Joanna Gaines' unusual wallpaper tip will add instant depth to your small space
The celebrity designer's secret will turn your tiny space into a focal point – and create an unexpectedly stylish statement


The question of how to enhance your small space is a favorite amongst designers worldwide, but Joanna Gaines has the answer.
If anybody knows how to style spaces of all sizes, it is Joanna, the Fixer Upper star who has curated rooms of all shapes in front of a global audience. So, when she shared the simple secret to enhancing a tiny room, we were taking notes on everything she had to say.
Revealing her interior design tips, Joanna suggests that instead of turning away from a bold pattern (which is sometimes expected in a small space) – you should experiment with bold, patterned wallpaper that will enhance the area.
'Small spaces like bathrooms, mudrooms, and entryways are ideal for trying out a bold pattern because they're fairly low-risk in terms of the amount of real estate you're covering,' she explained in a post on Magnolia. While conventions may have previously encouraged you to avoid audacious patterns in tiny spaces, Joanna's tip will not only add depth to your room – but it will create a statement too – and Wallpaper designer Elizabeth Ockford agrees.
'There's a bit of a myth that small rooms require plain, light wall coverings,' she begins. Elizabeth builds on Joanna's wallpaper idea, suggesting you choose a 'medium or large-repeat pattern' that will add a 'sense of depth' that did not exist before. This will ensure your room appears 'more expansive and rooms feel more spacious.'
'The key to making the most of your small space is choosing a wallpaper with a large or medium repeat and hanging it correctly. Wallpapers with a larger repeat will create a cohesive look which will visually expand the sense of space.'
'Once you've committed to your chosen wallpaper, it's best to avoid breaking up the space by painting some walls or using other patterns, as this can emphasize tight quarters and make the space feel even smaller,' Elizabeth adds.
Sign up to the Homes & Gardens newsletter
Design expertise in your inbox – from inspiring decorating ideas and beautiful celebrity homes to practical gardening advice and shopping round-ups.
Following Joanna's new wallpaper rule, Elizabeth also shared her small hallway ideas, explaining how you should use wallpaper with a meandering pattern that will 'lead the eye and create a feeling of movement in a connecting space.' 'In narrower areas, pattern adds visual interest without encroaching on precious square footage,' she says.
It's time to redesign your hallway, the Joanna Gaines way.

Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens, where she leads the celebrity/ news team. She has a history in interior design, travel, and news journalism, having lived and worked in New York, Paris, and, currently, London. Megan has bylines in Livingetc, The Telegraph, and IRK Magazine, and has interviewed the likes of Drew Barrymore, Ayesha Curry, Michelle Keegan, and Tan France, among others. She lives in a London apartment with her antique typewriter and an eclectic espresso cup collection, and dreams of a Kelly Wearstler-designed home.
-
Martha Stewart's houses – inside her most iconic properties, from Cantitoe Corners to Turkey Hill
The lifestyle guru built her legacy around her homes, some of which are the most recognized homes in modern American history – we explore her portfolio
By Megan Slack Published
-
These 5 plants can help you get the best, and potentially tastiest, broccoli ever – discover what to plant with broccoli, and what to avoid
Our selection of vegetables, herbs, and flowers is perfect for companion planting with broccoli
By Drew Swainston Published
-
I'm calling it: Joanna Gaines and Victoria Beckham's favorite color will top trends in 2025 – designers and color forecasters agree
Soothing, bold and rich, our love affair with this sumptuous shade is far from over
By Jennifer Ebert Published
-
Joanna Gaines designed a sentimental 'tiny museum of springtime' in her kitchen – it's a seasonal feature you can recreate for under $100
The designer released a shadow box display that is perfect for storing dried flowers and photographs – and it comes in a gorgeous brass frame
By Hannah Ziegler Published
-
Joanna Gaines' famous TV kitchen champions unpainted kitchen cabinetry – the trend designers say we will want to replicate in 2025
Celebrating the craftsmanship of natural wood, unpainted kitchen cabinets embrace an authentic beauty and an old-world charm
By Jennifer Ebert Published
-
Joanna Gaines' kitchen corner is the perfect way to make dead space feel important, useful and beautiful
Get creative with your kitchen corners. The decorating possibilities are endless
By Jennifer Ebert Published
-
Joanna Gaines loves retro Christmas decor, and it just so happens that nostalgic ornaments will be the biggest holiday trend for 2024
Take a step back in time by decorating with your favorite childhood ornaments...
By Jennifer Ebert Published
-
Joanna Gaines's Christmas living room reinvents 90s minimalism for 2024 – and proves that white can be warm and cozy
Forget stark minimalist interiors, Joanna Gaines has found a way to warm up a predominantly white and silver color palette – just in time for Christmas
By Jennifer Ebert Published
-
Joanna Gaines's festive front porch is decorated with a garland, wreath, and an unusual floral display – and it is not a Christmas tree
Do away with traditional decor in favor of something that will still work after Christmas
By Jennifer Ebert Published
-
Joanna Gaines' Christmas living room is a masterclass in traditional decorating for 2024 – it is timeless, sophisticated, and will never date
Celebrate the timeless beauty of Christmases past with classic decor, plenty of foliage and cozy colors inspired by nature
By Jennifer Ebert Published