When it comes to decorating with wallpaper, the first and most significant decision to make is what kind of print will work for your room – a big, bold one, or something more subtle? From Beata Heuman’s new Eyelash print to Soane’s latest Serpentine Fern design, the memo is clear: smaller is reigning supreme. Easier to work with than their bigger scale counterparts, finely patterned wallpapers add texture and interest to a room without being a distraction and can be used in a wide variety of spaces.
According to Interior Designer and founder of Studio Raymond, Carina Raymond, small-scale wallpaper can be defined as "designs that feature a tighter, more frequent repeat where the pattern appears smaller and more delicate.” This particular scale can significantly shift the atmosphere of a space. “Larger motifs tend to feel bold and immersive, often adding drama and a sense of intimacy. In contrast, small-scale prints offer subtle texture and visual rhythm, which can make a room feel more spacious and layered without overwhelming it,” she adds.
Unlike larger statement prints, small-scale designs present more possibilities in how you decorate the rest of the room. “I love how they give me the ability to layer on other types of patterns without feeling too busy,” Interior Designer Laura Stephens notes. Henriette von Stockhausen of VSP Interiors works predominantly with period homes and concurs on this point: “These designs tend to create a gentle atmosphere that feels settled, lived-in, and often more sympathetic.”
Where to use small-scale wallpaper in your house
There aren’t hard and fast rules about where you can and can’t use small-scale wallpaper, but there are some rooms where they really sing. Henriette likes to use these designs in smaller or more intimate spaces such as under-eave bedrooms, bathrooms and hallways. “These spaces often benefit from texture without visual clutter,” she points out. “In older properties with nooks, beams, and alcoves, small prints really come into their own. They help a room feel harmonious and grounded, almost like it’s always been that way,” she adds.
However, they can work at the other end of the spectrum too. “I’ve used them very successfully in large rooms as an alternative to paint where the client wants subtle looking walls with a hint of interest but not the wallpaper to be the main event,” Laura says. After all, sometimes small-scale prints on wallpaper don’t register as prints at all from a distance, appearing almost plain or textural. In unusually shaped rooms or ones with detailed architectural elements, they can also bring cohesion to the space in a satisfying and understated way.
Though don’t forget the little opportunities to add interest. Henriette suggests the backs of shelves, inside cupboards and drawer linings. “These details aren’t always obvious, but they give that lovely layered feel and a bit of joy in the everyday,” she notes. Plus, these small areas are an excellent way to maximise the leftovers of any wallpaper rolls.
How to decorate with small-scale wallpaper
There is a huge spectrum of choice within these designs, each having value in the aesthetic and mood they can create. “A busier pattern in a soft, tonal palette can feel calming, while bolder contrast within a small-scale print can be playful and graphic,” Carina explains.
What’s lovely about a small-scale design is that it can be paired with other patterns within a scheme to create a layered effect. However, it’s important to avoid too many patterns of the same scale as they can fight each other visually. Instead, choose something contrasting for the upholstery, rugs or cushions such as larger florals, stripes or graphic prints. For example, Laura likes to pair a small-scale graphic paper with a larger floral fabric or a small-scale pretty floral paper with something striped.
When it comes to flooring and woodwork, Carina has sound advice: “See these elements as anchors. Rich woods or painted finishes can ground the lightness of a small pattern beautifully.” In terms of colour, Henriette suggests picking out a tone from the wallpaper for the woodwork or ceilings to create subtle harmony without being too matchy.
Unlike larger scale wallpapers, smaller designs make a great subtle backdrop for artwork or other decorative pieces such as mirrors without fighting for attention. However, Henriette cautions overcrowding these walls: “We often use pared-back frames to let the artwork and the wallpaper sit comfortably together to ensure the room can breathe a bit.”
Our pick of the best small-scale wallpapers to buy now
Take your cue from Beata’s own home and use this super subtle wave-like design across a hallway or stairs to create an excellent textured backdrop for displaying artwork
The small scale version of this print creates a lovely dainty effect and is one Carina Raymond favours for a loft bedroom to create an enveloping effect
This new print inspired by an Art Deco engraving would bring a real sense of joy to a bedroom. Pair with the matching fabric on a blind or curtain for an impactful look
A playful take on a classic stripe, this new design could work really well in a kitchen paired with sky blue cabinetry to pull out the central stripe
Take this timeless and gentle floral print across the walls and ceiling of a loft or cottage bedroom for a calming and cocooning feeling
A favourite of Laura Stephens, this fun geometric print gives plentiful opportunities for pulling out colours to use on panelling in a boot room or small WC
Featuring a cheering jasmine plant design, this flattering pink could look lovely in bathroom, perhaps paired with cream or terracotta tiles
This revived archive print with its bold design and gold accents will bring a touch of glamour and could be well placed in a dining room
This paper is striking but thanks to its small scale, fades to texture at distance. It would look great in a cozy sitting room
A subtle print in a neutral colour, this paper would be an elegant alternative to paint in a bigger space such as a master bedroom or open plan kitchen
A vibrant paper with a painterly quality that gives floral a more contemporary feel. This would look equally good in a bedroom or as a statement in a small loo
Make a moment in a hallway with this intricate design which draws the eye in with its pretty details
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