The Power of Pattern: Our Entryway Wallpaper Makeover with Love vs. Design
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If there is one thing I’ve learned about creating a home you love, it’s that you don’t need a massive renovation to make a big impact. Sometimes, all a space needs is a little bit of soul, and for our entryway, that soul came in the form of a stunning, vintage-inspired pattern.
Floral Legacy Wallpaper | Antique Table (Facebook Marketplace) | Area Rug | Faux Suede Tray | Ceramic Accent Table | Chandelier | Picture Light (similar) | Candle Warmer Lamp
For a long time, the entryway felt like a forgotten space. It was a sterile transition zone between the kids’ rooms and the living area. Functional, sure, but completely lacking the modern traditional personality I’ve worked so hard to cultivate in the rest of our home.
I actually tried to inject some personality by painting the ceiling Antique Jade by Benjamin Moore and the walls Palais White by Behr. But it ended up feeling boring and bland. The "Palais White" just didn’t have the depth I was craving, and the "Antique Jade" felt like it was floating without a purpose. I knew it needed a change, but with a 9-year-old and a 6-year-old running through this hall ten times a day, I was looking for a solution that was as durable as it was beautiful.
Before
Disclosure: I’m so excited to partner with Love vs. Design for this project! They were kind enough to provide the wallpaper materials for this makeover in exchange for this post. As always, all opinions are 100% my own—I’m never obligated to love a product, but in this case, I genuinely do. Their quality and tools are amazing, and I’m thrilled to recommend them to you!
Project at a Glance:
The Goal: Transform a boring and bland hallway into a Modern Traditional entryway.
The Solution: Love vs. Design Floral Legacy wallpaper in Glissade material.
The Paint: Ceiling in Antique Jade (Benjamin Moore) and walls in Palais White (Behr).
Why Glissade? Water-activated, stain-resistant, and built for high-traffic kid zones.
Style Secret: Large-scale patterns and heirloom art make small spaces feel curated and grand.
The Collaboration with Love vs. Design
I realized that if I wanted this hallway to feel like a destination rather than just a pass-through, I needed to lean into texture and pattern. That’s when I decided to partner with Love vs. Design.
What drew me to them initially was their incredible customization tool. Being able to tweak colors to fit my exact palette is a total game-changer. It allowed me to work with my current decor rather than being forced into something that felt 'close enough' but not quite right. Instead of settling for a standard colorway that might clash with our existing tones, I was able to pull the exact muted greens and deep neutrals from our home's palette directly into the Floral Legacy pattern. It transformed the wallpaper from just a wall covering into a custom piece of art that looks like it was designed specifically for this house.
I ordered nine custom samples (narrowing it down from Nouveau Blooms to Floral Legacy) and spent days looking at them in the shifting Florida light. While Love vs. Design offers several amazing options, including their popular peel-and-stick, which is fantastic for lightly textured walls, I decided to go with the Glissade material for this specific project.
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The Glissade Difference: Built for High-Traffic
Because this entryway is a main artery in our home, I wanted something specifically designed for high-traffic durability. The Glissade material is a premium, water-activated, pre-pasted wallpaper that checked every box for our family:
Life-Proof Durability: It’s specifically stated as being better for high-traffic areas, which is exactly what a hallway off the kids' rooms needs.
Stain-Resistant & Wipeable: I can literally take a damp cloth to it to remove scuffs or fingerprints without damaging the print.
Forgiving Installation: Because it's water-activated, you can glide it into position, making it incredibly easy to align complex patterns.
Step-by-Step: The Installation Experience
The installation process for the Glissade material was surprisingly therapeutic. If you’ve been intimidated by wallpaper in the past, this glide method is incredibly user-friendly.
Prep the Walls: Wipe your walls to remove dust. I followed the instructions on Love vs. Design’s website to clean the wall with 70% isopropyl alcohol mixed with 30% water. Wipe with a soft cloth or sponge. Let the wall dry, and then repeat up to 3 times.
Spray to Activate: You simply spray the back of the wallpaper and the wall surface with water to activate the built-in adhesive.
The Glide: Once the paper is on the wall, you can easily slide the panel until your pattern matches perfectly. It takes the one-shot pressure out of the equation!
Smoothing: Use a felt-edged squeegee provided by Love vs. Design to push out any excess water and air bubbles.
The Final Trim: After about 20 minutes, the paper sets just enough to make trimming along the baseboards and our arched doorway a breeze with a fresh X-Acto blade.
Maintenance: How I Keep Our Entryway Looking New
One of the most common questions I get about wallpaper in a house with kids and a dog (like our goldendoodle!) is: "How do you keep it clean?" Because the Glissade material is a high-performance paper, it doesn't soak up stains like traditional paper. For daily dust, I use a dry microfiber cloth. For the inevitable kid-scuff or muddy paw print, a slightly damp cloth does the trick. I avoid harsh chemicals, but so far, the stain resistance has been incredible.
Design Lesson: Bold Patterns in Small Spaces
I chose the Floral Legacy print specifically because its large-scale motif breaks up the narrow walls and creates a sense of depth. It stops being a hallway and starts being a curated moment.
To keep it feeling like a House by the Preserve project, I layered in:
Heirloom Art & Traditional Details: I styled the space with oil paintings that were painted by my grandmother years ago. They pop so beautifully against the new pattern. I also brought in a stunning scalloped wood console table that adds that "collected" feel I’m always chasing.
Floral Legacy Wallpaper | Oil paintings (heirlooms) | Antique Plates
The Fifth Wall: Keeping the Antique Jade on the ceiling now feels completely intentional. It frames the architectural archway and adds that moody, wrapped-in-color feeling I love.
Floral Legacy Wallpaper | Area Rug | Curtains (similar) | Curtain Rod | Flush Mount Light | Picture Light (similar) | Antique Table (Facebook Marketplace) | Candle Lamp Warmer | Faux Suede Tray
Layered Textiles: I added a long, floor-to-ceiling floral drape in a deep, dark print. It adds a bit of drama to the doorway and softens the transition from the hallway to the living space.
Natural Texture: A simple jute rug grounds the space and adds that essential organic layer that balances out the intricate wallpaper.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can you wallpaper over textured walls? Love vs. Design recommends their peel-and-stick for lightly textured walls, but for a high-traffic area where you want the ultimate bond, Glissade is a fantastic choice. Just ensure your walls are clean and free of dust before starting!
Is water-activated wallpaper removable? Yes! Despite the strong bond, the Glissade material is designed for clean removal when you’re ready for your next makeover. No steamers or scrapers required, simply spray down with water to remove!
How do I choose the right pattern scale? If you have a narrow space, don't be afraid to go large. Large-scale florals like Floral Legacy actually trick the eye into thinking the wall is wider than it is.
The Finished Look
The transformation is night and day. By shopping my own home for brass accents, vintage-inspired frames, and that beautiful garden stool tucked under the console, this makeover stayed budget-friendly while looking incredibly luxe. It’s proof that you don’t need a massive renovation to create a home that feels like you.
Floral Legacy Wallpaper | Area Rug | Picture Light (similar) | Antique Table (Facebook Marketplace) | Candle Lamp Warmer | Faux Suede Tray
Floral Legacy Wallpaper | Area Rug | Picture Light (similar) | Antique Table (Facebook Marketplace) | Candle Lamp Warmer | Faux Suede Tray
Floral Legacy Wallpaper | Area Rug | Curtains (similar) | Curtain Rod | Flush Mount Light | Picture Light (similar) | Antique Table (Facebook Marketplace) | Candle Lamp Warmer | Faux Suede Tray
What do you think of the new look? Have you ever tried water-activated wallpaper, or are you looking to try a peel-and-stick project soon? Let me know in the comments!
I’m a mom of two and wife to a seriously supportive hubby, living our best life in our forever house by the preserve! I'm all about helping you create a stylish, Pinterest-worthy home on a budget. Let's obsess over interior design, home decor, DIY, and home improvement projects to help you create your best home. Follow along and say hello! I love hearing from you.
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