Inspiring Spaces with Jaymi Poor: Wallpaper Tips from an Interior Designer

Shannon Santiago
Sep 15
4 min read

Written by Shannon Santiago

Shannon Santiago Home main bedroom with Artza wallpaper sunlit room with florals and a vintage print

There’s a certain magic when walking into a space and instantly feeling enveloped in a mood.

It’s a feeling that Jaymi Poor (@OurMaineSaltBox) has mastered in her interiors, where warm tones meet whimsical patterns and a sense of story is stitched into every corner. Her eye for detail brings authenticity to her designs, with thoughtful vintage touches that complement the mood she evokes in every room.

I had the opportunity to take a peek into her creative process, her design styles and mantras, and discover the role wallpaper plays in her designs.

You have such a unique eye. What first sparked your love for design?

My love for design started as a teenager, as a young girl I always wanted to decorate, and never really got a chance until I was a teenager when my parents purchased their first home. That was the start of my passion for design, painting and decorating my first room that was all my own. My passion and ability to act on it really took off when my husband and I purchased our first home. For the first time I was actually able to express myself through DIY and design while remodeling our first property, and has carried me through to almost completing our second home.

How would you describe your design aesthetic in a few words?

I think my design style consists of a little bit of everything that I love, a little vintage, a little cottage-core, spun together with a modern, moody, whimsical twist.

Was there a moment or space that first sparked your love for design?

Our first home really sparked my love and took it to the next level with all the barn board floors and original beams, it was all painted one color when we first moved in, and was the perfect blank canvas for me to really throw myself at.

Let’s talk about wallpaper. Where does it come into your creative process?

Wallpaper adds texture and pattern to a space, specifically for me, being a lover of pattern play, it enables me to add one more layer on top of everything else I've already used in the space.

A gorgeous dining room with dried florals, candles, plants, green curtains, and an Artza wallpaper print to tie it altogether

Do you have a go-to pattern or palette you find yourself reaching for again and again?

I don't specifically have one pattern or color palette I like to work with, but I am generally drawn to warmer colors, and floral patterns. With florals specifically, they are very versatile, and can meld well with many different moods and styles, and warm colors fit my moody cozy vibes I like to carry through my spaces.

What are your best wallpaper tips from an interior designer for combining patterns and materials seamlessly?

When I'm mixing patterns I like to make sure that it’s not redundant, but rather complements the elements already in the space, just like mixing different materials (metal/wood/stone) to make a space feel cohesive, much is the same with patterns for me. So I like to add some floral, some stripes, etc., it just kind of brings the room together with my design style.

Where do you typically draw inspiration from?

I feel like I'm more inspired by pieces of furniture, or a wallpaper pattern that I find, and I just build from those smaller pieces into something much larger. I especially enjoy thrifting so it's easy for me to take a piece of furniture, give it a second life, and use it to inspire a design for my home.

What does your process look like when you start designing a new room?

Depending on what my original inspiration is, it starts many different ways, for example, if I start with a wallpaper pattern that I really love, I usually follow that up with finding a rug with a complementary color and style, and then find some pieces of furniture and decor that complement those patterns, and the mood I'm shooting for.

Recently I thrifted a piece of art, and that developed into a gallery wall for my stair well, sometimes it's just something really small that can turn into a bigger idea, it's just about finding a statement piece, and deciding where to go from there, whether it be something as small as a piece of art, a wallpaper pattern, a rug, or a large piece of furniture.

Wallpaper samples from Artza spread across a wooden table with a white rose draped across the top

What do you do when you hit a creative block?

Wallpaper definitely gets me out of a creative rut. It can take a space that may feel cookie cutter, and change the whole vibe and make it feel unique, and also gives me a springboard to add different elements to a space and have it all feel cohesive.

Is there one design element you think every room needs?

I think that every room should have window treatments, whether it be blinds, roman shades, curtains, or drapes, they play an integral role in the mood of a space and are a huge key to elevating, and bringing a room together.

Any projects on the horizon you’re especially excited about?

I am currently finishing up the final details of my guest room. I'm really stepping out of my comfort zone with this design and doing a complete wallpaper drench. I'm using a wallpaper from Artza that pulled on my heart strings the moment I saw it, and it checks all the boxes. It's moody, its floral, its warm. Its everything I love.

For someone nervous to try wallpaper, what would you say?

Starting with a peel and stick wallpaper like Artza’s allows you to try your hand at something new, and not have to worry about it being permanent. I'd also say starting with a more subtle pattern is the way to go, it gives you time to get accustomed to having patterned walls and maybe try something bolder in the future!

Design, after all, is deeply personal.

Jaymi reminds us that it’s about creating a space you feel connected to—layered with thoughtful personal touches, unique vintage finds, and, of course, the right wallpaper. Her wallpaper tips from an interior designer’s perspective prove that even the simplest space can become something unforgettable and entirely you.