The Lee Jofa Soho Collection finds inspiration in one of New York’s most artistic neighborhoods, a place chock full of history and culture. These wallpapers embrace the beautiful busyness of that urban space fusing vibrant colors with graphic prints to offer a contemporary style to your home.

In celebration of this modern design journey, Fabrics and Home offers five tips on how to use these bold designs in your home.

Lee Jofa's Bleecker Paper (Capri/Navy)

Tip 1: Go Neutral , Minimalistic or Complementary with Color and Accents

“Bold wallpaper can completely transform the whole vibe of your room,” said Venessa Carter, the creative director and art advocate at PaintVibe.com, But you need to know how to use it right. Pairing furniture with bold wallpaper means you must let the wallpaper shine so choose neutral or complementary pieces that don't overshadow the design, offered Carter.  

“Color balance is very important,” she added. “If the wallpaper has bright colors, the rest of the elements should be more subdued. This harmony makes the room cohesive. You have to create a visual rhythm where everything fits in place.”

Maintaining balance and harmony is important for both aesthetics and comfort, said Michael Snell a PhD specializing in consumer behaviorism and founder of The MJS Groupe. “By prioritizing neutral and complimentary colors you can help emulate the emotional feelings of security, which allows the person who will enjoy the space longer periods of time spent inside it,” he said.

Lee Jofa's Bleeker Paper (Bark/Dune)

Tip 2: Consider the Room Before Featuring Bold Wallcoverings

Bold wallpaper allows you to make a statement or create a focal point in a room. Room size is important to consider when choosing bold wallpaper since the scale of the pattern can visually enlarge and reduce the space, according to Evelina Juzėnaitė, principal interior designer at Planner 5D. “For example, in a small room, a large pattern will further reduce the room, and a small pattern will visually increase it,” she said. “Vertical lines will raise/lengthen, and horizontal lines will expand.”

Entryways, bathrooms or accent wall in living rooms, bedrooms, etc. work well with a bold color or wallpaper. If you have a bold color on one accent wall, then similar patterns or colors should be used to connect everything together within the space, advised Juzėnaitė. “It’s better to choose one pattern that you like, not several,” she added. “For example, if you have chosen florals, this pattern can be used in different colors and scales in the same room.”

Lee Jofa's Bond Paper (Aegean)

Tip 3: Maintain Balance in the Room

“When incorporating bold patterns, it’s crucial to maintain balance,” said Brad Smith, CEO and lead designer at Omni Home Ideas. “Choose furniture and accessories in solid colors or with minimal patterns. This allows the wallpaper to stand out while the room remains harmonious and inviting.”

To prevent the bold wallpaper from overpowering the décor, pick one or two predominant colors for your other design elements, suggested Smith. “This creates a cohesive and visually appealing space.”

Balancing color in a room with bold-patterned wallpaper involves careful decision-making to avoid overstimulation but create a cohesive and appealing environment, added Snell. “This can be done by using the age-old design rule of 60-30-10. By allowing your wallpaper to remain as your 60, being that bold statement that speaks to the generality of the room, you then balance it with a 30 percent of a secondary color … The 10 percent applies to an infused accent color to blend the 60 and 30 together which creates the balance and cohesion between the three.”

Lee Jofa's Orchard Paper in Blue/Denim, Pebble/Coin and  Aqua/Stone

Tip 4: Consider the Room’s Furniture Carefully

The scale and placement of your furniture is also important when using bold-patterned wallpaper.  “As individuals we are drawn to symmetry, but we are also visually drawn to seeking out an anomaly — when applied to designing a room, it can be as simple as placing an oversized étagère staged with unconventional artifacts of varied colors or sizes that normally wouldn’t be found on its display,” said Snell. “Here the viewer can identify this as a ‘design abnormality,’ but translates it into being a purposeful and bold statement piece within in the room now providing them visual and cognitive interest.”

Tip 5: Look at the Room’s Light

When using bold-patterned wallpaper, think about the room’s natural lighting and size, advised Giovanni Scippo, director at 3D Lines. Smaller spaces with good light frequently feel intimate and striking with such wallcovering, while larger rooms need more balance to avoid feeling chaotic.

“Bold wallpaper is an opportunity to create impact, so approach it with intention,” said Scippo. “Test samples, observe them at different times of day, and design around them with balance in mind. This ensures the result feels cohesive and elevates the room rather than overwhelming it.”

See Fabric and Home's wallcovering selections and other Lee Jofa products.