Guest Author - Donna Coogan

Wallpaper is typically used for walls. But, did you know that it could be used for a variety of budget decorating ideas in your home? With so many patterns and colors available, the possibilities are limitless. One or two rolls of wallpaper can go a long way in a small decorating project, yet create a big impact on a tight budget.

Here is a list of 10 interior decorating ideas that you can do with wallpaper.

1) Decorate your ceiling! The ceiling is considered the 5th wall in a home and many people just leave it white. But, a pretty pattern of wallpaper can really create a striking impression.

2) Wallpaper furniture. This is an easy way to create a really unique piece for your home. Paint your furniture in the color of your choice and then apply cutouts of flowers or insects, etc. to the sides or top of a piece. Or just paste wallpaper to the drawer fronts and add pretty glass knobs. If you are not comfortable with painting, then cover the whole furniture item with one pattern or various complementary patterns. For example, apply striped wallpaper to the sides, a floral piece to the drawers and a checkered pattern to the top.

3) Wallpaper lampshades. Create your own artistic shades by wallpapering them. Make one smooth piece around the shade, or tear up small pieces and layer them against each other. You can also decoupage the base of the lamp with a complementary piece of wallpaper, too.

4) To liven up your office, consider wallpapering your trashcan, file cabinet, or the back of bookshelves. Consider using map designs or toile or faux leather for a more formal look.

5) Wallpaper the back of a china hutch to serve as an attractive background for your favorite dishes.

6) Wallpaper a large square or triangle in the center of one painted wall. Then frame it with moulding. Hang something decorative in the middle. Try this idea as a headboard for your bed or as a focal point over your sofa.

7) Using different patterns, wallpaper the back of picture frames and display them along a staircase or along a foyer or long hallway.

8) Use wallpaper as creative accents. Apply it to your kitchen cabinets. Paint the outside frames and wallpaper the insets. Wallpaper the risers of your stairs. For a creative window treatment, leave windows bare and apply wallpaper borders around the frames.

9) For children’s rooms consider cutting out interesting patterns and apply to the walls. You can create floating clouds or create a collage. Draw simple designs on the wall like sailboats and trucks or trees. Cut out wallpaper pieces to fill in the designs.

10) Wallpaper a door. This is a creative way to add interest to any room in your home. Whether it’s a closet door, pantry door or powder room door it will add a nice surprise to your decor.

So now you have a few ideas to jumpstart your imagination. As, I've shown you above, wallpaper is no longer just for walls, but can also be used as a decorative statement for numerous interior decorating projects.

When you're on a shoestring budget, look for discontinued wallpaper patterns or shop discount stores. You only need a small amount to create fun interior decorating styles. There are so many choices from bright solids to pale pastels and in designs ranging from the traditional to the whimsical. Look in wallpaper books for interior decorating ideas. You will often see complementary patterns that, when used together, will make your project more interesting. Bottom line - wallpaper complements both home interiors and budget decorating.