Dark green wallpaper in a living room is a bold move. On all four walls, it can make a room feel like a cave.
Only on the chimney breast, it's something else. It frames the fire like a painting, it doesn't swallow the room, and it gives the living room a focal point that isn't the TV. If you've been wanting to try a big, dark wallpaper, the chimney breast is the safest place to start.
Why the chimney breast
The chimney breast is the section of wall that sticks out around the fireplace. It's naturally a focal point. Papering just that section:
- Highlights the fireplace without overwhelming the room.
- Uses only two or three rolls of paper.
- Creates a clear frame, with the paper stopping neatly at the corners.
Choosing the paper
Dark botanical and leafy patterns look especially good around a fireplace. The warmth of the fire against deep green leaves feels like a lodge in the woods.
- Dark green botanical: classic and cozy. Shown here.
- Deep blue floral: moody and elegant.
- Black and gold: dramatic.
- Warm terracotta or rust pattern: rich and earthy.
Keep the rest of the walls in a warm cream so the chimney breast stands out.
Heat safety
- Don't paper inside the firebox or on the surround directly around the opening.
- Keep paper at least 6 inches from the fireplace opening; check your local code and the fireplace manufacturer's guidance.
- Choose a paper rated for the room, and avoid vinyl directly above a working fire where heat rises.
Most chimney breast wallpapers stop at the mantel shelf and the edges of a stone or tile surround, which keeps them away from the heat.
Hanging paper around a mantel
- Start at the center of the chimney breast so the pattern is centered above the mantel.
- Hang the strips above the mantel first, then work down the sides.
- Cut carefully around the mantel shelf with a sharp blade.
- Wrap the corners of the chimney breast by about an inch, or stop exactly at the corner for a crisp edge.
The mantel
With patterned paper behind it, keep the mantel simple. A plain oak shelf, a pair of candlesticks, one small object. Too many things on a mantel in front of a busy wallpaper look cluttered.
The rest of the room
Warm cream walls, a neutral sofa, a vintage rug. Let the chimney breast be the only pattern on the walls.
Lighting
Picture lights or sconces on either side of the chimney breast light the paper in the evening. A lit fire does the rest.
If you have a TV above the fireplace
Wallpaper can still work, and it actually helps. A dark paper makes a black TV screen blend in when it's off, instead of being a black rectangle on a light wall.
Painted or papered? Another option
If wallpaper feels too permanent, you can get a similar effect with paint. Paint the chimney breast a deep green, like Farrow & Ball Studio Green, and the rest of the walls a warm cream. It's cheaper, easier to change and still gives the fireplace a strong frame. Add a large botanical print above the mantel for pattern.
Logs and baskets
A basket of logs beside the fireplace and a brass fire tool set add to the lodge feeling.
What it costs
- Wallpaper for a chimney breast: 2 to 3 rolls, $100 to $450.
- Professional hanging: $200 to $500.
Mistakes to avoid
- Papering too close to the fire.
- A busy mantel in front of a busy paper.
- Four walls of dark paper. Start with the chimney breast.
- Off-center pattern.
Wallpaper around fireplace FAQ
Can you put wallpaper around a fireplace?
Yes, on the chimney breast, keeping it away from the firebox opening and heat.
What wallpaper is best for a chimney breast?
Bold, large-scale patterns like dark botanicals, florals or damasks.
Should I wallpaper the whole wall or just the chimney breast?
Just the chimney breast for a focal point without overwhelming the room.
Does dark wallpaper make a living room feel smaller?
On one section, no. It creates depth and a focal point.
