How to decorate with bold wallpaper

Want to give your room the 'wow' factor? Putting up a large print wallpaper will achieve just that. Browse our gallery for design ideas, advice and tips. By Clare Steel. Inspired? Shop the UK's largest collection of wallpaper.

1. Keep it understated

If you want a large print, but don't want it to be overpowering, choose a paper that has a simple pattern repeat, and stick to a colour scheme that's underplayed, too - pale pastels on white will help enhance your space.

2. Pick monotones for a modern feel

Decorating with monotones doesn't always create the friendliest space - however, add pattern (or patterns) into the mix and the whole scheme becomes more welcoming and interesting. Add a splash of colour with accessories, too.

3. Use big wallpaper in small rooms too

Large prints needn't be confined to big rooms - they will work in small spaces, too. The trick to success? Keep the design to a wall that's not opposite the door (or the first place you generally see the room from). This will prevent the room from feeling smaller.

4. Enliven a space

Bright paint colours are fabulous for making a space much livelier - but unless you've got a collection of pictures to hang on them, they can look a little underdressed. So, why not choose a wallpaper in your favourite bright shade instead?

5. Keep to your budget

DIY stores sell a great range of large print wallpapers, too, so you needn't think you have to spend a fortune.

6. Go for Seventies chic

For a retro feel, team seventies style wallpaper with mid-century modern furniture and seventies finds, or match it with contemporary furniture in white for a modern feel.

7. Know the rules

There's no hard and fast rule, but large print florals are best left to the bedroom because they do impose an overtly feminine feel on a living space. That said, if your print is modern enough, you'll get away with it anywhere...

8. Mix old and new

If you've got antique or period furniture that you want to complement but update, putting it against a modern take on a traditional wallpaper design will do the trick.

9. Best for grown-ups

Flock wallpaper is an acquired taste - if you're not familiar with it, it's got a furry feel to it. This makes it ideal for sensual bedrooms or grown-up dining spaces. Bear in mind that it's not desperately easy to clean - so avoid putting it in kids' spaces.

10. Add a lustre

Hanging a paper in a strong colour can rob a room of light. However, if you pick one with a pattern that has a glimmer or lustre to it, you'll increase the light that's reflected around the room, and the effect of the pattern will be all the more intense.

Annie Deakin is a journalist, fashion expert and editor at mydeco.com and is currently very impressed by the great range of coffee table, rugs and art.