How to Use Photo Wallpapers in Interior Design: 6 Tips, 30 Examples

This page is also available in the following languages:🇷🇺🇺🇦🇫🇷🇩🇪🇪🇸🇵🇱🇨🇳

When people think of photo wallpapers, they often picture tiny kitchens with golden autumn forests covering the entire wall or living rooms with overly fancy palms on a blue background. Forget all that—it's all in the past! Modern photo wallpapers look beautiful, vibrant, and vivid, and custom-sized images will perfectly fit into any interior design. Besides, they are not afraid of sunlight or dirt. Thanks to photo wallpapers, you can correct flaws and highlight the strengths of your living space.

1. Highlight Functional Zones

For a studio apartment, using photo wallpapers to define functional zones is the best solution to emphasize, for example, a dining or bedroom area, a spot near the desk, or a reading and relaxation corner. Remember to wallpaper only one zone at a time—the others will naturally stand out against its backdrop. Photo wallpapers in interior design should align with the overall theme and function of the room: in a bedroom, peaceful images are preferred, while in a living room, more dynamic ones work better.

How to Use Photo Wallpapers in Interior Design: 6 Tips, 30 Examples

2. Adjust Ceiling Height Visually

Photo wallpapers can visually adjust ceiling height in a room: vertical wallpapers with perspective images will visually raise the ceiling and make the space feel taller. The best results come from photos of tall trees and trunks, skyscrapers and spires reaching into the sky, columns. Photo wallpapers often become the central design element in interiors, so it's best to reduce additional decorations and details.

3. Visually Expand Space

We recommend using photo wallpapers in small apartments and rooms to increase perceived space. Use light images of old town streets, seascapes, paths and roads stretching into the distance. Interesting effects are created by photos of European cathedral interiors with domes and columns, which add volume. Photo wallpapers are suitable not only in living rooms but also in the smallest spaces—bathrooms, which can also benefit from appearing visually larger.

4. Hide Wall Imperfections

Unfortunately, even new modern buildings cannot boast perfectly flat walls and angles. Photo wallpapers with the appearance of brick walls, plaster, or canvas come to the rescue. Large paintings with many details visually hide uneven corners in a room, while a spotted or colorful background can mask some wall surface flaws. You can also use lighting in the form of floor lamps or wall sconces to make the image more realistic and three-dimensional, helping draw attention away from small defects.

5. Decorate Blank Walls

If your apartment has technical openings, dead-end walls, or other unused areas that aren't visually appealing, decorate them with unique photo wallpapers. Add a decorative window looking out to sea or garden, wake up with a view of a park or lake. Photo wallpapers are useful if you need to hide a door to the closet or storage room—just wallpaper it together with the wall and you'll have your own secret room.

6. Add More Light

If your apartment's windows face a darker side and the room lacks light, choose photo wallpapers in light tones. For perspective wallpapers, it's best to dedicate an entire wall to them with minimal furniture nearby. Avoid wallpapering the wall opposite a window to prevent glare.