Which wallpaper for narrow hall & stairs? 3 options

[RishiRich]

I have luxury and mid-price options for the wall starting on the hall and going up the stairs to the landing. The hall is narrow and gets lots of light in the morning but not much later in the afternoon/evening.

The luxury one is the one I've loved for years (Cole & Sons woods in powder blue). It's £107 a roll - nowhere near Boris & Carrie's £1k a roll but a lot of money for us. I've been advised against it because the repeat is huge (72cm) so would cause a lot of wastage.

The other option I like is a much darker blue. The copper pattern goes with what we've done with fittings in the rest of the house. It's still quite expensive (£58/roll) with a 64cm repeat. I really like it but worry that the blue is too dark and it's too pricey to just replace if we don't like it. There's a grey/copper version but I'm a bit meh about grey. I'm sure I'd like it up though.

What do you think? Links for more pics:

Woods: www.wallpaperdirect.com/products/cole-son/woods/123414

Dark blue/copper: www.grahambrown.com/uk/boreas-midnight-wallpaper/107581-master.html

Grey/copper: www.grahambrown.com/uk/boreas-soft-grey-wallpaper/107580-master.html

Can I be brutal? I don't really like any of them. That Cole &Son one is everywhere. I also find it a bit stark/eerie!

BUT if you love it and you've wanted it forever you should have it, regardless of what any of us here thinks. It's a popular print because presumably lots of people love it too!

Don't settle for something you don't love. It's not cheap but nor is the other you've suggested.

I'd definitely steer clear of anything metallic in whatever you choose.

Can you share a pic of the space?

The first one. Don't get dark wallpaper for narrow stairs.

It depends what your house is like? Is it decorated modern or not. If it’s modern then I like 2 or 3 both would give a standout feature and look good. Either the grey or dark blue . Both will look fantastic. If you don’t have modern features and it’s an older house then I would say go for option 1.

I would love the dark blue one on one wall and have white painted walls elsewhere. It's my plan for our new hallway, when we do it. I want the dark paper to be on the side the windows let the light onto so they aren't as dark.

It's a 1930's terrace, so not a period property but not modern either. Chimney breasts everywhere to take up floorspace...

We've stripped everything down to the plaster so it looks awful right now. I've attached a pic from a random house that looks similar in layout.

I'd definitely go for the dark blue. With white woodwork and ceiling it would really stand out, especially in a 1930s semi. Really not keen on either of the others!

I think dark paper would make the hallway feel too dark and claustrophobic. You need to open the space up with lighter colours.

Of go for the middle one in your first set of pictures.

I wouldn't choose any of them. I would paint.

People saying paint, which colour would you go for?

I would paint too. You can still be bold but easier to change.

I would paint too. Brilliant white or even whiter if you can get it. You can add colour to the bannister instead

White paint with some lovely bright artwork

I prefer to use a very neutral paint and bring in colour through artwork, rugs, etc. Paint is brilliant and cost effective, unlike wallpaper. You can change the look every year if you really want to.

The first one if you must, but personally I'd go for paint.

@DramaAlpaca

The first one if you must, but personally I'd go for paint.

i agree. those veins look hideous. and creepy. some light bright colour is best. not grey. a very pale apple green, or primrose maybe. ? a 1930s terraced house is unusual. what part of the country. just curious.

My preference would be for paint as well.

OP likes these wallpapers and is trying to choose between them - I’m not sure people saying they don’t like the wallpapers is that helpful?!!

I also live in a 1930s terrace OP, I’m lucky to have the end terrace. It’s the main housing stock around here not unusual at all! Do you have a dado? We do, with anaglypta below, currently all house-sale-magnolia. When we come to decorate the hall, I’m keeping the anaglypta and painting it, painting dado and skirting the same, with a pattern paper above the dado.

Of the three, I think the dark blue is absolutely stunning. Although looking through the colourways it comes in personally I’d probably go for the teal, still striking and bold, but a bit brighter than the midnight blue. For me, the Cole & Sons one is a bit pale and vague. BUT that is personal! If you’ve lusted after that wallpaper for years, and your only points in the “don’t do it” column are practical things like a bit of extra wastage (material for decoupage!) and people on the internet saying it’s everywhere or they don’t like it....well once it’s up and in your house who cares about those things whilst you enjoy it for the next decade or more? If it’s really what you love, go for it!

Btw wallpaper direct do decent sales from time to time, I got my Emma Shipley wallpaper from there for about 2/3rds of the price at the time.

I would put the dark blue (or even the teal one as lemon violet mentioned which I saw thought was gorgeous too) up on the right hand side along the staircase wall and to the front door. The other side I would paint white.

DH likes the grey one best. I've also shown him this paint recommended on someone else's thread: tikkurila.com/pro/colors/nocturne He doesn't like it though.

I liked the teal version too and it would go well with the rest of the house. It feels a bit brave though! The other walls will be a bright white and we're stripping the bannister so it's back to the natural wood, which is a warm honey colour.

I also like this one but DH is having none of it. lusthome.com/products/wave-after-wave-wallpaper-in-dusky-pink

@RishiRich

DH likes the grey one best. I've also shown him this paint recommended on someone else's thread: tikkurila.com/pro/colors/nocturne He doesn't like it though.

I liked the teal version too and it would go well with the rest of the house. It feels a bit brave though! The other walls will be a bright white and we're stripping the bannister so it's back to the natural wood, which is a warm honey colour.

It sounds gorgeous! Be brave. I think hallways should have some impact

Do you have children at home OP? I only ask as I was intending initially to wallpaper out stairs, the decorator strongly advised against it, saying the children would absolutely ruin it.

I agreed and just painted it in Timeless but it’s lovely.

I'm sorry but i think all of your choices look quite dated. The cole and son wallpaper has been everywhere for the past decade. And the others look like they are from new build show homes 15 years ago.

I love the blue one but think it won’t work in your hall, I’d go for the grey one, they are lovely.