Decorating with Vintage Grasscloth Wallpaper

I knew immediately that we would keep the grasscloth wallpaper that is in one of our new house bedrooms, which is for our three year old son. 

These pictures below below show all of the great things you can do with grasscloth.


White trim and white beadboard wainscotting:

Kimberly Ayres, portfolio

Antique-looking science prints with a simple frame, bamboo shade, white trim:

Waterleaf Interiors

Black and white floor, traditional wood pieces like grandfather clocks and a Chippendale armchair:

http://eclecticrevisited.com/

Leather upholstery, world travel souvenirs, modern classic furniture, the color black:

Ron Marvin, meatpacking district apartment

Ron Marvin, meatpacking district apartment

Boys, red/white/blue color scheme:

decorpad.com, Elizabeth Dinkel

Green, feminine country look, dark wood trunk, white wicker:

countryliving.com, Decorating with Green

Linen roman shades, more white trim, Caribbean style fan 

decorpad.com, Lindy Allen and Hiya Papaya

Nate Berkus goes floor to ceiling with his, adds big white trim, dark wood floors, and plenty of brass.

decorpad.com, Nate Berkus

This designer used big white trim, a painted stripe floor, a leather armchair, linen fabric on the cushions, and bamboo roman shades.

thezhush.blogspot.com

Steve Giannetti put this in a client's home with white trim, white wainscotting, framed bird sketches, and bookcases backed with bead board.

brookegiannetti.typepad.com

Grasscloth benefits:

1. Hides old nail holes really well (no need to patch if you change your mind about artwork)
2. Gives texture to the room
3. Absorbs sound
4. Works with a variety of styles, especially variations of traditional
5. Holds up for 30+ years

Is grasscloth timeless?  According to wallpaperhistory.com, grasscloth did become very popular in the 1970s.  This is when our grasscloth wallpaper was probably installed.  But it has been around for a lot longer than that.  Here is a plate from a 1910 Sherwin Williams book called Your Home and Its Decoration.

Plate XXXII. The Wall Covering is of Japanese Grass Cloth in a Shade of Golden Tan.

Anything that goes with paneled wainscotting, an oriental rug, and colonial stairs with white balusters is pretty classic!

So stay tuned to see my inspiration board for my son's bedroom using the existing vintage grasscloth. . . .