Cottage Living Room: New Wallpaper And Painted Wainscoting Refresh
For years, my living room has been a space I’ve struggled with due to its quirky layout. This winter, I finally made two changes that transformed it into a light and airy English cottage vibe: new cottage living room wallpaper and a fresh paint color on the stairs and wainscoting. Neither update was major on its own, but together I think they bring character and a sense of joy and lightheartedness.
A Subtle Wallpaper That Adds So Much Character
Surprisingly, the new area rug was the starting point. There are so many colors in the rug that served as inspiration for the wallpaper. I wanted something that felt classic and cottage-appropriate without overpowering the room. After looking at numerous samples, I opted for a soft pink pattern that adds interest without shouting for attention. It’s feminine but not frilly, traditional yet fresh, exactly the balance I was hoping for.
Because the wallpaper only covers the upper portion of the walls, it acts almost like a backdrop rather than a focal point. It gives the cottage living room a layered look and makes the walls feel dressed, especially when paired with simple artwork. The pattern also plays beautifully with natural light, shifting slightly throughout the day without ever feeling busy.
Updating the Wainscoting and Staircase Paint
Once the wallpaper was up, the existing paint color on the wainscoting and stairs suddenly felt off. I opted for Evergreen Fog by Sherwin Williams – muted, calm, and very livable. It’s the kind of color that reads as a neutral but still brings personality to the room. I used in one of our bedrooms, too.
Painting the stairs the same color as the wainscoting helped them feel like an intentional design feature rather than just a pass-through space. Instead of blending into the background, the staircase now feels connected to the cottage living room as a whole. It provides a bit of contrast against the lighter walls and wallpaper above. My plan is to create a gallery wall going up the stairs so I’m on the hunt for interesting pieces.
Eventually I might add a runner for the steps. They’re old and squeaky and I think a runner will soften the noise while also keeping the stairs from being too slippery. It’s hard to get a true representation of the stair color with my camera. It reads a little more blue in this photo than it is.
Why Wallpaper and Wainscoting Work So Well Together
One of the reasons I love the combination of wallpaper and board and batten in my English-style cottage living room is that each element enhances the other. The board and batten, painted in Accessible Beige by Sherwin Williams, grounds the room and keeps the wallpaper from feeling too precious, while the wallpaper softens the clean lines of the painted paneling. Together, they create depth without making the room feel smaller or darker. And both pull colors from the rug.
This pairing also gives me a little flexibility with decor. I can lean either vintage or new. Soft upholstery, big baskets, vintage accents, and collected accessories all feel more at home now. Even simple items like a throw blanket, a small lamp, and framed prints stand out more against the layered backdrop.
A Small Cottage Living Room Refresh With Big Impact
What surprised me most about this update is how much it changed the overall mood of the room. The living room feels lighter and more like the English cottage decor I’m craving these days. I have to admit, I enjoy being at home now more than I used to. And of course, I had to make sure the wallpaper went with my favorite contemporary folk art painting.
I moved knick knacks and plants around to get the right vibe. I don’t follow any rules, I simply eye everything, rearrange, and eye it again until I feel like I get it right.
My newest acquisition is this modern Scandinavian style cuckoo clock that I’ve had my eye on for months! It kept showing up in my Instagram and Facebook feeds and I couldn’t resist anymore and bought one! The little yellow bird pops out and sings a pretty song every time the clock strikes 12. I programmed it so it doesn’t chirp between the hours of 10 pm and 5 am.
If you’ve been hesitant about wallpaper or unsure about paint color choices – go with your gut and don’t worry about what other people might think. For easier installment, I was going to purchase peel and stick wallpaper, but the lady at the decorating store talked me out of it. She said professional hangers refuse to touch it so I went the traditional route and prepped the walls before pasting them. The battle of hanging paper is always worth it, in my opinion. It adds depth and character to any space.
It’s really fun! Very cheerful with all of the colors, too. I bet it must have been difficult to do the wallpapering. I don’t think that I would ever have the patience….. Thank you for sharing- so inspirational!
Your living room refresh looks cozy and beautiful, love all the colors together! Can you tell me where you got the little duck with rain boots?
Jen this looks amazing. Love the colors. I have been on the hunt for some wallpaper and that and rugs or drapes seem to the hardest things to find just the right one. You did so great with your wallpaper and colors. Beautiful. Hugs. Kris
Oh I just love what you’ve done in the living room! The wainscot is so pretty and adds great texture, and the sweet wallpaper warms up the room. I also love the color on the stairs!
I’ve been toying with the idea of a miniprint wallpaper in my dining room. I have a large-scale pattern on the curtains and roman shades, and the walls and trim are an off-white (Ben Moore’s Linen White). The room definitely needs something on the walls and a small print would work well, just as you have shown here. I have a few samples of wallpapers, but just have to decide which one. You’ve given me the encouragement to finally commit!
Your living room is lovely and inviting. I love the cuckoo clock and the painted furniture. I would like to see more pictures of painted furniture in living rooms. The pieces I have need to be painted, but I am hesitant about having too much painted furniture in one room. Thoughts?
Oh, my goodness Jennifer, it turned out so beautiful. It has a nice comfortable peaceful feeling to it. I remember when my sister looked at your house years and years ago to purchase, I think an artist may have owned it, but she ended up having to move for her job. Your vision for that house turned out to be just perfect.
Your new room looks charming and cheerful! I really like the new color of your staircase, so I appreciate that you shared the name of it.
The room(s) have turned out so HAPPY! And so YOU! I’m so glad that you have moved towards this comfy, joyful, almost whimsical direction of decor. It’s truly thoughtful, playful and your fun nod to nature and creation is inspiring. I’ve put off wallpapering for almost 2 years now. Our MBR shower room is almost finished being remodeled and so I’m going to have to bite the bullet on picking some paper and getting it put up. Seeing what you have accomplished is the nudge that I need.
Your room is gorgeous!! What a beautifully, cozy place to relax in. I absolutely love the wallpaper!! Thank you so much for sharing the photos!!
Everything looks so nice. I love all the colors used. It’s so cheerful yet comfy looking. I love your duck and your clock! Also love the rug and wondering where you got it?
I love the paint colors and all your accessories. It really changed your living room and looks so calm and pretty with just the right amount of zing! The lamp shade, rug, and that cute clock are perfect. Great place to be in this cold weather!
What a beautifully, cozy room you’ve created! The colors are so soothing, and I really love the wallpaper you chose! Thank you for sharing these photos!! …And it goes without saying how adorable the cuckoo clock is!
Love it!
Wow! How courageous and brilliant you are! Inspirational, too. Thanks so much for sharing. Just what I needed to see today, with this horrid winter this year.
Utterly charming and delightful!! ❤️ love love all the colors and appointments. Do you have a source for the mommy and baby bunny picture? You did a wonderful job with your wall decor and bits and bobs. The color drenched stairs look so good. I tried to find a before shot but could only find when you used the space as dining. BTW I hope you still have the green tiles in your kitchen. This is the perfect wallpaper for this pretty English cottage space.
Really Pretty!! Love the colors you chose. I’m glad your enjoying it now!