Guest Room Wallpaper in Goa

The wall behind the bed is the natural choice: guests see it as they walk in, it frames the bed, and it's the one wall a guest isn't looking at while lying down, so even a pattern stays restful. In most homes it's also an internal wall, which matters in Goa.

If the bed wall is external, have it checked for damp first. In a closed room through the monsoon, an external wall can hold moisture for weeks without showing it on paint — paper is less forgiving.

Breathable non-woven papers tolerate changes in humidity better than heavy vinyls on walls that may hold some moisture; vinyl is the better choice on dry walls that will be touched or brushed by luggage. Delicate grasscloths, silks and fabric-backed papers are beautiful but risky in a room that stays shut through the monsoon.

Ask for samples and tape a large piece to the actual wall for a few days. In a guest room with low use, the morning light is often the only time anyone sees it in daylight.

Soft textures, linen effects, faded botanicals and fine stripes suit a guest room. Strong, busy patterns can be tiring for someone staying a week, and very dark papers make a small room feel close in the Goan heat.

Take a cue from the curtains and bedding rather than from the rest of the house; the guest room can be a little calmer than everywhere else.

Paper the guest room in the dry months, well before the season's first visitors and long enough after the monsoon for the walls to have dried out. Ventilate the room for a day or two after hanging before anyone sleeps in it.