If the word “wallpaper” sends you mentally traveling through time to the paisley borders and overgrown botanicals of the 1980s and ’90s, brace yourself for a new generation of wall coverings that add a chic look to any space. Wallpaper is actually one of the top five home decor trends of this year, according to the 2015 Zillow Digs Home Trend Forecast. And this alternative to basic paint is a surprisingly stylish choice for a small space, says interior designer Rachel Cannon Lewis.

“If you create enough visual interest through either the pattern or the texture of wallpaper, the fact that a room is small is sort of lost on the people in the space,” Lewis says. “Whether it’s subtle with a metallic sheen–like the one we used in this foyer–or a textured grasscloth or even a really bold print, we go to wallpaper for powder rooms, foyers, and even small bedrooms to create a sense of importance for those areas.”

For more designer tips on decorating for small spaces, check out the October 2015 print issue of inRegister, available on newsstands now. And find out how one family made their small kitchen charming with clever details–like pattern on the ceiling!–in our article here.