How to use wallpaper to give your home a wow factor

LET WALLPAPER SET THE TONE FOR YOUR DECOR SCHEME

When it comes to choosing wallpaper, choose a pattern that evokes a positive emotion. Then let that print dictate everything else that happens around it.

If you've gone bold with a vibrant tropical wallpaper, choose a more neutral grass weave carpet and consider white and neutrals in your furniture.

If you're daring and love a good dose of colour, choose an oversized floral with bright pinks and peaches and go emerald green with your rug or couch.

MAKE A STATEMENT WITH A FEATURE WALL

A great way of incorporating pattern or print into your space is to focus on a feature wall. This should be the wall you want to make the most impact with, for instance behind a bed or the wall you see first when you enter a room.

Wallpaper this space with a print you love and complete the look by selecting a colour from this pattern to paint the other three walls with. This will pull the space together beautifully.

THINK BIG IN SMALL SPACES

People often think that with small spaces you should avoid oversized images. I tend to disagree. For example, you can give a guest loo a real wow factor with an oversized floral. The same can be said for filling up a small space with a busy pattern.

DON'T OVERDO IT

The key when using a bold or oversized design is to keep everything around it uncluttered and clean. Let the wallpaper or print be the hero.

There is nothing more stunning than a bedroom with an oversized themed wallpaper, a bed and not much else. Think big, bold botanicals or palm trees behind a white linen bed. Add some scatters to pick up on the tones from the wallpaper.

CHINOISERIE IS A HOT TREND

The hottest trend in décor at the moment is Chinoiserie (the use of oriental influences in interior design and decor). It is busy and often combines animals and people with pattern. One of the best ways of utilising it is to cover all four walls. You will literally transform your space into a wallpaper haven.

If you're too nervous to do this to a whole room, you can experiment with a guest loo or entrance hall. Either way, it's an excellent way of drastically transforming a space.

• See more of Saven's designs at carasaven.com