Don't Paint Your Kitchen: Joanna Gaines' Gorgeous Alternative Has So Many Possibilities

If you're looking to revamp your kitchen, your first thought might be to paint the walls. There's no denying the power of a fresh coat, and experimenting with color is one of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to give a space a new look. And yet, while reliable, painted walls aren't the most creative design move you can make. In an era where we're looking to make our kitchens feel more personal and considered, take a cue from Joanna Gaines and try a wallpaper mural in your kitchen instead.

The HGTV star always has an inspiring trick up her sleeve when it comes to bringing personality to a room. Back in 2022, she shared details of her tiny vacation rental, Hillcrest Cottage, nestled in an estate in Waco, Texas (and yes, it's available to book on Airbnb!). She renovated the property alongside her team, and the kitchen features a gorgeous alternative to a painted accent wall: a modern wallpaper idea with a twist.

Instead of a repeated pattern, the wallpaper features a large-scale landscape in a monochrome line art style. Its hand-sketched look and grayscale palette pull out the soft gray tones seen elsewhere in the kitchen, such as the marble countertops and cabinetry. "What this kitchen lacks in space it makes up for in character, from the mural on the back wall to the Shaker-style cabinets," Gaines wrote on her blog, Magnolia. So, if you've been looking for a way to decorate a blank wall, put the paintbrush down and consider a patterned wallpaper like this one instead. 

The best DIY accent walls catch the eye in unexpected ways. Mural-style wallpapers that feature a single continuous image, like the one used by Gaines, are a great place to start. If you choose a landscape design, it can have a transportive effect that gives the room an entirely new dimension. It's also a good idea to choose a wallpaper with colors that complement the rest of your space, as Gaines has done. If your walls are pink, for example, consider this Vintage Meadow wallpaper from Belarte Studio in the style of an oil painting, which has a dusky pink sky above deep green trees.

Other patterned wallpapers can make just as much of a statement. Small-scale floral prints or trailing botanicals are particularly on trend, and they can be a great way to bring softness to stark kitchens. For something more contemporary, geometric prints can make an eye-catching choice.

There's one important caveat to bear in mind when wallpapering a kitchen, however. Since this is a space where steam, grease, and heat all occur, your wallpaper needs to withstand these elements to avoid peeling or blistering. Vinyl or vinyl-coated wallpapers are best for the kitchen as they're designed to withstand exposure to moisture and can be wiped down easily. Regular wallpapers can be used, but they shouldn't come into direct contact with heat or humidity. If you opt for a standard wallpaper, it's best to choose a wall in your kitchen furthest away from the primary cooking area.