Interior design is going maximalist. Gone are the plain white walls, empty rooms and stainless steel kitchens. Today’s interiors mix pattern, texture and colour to create inviting spaces. We’re seeing natural materials like timber and stone, soft metallics including brass tap ware and brushes nickel finishes, as well as florals, stripes and herringbone.
It’s no surprise, then, that wallpaper is back in a big way. Wallpaper allows you to instantly transform a room, create a spectacular feature wall or add a touch of warmth and interest to an otherwise bland space.
Best of all, most modern wallpapers are peel-and-stick designs. No more struggling with pots of wallpaper glue: today’s paper is easy to apply. It’s also simple to remove, making it ideal for renters who want to add some personal style to the walls.
Here are the wallpaper trends worth a second look.
Metallics
All that glitters is not gold, but it will still look beautiful on your wall! Metallics are ideal for spaces where you want some wow factor. A kitchen wall is ideal, as is a dressing room if you’re lucky enough to have one. Add a punch to a home office or go luxe with gold accents in the master bedroom.
Florals
Calming and feminine, florals are a timeless choice. Use a classic floral in a formal lounge for a vintage feel, or go maximalist with a modern botanical. Bedrooms are another great candidate for the floral treatment: choose a modern take on chintz or go old school with William Morris prints. Large prints are best kept for larger spaces, so balance the design with the size of your room.
Murals
Mural wallpaper is a fun way to introduce fine art into the home. These papers take a famous piece of art (think Monet’s Garden rather than The Scream), a wall-sized floral or even a photograph and blow it up to cover a wall.
They’re ideal for larger spaces, like a feature wall in an open plan living/dining or other entertaining space. Or anywhere you want a conversation starter!
Illusions
Want hand painted tiled walls but short on budget? There are a range of wallpapers on the market that create the illusion of other materials. You can choose from almost any texture possible. On the market there are pressed-tin, marble, tile, exposed brick, timber and even concrete-look wallpapers that will suit a range of areas. There are wallpapers that create the impression of a wood panelled wall for a touch of old-time grandeur.
Take advantage of improved wallpaper technology and utilise illusions in your wet areas as well as living space. Think artisan tile splash backs and a marble feature wall in the bathroom, or exposed brick in a kitchen revamp.
Textures
Texture doesn’t need to be relegated to your soft furnishings. The latest wallpaper trends bring texture to your vertical space as well. With printing technology improving all the time, wallpaper no longer has to be flat and glossy. Consider a wallpaper printed on hessian for a unique effect that will add to the winter cosiness.
Panels
The perfect solution for anyone who wants to go bold and dramatic without overwhelming the space. If you already have a panelled wall, consider a statement wallpaper in just one or a few panels. You can even use a wallpaper as a statement art piece by applying one square and adding a border around it as a frame.
Custom
Still can’t find the wallpaper of your dreams? Consider getting something custom made. Many companies will now offer custom wallpaper printing. You can use one of their designs as a jumping off point and change the colour and the size of the print or create something from a design of your own making. Want a wall-sized photograph of your children? You can do that too.
Wallpaper has come a long way since the 1970s. Today, you’re only limited by your own imagination.