Decorating
14 Wallpaper Looks to Love This Season
Wallpaper goes from strength to strength, with a huge range of patterns ready to liven up our homes. Be inspired by these design ideas
A gorgeous new wallpaper is an easy win in any room, adding interest, character and an uplifting dose of colour. If you’re too shy to paper a whole room, a feature wall can still look modern and chic.
Popular designs right now include pared-back Scandi patterns, lush botanicals and winsome illustrations, along with digital graphics, geometrics and updated twists on traditional papers – think elegant English country houses and the creations of British design icon William Morris. Whether you favour a new design or a tried and tested classic, here are 14 styles to inspire you.
Popular designs right now include pared-back Scandi patterns, lush botanicals and winsome illustrations, along with digital graphics, geometrics and updated twists on traditional papers – think elegant English country houses and the creations of British design icon William Morris. Whether you favour a new design or a tried and tested classic, here are 14 styles to inspire you.
Plant life
The popularity of botanical prints shows no signs of waning. Plants, vines and flowers have long been a staple on wallpapers, but many of the latest designs have an easy-to-use simplicity – like this muted leafy number.
Choosing a soft, pale grey rather than a multi-coloured botanical design means the print won’t dominate the room or prevent things feeling restful (important in a bedroom), but the pretty pattern will still stand out.
The popularity of botanical prints shows no signs of waning. Plants, vines and flowers have long been a staple on wallpapers, but many of the latest designs have an easy-to-use simplicity – like this muted leafy number.
Choosing a soft, pale grey rather than a multi-coloured botanical design means the print won’t dominate the room or prevent things feeling restful (important in a bedroom), but the pretty pattern will still stand out.
Fantastic beasts
If you want something more interesting than a simple bird or butterfly, there are some great beastly Victoriana papers and prints around right now. Look for the kind of fairy-tale animals that might have fallen out of Alice in Wonderland – flamingos, griffins, dodos – or, as here, an array of birds including puffins, jays and swans. One to fuel the imagination and create a conversation piece.
If you want something more interesting than a simple bird or butterfly, there are some great beastly Victoriana papers and prints around right now. Look for the kind of fairy-tale animals that might have fallen out of Alice in Wonderland – flamingos, griffins, dodos – or, as here, an array of birds including puffins, jays and swans. One to fuel the imagination and create a conversation piece.
Beautiful blues
A colourful wallpaper can be an easy way to inject vitality and style into a room. Blue is big in interiors at the moment, and this gorgeous exotic design taps into the trend for bolder colour and pattern in a modern way. It also echoes the kind of jewel-rich colours and patterns you might find on Moroccan tiles.
A colourful wallpaper can be an easy way to inject vitality and style into a room. Blue is big in interiors at the moment, and this gorgeous exotic design taps into the trend for bolder colour and pattern in a modern way. It also echoes the kind of jewel-rich colours and patterns you might find on Moroccan tiles.
Witty takes
Board game fanatic? Pick a wallpaper that reflects your personality. There are some great playful designs around at the moment, such as this Backgammon paper, which is witty, but also very stylish.
Also, don’t assume interesting patterns only work in big spaces. This print looks fantastic in this cute converted Victorian railway carriage.
Tour the rest of this dinky home
Board game fanatic? Pick a wallpaper that reflects your personality. There are some great playful designs around at the moment, such as this Backgammon paper, which is witty, but also very stylish.
Also, don’t assume interesting patterns only work in big spaces. This print looks fantastic in this cute converted Victorian railway carriage.
Tour the rest of this dinky home
Retro graphics
Those of us scarred by memories of bad wallpaper from the 1970s and 1980s can take heart. The latest geometric prints are stylishly retro without being overbearing, including this Nova Mist wallpaper by Sandra Isaksson.
A bold design like this one can make a room, adding a cool vintage vibe. Team it with retro furniture, like this sideboard, and quirky prints. Pare back the look by only using the paper on a feature wall, then contrast with a light wood floor and white walls.
Discover 5 essential pieces for a midcentury mood
Those of us scarred by memories of bad wallpaper from the 1970s and 1980s can take heart. The latest geometric prints are stylishly retro without being overbearing, including this Nova Mist wallpaper by Sandra Isaksson.
A bold design like this one can make a room, adding a cool vintage vibe. Team it with retro furniture, like this sideboard, and quirky prints. Pare back the look by only using the paper on a feature wall, then contrast with a light wood floor and white walls.
Discover 5 essential pieces for a midcentury mood
Trompe l’oeil
Once, fake was a byword for naff, but a new generation of quality papers mimicking other, pricier or more fiddly, finishes (bricks, wood, book spines, marble, even pegboard) has long put paid to that.
This Scrapwood wallpaper by Piet Hein Eek has become a bit of a modern classic in recent years, and recreates the kind of faded vintage boards that usually take decades to achieve. It’s much more interesting than another wall of neutral paint.
Once, fake was a byword for naff, but a new generation of quality papers mimicking other, pricier or more fiddly, finishes (bricks, wood, book spines, marble, even pegboard) has long put paid to that.
This Scrapwood wallpaper by Piet Hein Eek has become a bit of a modern classic in recent years, and recreates the kind of faded vintage boards that usually take decades to achieve. It’s much more interesting than another wall of neutral paint.
Quirky illustration
Illustration is also popular at the moment. There are lots of independent artists selling prints online, and this trend is creeping onto wallpapers, with many having a hand-drawn appearance (looking like something an artist might scribble with a pen, rather than the formal prints of yesteryear).
This cute Half Moon design, by Ferm Living, is a case in point. It’s fun and different, and instantly creates a stylish atmosphere.
See more bold ways with wallpaper
Illustration is also popular at the moment. There are lots of independent artists selling prints online, and this trend is creeping onto wallpapers, with many having a hand-drawn appearance (looking like something an artist might scribble with a pen, rather than the formal prints of yesteryear).
This cute Half Moon design, by Ferm Living, is a case in point. It’s fun and different, and instantly creates a stylish atmosphere.
See more bold ways with wallpaper
Morris updates
The influence of William Morris, the celebrated 19th century Arts and Crafts designer, has never really waned – and his nature-inspired wallpaper designs (which you can still buy through Morris & Co) have rarely seemed more on trend. They’re ideal if you want to channel the Victoriana/Steampunk English country house vibe.
However, you can also find more modern papers inspired by his rich, dark colours and complex compositions. The designs pictured here manage to blend old and new motifs brilliantly.
The influence of William Morris, the celebrated 19th century Arts and Crafts designer, has never really waned – and his nature-inspired wallpaper designs (which you can still buy through Morris & Co) have rarely seemed more on trend. They’re ideal if you want to channel the Victoriana/Steampunk English country house vibe.
However, you can also find more modern papers inspired by his rich, dark colours and complex compositions. The designs pictured here manage to blend old and new motifs brilliantly.
Bird motifs
The trend for birds on everything from mugs to cushions seemingly isn’t going anywhere fast – and our passion for our feathered friends is popping up on wallpapers. Choose a bird motif like this one by Louise Body: simple, modern and fresh.
The trend for birds on everything from mugs to cushions seemingly isn’t going anywhere fast – and our passion for our feathered friends is popping up on wallpapers. Choose a bird motif like this one by Louise Body: simple, modern and fresh.
Folk style
Are full-on florals too twee or blowsy for you? A more pared-back folk print, like this one, could be the answer. Look for papers with a heritage feel that are printed using traditional techniques. They’ll create a subtly more elegant, upmarket and artisan feel in your room, especially if you opt for a matt finish over anything with a sheen.
A paper that’s mainly white may also feel less daunting to use for those just dipping their toe into the world of wallpaper.
Are full-on florals too twee or blowsy for you? A more pared-back folk print, like this one, could be the answer. Look for papers with a heritage feel that are printed using traditional techniques. They’ll create a subtly more elegant, upmarket and artisan feel in your room, especially if you opt for a matt finish over anything with a sheen.
A paper that’s mainly white may also feel less daunting to use for those just dipping their toe into the world of wallpaper.
Modern geometrics
A strong geometric can sometimes threaten to take over a room. But a more pared-back graphic design can be surprisingly easy to live with. This one adds a contemporary, Scandi feel thanks to its colour combo of grey, white and palest blue.
Try using graphic patterns on just one wall so the room doesn’t ‘close in’; team with simple wooden furniture for a timeless contrast.
A strong geometric can sometimes threaten to take over a room. But a more pared-back graphic design can be surprisingly easy to live with. This one adds a contemporary, Scandi feel thanks to its colour combo of grey, white and palest blue.
Try using graphic patterns on just one wall so the room doesn’t ‘close in’; team with simple wooden furniture for a timeless contrast.
Textured surfaces
Want your wallpaper to work extra hard? Choose a textured design in a dark colour for a dramatic effect. No animals were harmed in the production of this vinyl wallpaper. In black, it’s gothic and makes a big impact.
Want your wallpaper to work extra hard? Choose a textured design in a dark colour for a dramatic effect. No animals were harmed in the production of this vinyl wallpaper. In black, it’s gothic and makes a big impact.
Oversized maps
We all love maps on our walls (or so it seems according to the number on Houzz), and map wallpaper is increasingly a thing. This world map mural makes a brilliant feature in a child’s bedroom.
Alternatively, try a blown-up vintage map – it can make a captivating feature wall, especially if it ties into your local area’s history.
See more ideas for children’s rooms in the photos stream
Are you back in love with wallpaper? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
We all love maps on our walls (or so it seems according to the number on Houzz), and map wallpaper is increasingly a thing. This world map mural makes a brilliant feature in a child’s bedroom.
Alternatively, try a blown-up vintage map – it can make a captivating feature wall, especially if it ties into your local area’s history.
See more ideas for children’s rooms in the photos stream
Are you back in love with wallpaper? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Damask is a classic pattern that still has style legs. Traditionally, damask designs were woven into wool, cotton or linen fabrics for use as tablecloths or sofa upholstery.
Many of today’s wallpapers are inspired by these delicate patterns of the past, but with a chic new twist. This muted design is a case in point: it’s elegant, simple and timeless.