A stairwell is the tallest continuous wall in most homes — sometimes three storeys uninterrupted. That makes it the single most dramatic wallpaper opportunity in residential design, and also the trickiest to execute.
Choose a pattern that reads vertically
Trailing florals, climbing botanicals, vertical trellis, and pictorial murals that have an obvious top and bottom all work. Random scattered patterns can also work because they tolerate the height without feeling stretched.
Plan the cuts before ordering
Stairwells require pattern matching across landings and around openings. Your installer should sketch the cut plan before paper is ordered, and order 25-30% overage to cover matches.
Light the stairwell properly
A wallpapered stairwell needs at least one wall washer per storey to reveal the paper. Single overhead pendants light the steps but leave the paper in shadow.
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