What’s your flavor? No. I’m not talking about ice cream…although, while we’re temporarily on that topic, mine happens to be cake batter. Great. Now I’m craving a scoop (or two).

Okay, back to business. The flavor I’m really talking about is you! Call it your style, your swag, your whatever “it” is. If someone asked you to describe your flavor, what would you say? Would you be vanilla or would you be Jamoca Almond Fudge?

Do you like to play it safe and just blend in? Or do you like to be different and stand out from the crowd? What story would your home tell about you if I walked through the front door right now?

Many people like to keep it basic because it’s simple. It’s safe. It’s supposedly what everyone knows, does, and understands. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes keeping it simple is the best thing to do because it cuts down on confusion and misunderstanding.

We like it simple because we don’t have to use as much brain power or energy. But does it mean that concept should flow into our homes too? Does it mean we have to conform to what it seems like everyone is doing?

I don’t think so. I believe our homes are personal. This is where we spend most of our time. We make memories here. We spend time with our loved ones here. We rest and replenish our tired minds and bodies here. It’s our sanctuary. It’s the one place where we should feel safe and comfortable.

So if home is all these things, shouldn’t it reflect who we are and what we love? Absolutely! Why be vanilla if that’s not truly who you are? One of the ways that you can show your personality in your home is with wallpaper or murals.

Now, before I scare you off…take a breath and hear me out. If you’re old school, it’s going to take a little bit of a mindset change. I’m not taking you on a joy ride back in time just for the nostalgia of it. I’m trying to get you to free your mind Neo (just a little Matrix reference for those that didn’t get it).

1. This is not your grandma’s wallpaper.

I think the biggest point to make here is that it’s not your grandma’s wallpaper. We all probably remember the horrific, superfluous floral wallpaper that seemed to only come in yellow, orange, and brown.

You could see it starting to peel in different sections of the room and clearly should not have been in the bathroom due to the constant moisture in the air. It was hideous and I never understood how there could ever be a need for such a useless thing in life.

Today, there are so many different colors, patterns, and textures to choose from. Thanks to advances in technology and materials, you can even install it in your bathroom and its beauty will remain shower after shower.

If you’re not that daring, you can always start out with a mural. A mural is typically applied to one feature or accent wall in a room and is generally a single photographic image (think mountain or beach scene) that covers the entire wall area to be decorated.

Wallpaper is usually applied to additional walls and can even be placed on the ceiling! It provides a decorative or textured surface. The designs are tiled to match at each seam with a variety of matching options. The design provides a straight match pattern, a drop match, or no match.

It can be subtle, bold, or anything in between. Either way, wallpaper and murals can completely transform your space from boring to beautiful in as little as a day! But, to get the most dramatic effect – I prefer to go bold!

There are also several different styles you can select. Whether it’s modern, traditional, or retro, there’s a perfect design just for you. Some companies even allow you to customize your own design.

One of the great things I love about using wallpaper is the versatility. Not sure if it’s the right look for your space? Don’t worry, be happy! You can purchase removable wallpaper.

This is perfect for renters who can’t make a permanent change to their space but still want to add personality to it. It’s also a great alternative for people who don’t want to be “married” to a specific style and like to change up the look of their space often.

Bonus tip – you can order samples from most wallpaper retailers so you can try out the look before you make a final decision. How liberating is that? It’s a win-win situation.

2. Get inspired.

Bold wallpaper can help spark creativity and inspiration. If you spend a lot of time in a home library, you can hang wallpaper on each wall and it can give a sophisticated, high-end feel to the room.

Want to feel like Sherlock Holmes doing research to crack a case? Then, apply a mural of vintage books to one wall reminiscent of a library set in the 1800s.

Are you a creative who works from home and despises those plain, white walls? Getting those creative juices flowing is crucial when you spend a ton of time in your home office. Add some interesting scenery or texture to the space.

This is not the place to be uninspired or bored. You’ve got work to do so why not bring some life into the room? Check out the bold and fun mural I added to my own home office here. Inspiration definitely overflows while I’m working and I actually enjoy being in the space!

Redesigning a kid’s room? A fun mural of their favorite character, animal, or scene from a movie can instantly transport a child into a whole different dimension! What’s even more exciting is that they now have room wrap wall murals that can cover an entire room. Talk about evoking some serious imagination in those young minds!

3. Bring some uniqueness into your home.

Get out of your comfort zone of vanilla land and add something unexpected to your home! Accessories and art aren’t the only ways to make a statement. By applying bold wallpaper to a wall or an entire room, you will definitely have that wow-factor vibe.

It’s something different. It’s going against the grain. It doesn’t look like everyone else. It’s definitely a conversation starter.

Bold wallpaper and murals give you an opportunity to display your own unique personality and the style you love. Remember, nothing is set in stone. If you’re uncertain, start with removable wallpaper and cover just one wall. Even small doses of boldness can make a huge difference in a space.

4. Where can I find some of this magnificent paper?

Here are some of my favorite places for unique and bold wallpaper or murals:

I really like Rebel Walls. In fact, that’s where I purchased my wall mural from for my office. There’s a huge assortment of high quality wallpaper and mural designs.

You can also create a wall mural from your own image. They provide free wallpaper paste with all orders and there’s free delivery with a 100% Happy Guarantee! What’s not to love about that?

Another great place to find really cool wall murals and wallpaper is Murals Your Way. They’ve been family owned and operated since 1992 and have thousands of images to choose from. Murals Your Way also provides customization by printing wall murals on-demand and free shipping.

If you need assistance in choosing or creating your perfect image, you can work with a graphic designer who will help your vision become reality.

Another awesome place to find unique murals or wallpaper designs is Etsy. They carry removable and permanent wallpaper in almost every design imaginable. Free shipping is offered on most selections.

So, what do you think? Still scared? Are you still going to be vanilla or will you dare to be a different flavor? I hope you’ll make a decision to step out of the box and live a little. Be confident in what brings you joy.

The world’s opinions don’t matter – especially in your own home. It’s okay to love what you love and try something new…something different. Don’t be basic. Be bold. Be you.

If bold wallpaper still makes you nervous, don’t sweat the small stuff! Shades of Gray Design is here to help. Contact us today!