Designer Whinnie Williams reveals her trick to 'immediately look like an interior designer' when decorating a bedroom
It's a bold design hack that will make a big difference to a bedroom

Interior designer and presenter Whinnie Williams is a master at bold bedroom design schemes. Using her trademark vintage-inspired designer style she has transformed a number of bedrooms for shoots and TV shows. She is currently in the process of renovating her own bedroom and let us in on her secret for making a bedroom look like it was decorated by a designer.
The creative director of interior brand Poodle & Blonde and guest designer on Channel 4 Changing Rooms has recently joined Dreams as their interior design expert, sharing the latest trends, expert tips, and innovative ideas to help you create the perfect sanctuary for a restful night’s sleep. In conversation with Ideal Home, she revealed that one of her favourite small bedroom ideas is to wallpaper a ceiling.
Whinnie Williams on her Chloe Upholstered Ottoman Bed Frame, from Dreams
'I love wallpapered ceiling. It's such an easy win,' says Whinnie. 'I think you immediately look like an interior designer if you wallpaper a ceiling.'
If the idea of trying out wallpaper ideas on your bedroom ceiling feels far from the easy win that Whinnie says it is, the trick to making it work is all in the design you choose.
'When you're picking a wallpaper, you want it to work from any angle. I think there's nothing worse than when you pick a wallpaper that only works in one direction,' she explains. 'Like the leaves are going the wrong way. I think picking an abstract print is the key, whether that is marble or geometric.'
However, Whinnie does warn that this might be one DIY project you don't want to tackle solo. 'I love people getting stuck in and doing the wallpaper themselves, but ceilings are the hardest. So if you're going to do it yourself, get lots of hands.'
Alternatively, this might be a good occasion to use a peel-and-stick wallpaper, or at the very least a paste-the-paper wallpaper. The last thing you want is to be dealing with messy wallpaper paste drips landing in your hair.
Get the Ideal Home Newsletter
Sign up to our newsletter for style and decor inspiration, house makeovers, project advice and more.
Before you're tempted to play things safe by dipping your toe in with a subtle colour, Whinnie says the trick is to just go for it.
'You can go bold with colour,I wouldn't be shy. You don't have to do a light colour. The wallpaper is such an easy hack: you pick your favourite wallpaper, something that really speaks to you, and then you can use all the colours in that to form the rest of the space,' she points out.
'Be bold, just go for it.'
If ever there was a strong case for wallpapering your ceiling this would be it.
On the Dreams website you can find more bedroom insights and advice in the Inspire section.
Add to basket
Rebecca Knight has been the Deputy Editor on the Ideal Home Website since 2022. She graduated with a Masters degree in magazine journalism from City, University of London in 2018, before starting her journalism career as a staff writer on women's weekly magazines. She fell into the world of homes and interiors after joining the Ideal Home website team in 2019 as a Digital Writer. In 2020 she moved into position of Homes News Editor working across Homes & Gardens, LivingEtc, Real Homes, Gardeningetc and Ideal Home covering everything from the latest viral cleaning hack to the next big interior trend.
-
It’s normally impossible to find a Dyson vacuum for under £250 — but QVC has slashed the price of their bestselling models for a limited time
Run don’t walk to pick up the brand’s bestselling model for under £230 before it sells out
By Lauren Bradbury
-
How to remove algae from a fence — 4 methods that will banish the green and prevent wood rot
You don’t have to replace a fence if it’s covered in algae. Here's what to do…
By Kayleigh Dray
-
I wish I'd known about these 4 things before I bought my Le Creuset – here's how you can learn from my mistakes
Here's how to make sure your Le Creuset will still be your most-used pan in a decade
By Molly Cleary
-
Holly Willoughby’s latest Dunelm collection is a homage to spring - these are her top picks from the collaboration
Spring has arrived early with Holly's latest collab with Dunelm
By Kezia Reynolds
-
A new M&S study finds that Gen Z likes to sleep with 7 pillows - but sleep experts warn against this trend
It turns out more pillows does not equal a better night's sleep
By Kezia Reynolds
-
Stacey Solomon has shared 5 nifty wardrobe storage hacks to make getting ready in the morning easier — and they're genius
These five wardrobe storage hacks are a gamechanger
By Katie Sims
-
I'm investing in my sleep quality for 2025 — this is what I'll be picking up from The White Company sale with up to 50% off to help
These bedding deals aren't worth missing
By Thea Babington-Stitt
-
What are Oxford pillowcases? Where to buy this quiet luxury item for a hotel-worthy sleep
Bring hotel room luxury to your bedding
By Kezia Reynolds
-
I’m a Sleep Editor, this is why brushed cotton bedding is top of my shopping list in the New Year's Day sales
And why it should be on your wishlist too
By Amy Lockwood
-
The most popular mattress of 2024 – there's a clear winner for last year's most-loved mattress
This was Ideal Home readers' most-loved mattress of the year, according to our research
By Amy Lockwood
-
How to make a bed smell good - 6 methods experts use to maintain that fresh out the washing machine scent
Looking for ways to make your bed smell as fresh as a daisy every time you get in between the sheets? We've got the know-how.
By Holly Walsh