The Ultimate Item That'll Nail The 'Grandmillenial' Style On HGTV's Home Town

Grand millennial design, which is known for the cozy and layered interiors favored by the generation from which it takes its name, often espouses a decidedly more maximalist aesthetic than other styles of the past decade. Previous trends often favored a more austere mid-century-inspired look, prizing neutrals, sleek lines, and minimalism. The grand millennial home, however, relishes pattern, texture, and color to create a style rooted largely in nostalgia and décor trends of the past. "Home Town" star Erin Napier is one of the key influencers of the trend, and she's often seen using a fun and simple tool to add an immediate dose of grand millennial style to any space — wallpaper. The item is making a comeback with a fury, covering everything from stylish accent walls to refrigerators and ceilings.

The appeal of wallpaper may be rooted in nostalgia for the décor styles of the past, including the 80s and 90s, when many a home was decked out in Laura Ashley-esque florals and delicate chintz. Grand millennial style, however, offers a fresh take on this age-old element, as well as new designs and patterns that complement the aesthetic's love of vintage and antiques without being particularly dated.

Wallpaper today comes in a variety of forms, including easy-to-install peel-and-stick varieties that are perfect for rentals. You can also find an array of deeply textured wallpapers in fabric finishes and rich weaves. Erin Napier's own Laurel Mercantile line of patterns is rooted aesthetically in vintage florals yet reads decidedly modern and contemporary. Today's patterns include large and small-scale florals, stripes, damasks, novelty, or funky fun prints. You can also find faux papers that stylishly impersonate wood, brick, and stone. 

Designers and homeowners are using these new designs in fresh new ways as well, including n small spaces like the back of a cabinet or bookshelf for additional interest and depth. Expert Joanna Gaines of the Magnolia empire and HGTV's "Fixer Upper" has a love of using wallpaper in untraditional ways, including on ceilings, which draw the eye up and take advantage of a typically blank and unused space to tie a room together. Many homeowners have also been using wallpaper to cover unsightly appliances like refrigerators to fit their design style.

If you are a wallpaper novice or unsure of where to start, try small doses of paper and pattern, such as an accent wall or a smaller area defined by box trim. Wallpaper also has a wow factor in cozier spaces like hallways, foyers, or powder rooms. The impact can often be so stylish you'll want to use more. Try using wallpaper on a large white wall as a replacement for large artwork behind a sofa or entertainment console that pulls color from other elements in the room.

If you're looking for a bit more impact than more traditional patterns, try a peel-and-stick mural. Popular designs include antique landscape scenes and delicate chinoiserie patterns that make you feel like you are in an enchanted forest. They can add grand Jane Austen manor house vibes to even the smallest space. You can also make a bold and dramatic statement with huge florals and other mural designs that can create a focal point in rooms that lack them.