Wallpaper is the comeback kid of the design world!

Wallpaper has made a remarkable comeback, becoming a go-to option for homeowners and designers seeking to elevate their spaces with personality and flair.

Avoiding wallpaper because you associate it with the peeling, dated designs in your great-grandparent’s house is something you need to face – as wallpaper has come along way from the tacky 1970s!

Today’s wallpaper offerings are more innovative, versatile, and inspiring than ever before. From intricate patterns to soothing textures, wallpaper is a powerful tool for transforming any space. Bold geometric designs, colourful botanical prints or subtle texture in neutral shades – there’s everything you need to lend character to a space.

Why Wallpaper?

Wallpaper brings unique benefits that paint simply can’t match:

  • Infusion of Movement: Bold or subtle patterns can create the illusion of motion, drawing the eye and adding dynamic energy to a room.
  • Colour Variety: With countless shades available, wallpaper can complement existing furniture and finishes or serve as a starting point for your entire design scheme.
  • Versatility in Patterns and Textures: From geometric designs to botanical prints, wallpapers come in all shapes and sizes to suit any aesthetic.

A Revolution in Wallpaper Design

Modern wallpaper is a far cry from its historical counterparts. Advanced printing technologies and improved materials have made today’s wallpapers:

  • Durable and Easy to Maintain: Many are washable, peelable, and stain-resistant.
  • Eco-Friendly: Options now include sustainable materials and low-VOC inks.
  • Customizable: Some brands allow you to create bespoke designs tailored to your needs.

Adding Wallpaper to Your Space

Wallpaper works in every room, from feature walls in the living room to fully papered powder rooms. It can even be used in unexpected places, like ceilings or behind open shelving, for an extra pop of interest.

By embracing the possibilities of modern wallpaper, you can infuse movement, colour, and character into your home while complementing your overall design aesthetic. Let the walls speak and watch your space transform into a masterpiece.

When it comes to prints, start by considering the mood you want. Every print creates a feeling; subtle florals may evoke a diffuse softness and calm or create a country aesthetic. A bold black-and-white stripe will create a classic elegance.
If the pattern is quite bold and you are not brave enough to put it on a wall, then stick it to board, frame it and make it a piece of art or for a little more impact create a trio of art!

Size Matters

When choosing a print, the scale is critical to the impact this will have on the space. For example, wallpaper with a large pattern works best on a wall with fewer interruptions such as window and doors, as well as a higher ceiling for the print design to “breathe”. It also makes sense not to use a busy or loud print behind a television or a piece of artwork.

Light also plays a role in deciding on scale. Smaller, darker rooms such as a powder room or laundry is the perfect place to play with large-scale or busy patterns. Reason being is these spaces you spend less time in so the effect of such a pattern is not overwhelming.

Image courtesy of Casamance Borromee RangePlaying with wallpaper in your interiors will create unique spaces – especially if you have a tight budget so furniture and décor selected are from mainstream, mass produced shops and the quality might not be top of the range but its durable for your budget!

Image courtesy of Casamance Borromee Range

Pattern Placement

Placement of wallpaper is another factor to consider when adding wallpaper to your walls. Creating feature walls, where just one wall is covered in wallpaper, providing a focal point and a cost-effective way of adding visual interest is the most common way; however, you can also add it between dado rails combined with paint above and below the rails, and you can also mix patterns together.

Wallpaper plays a supportive role in architecture, drawing the eye to features with directional patterns or demarcating zones such as reading nooks or study corners.

Neutral Party

Are you colour shy? Want to stick to the safe zone? Then maybe you seek out wallpaper that is neutral in colour but has a beaded or pearl finish to create a textural interest.

Rough textures can bring a rustic finish and cosy intimacy to a space; they effectively draw people in and set them at ease. Pared-back and sophisticated, textured neutrals are a quiet but powerful way of creating comfort.

Image courtesy of Modern Vintage Home

Mix and Match

Combing patterns to create a maximalist look, dubbed “grandmillennial” might be something up your alley! This is a more difficult pairing to achieve as you want the patterns to mix and complement each other rather than create a pattern clash.

Image courtesy of Google ImagesWallpaper Books are generally catalogued into “families” for you, so this will help with choosing two patterns that will compliment based on colour and size. For example, mi traditional wallpaper designs such as florals with the geometric pattern of stripes. The size of the stripe in this case and the colour will be balanced with the size of the botanical print.

Some more high-end wallpapers from Europe also come with matching fabrics so you can combine them in one room, or you can create connection between two separate rooms by using the wallpaper as a feature wall in one and the fabric version in cushions on a sofa or upholstery on an occasional chair in the other.

How to Combine Wallpaper Patterns Like a Pro

  • Stick to a Cohesive Palette: When mixing patterns, ensure they share a common color scheme for harmony.
  • Balance Bold and Subtle: Pair a dominant pattern with simpler or monochromatic designs.
  • Vary the Scales: Use one large-scale pattern and one or two smaller-scale designs to avoid visual clutter.
  • Test Before You Commit: Order samples to see how the wallpaper interacts with your lighting and furnishings.