A richly painted room can feel bold and immersive without being busy, and because it reflects and absorbs light differently throughout the day, adding dimension in a way that often gets overlooked."