The Return of Wallpaper: 5 DIFFERENT STYLES AND HOW TO USE THEM IN YOUR HOME

this article was originally written for cheshire living but we’re sharing it here too

No one is more delighted that wallpaper has made a welcome return to homes than me. I love wallpaper in all its forms and it can be anything from a high impact jaw dropping talking point to a barely there, gentle whisper.

The ways to use wallpaper are multitudinous. I believe there’s a style for every situation so hopefully I can share some of the main styles of wallpaper and some of the ways I’ve learnt you can use this wall covering to make your home more beautiful.

1. Botanical Prints

Ok lets start with my favourite, taking inspiration from the wonder that is the world of nature, artists have always been capturing and interpreting flowers, plants and trees in all their glory. Botanical wallpapers can range from lush palms, ferns, and oversized tropical forna to tiny leaves and repeating delicate grasses bringing the outside in.

TIP: Being aware of the scale and pattern repeat of a wallpaper really helps when considering if it will work in a certain space, as a general rule large pattern repeats mean more wastage (ie more £) and may suit grander rooms with higher ceilings and conversely a smaller print, almost like a ditsy print, may suit a small room better – think tiny attic room with a print all over.

The master of the botanical print was undoubtedly (in my mind) William Morris so here’s one from the newest Morris & Co. Collection Unfinished Works. I may be using this soon!

2. Textured

Textured wallpapers can be a really subtle way to add another level of layering into a scheme. I love the fact that you may not immediately notice these wallpapers, they could look like the interplay of light on a wall from. a distance. Some look like linen and others are more heavily textured, but theres something about them that will have you and guests stroking the walls to check. Traditionally these were woven from natural fibres and sometimes known as grasscloth. So many variations are available now and super resilient vinyls are often used in commerical settings. Here I used this blue linen look wallpaper to warm up this dining room nook whilst keeping the room plain overall in our papered house project.

TIP: If you’re a bit nervous of using wallpapers, I’d say start with a textured wallpaper in a plain colour.

3. Geometric or Abstract Patterns

From scallops to hexagons, geometric wallpaper adds energy and structure to a space.

Stripes are really having a moment, both wide circus style stripes and thinner stripes but there’s also something timeless about a stripe, like that classic bretton top and they have lovely connotations of country houses and coastal retreats.

TIP: Use a geometric wallpaper and co-ordinate it with with florals, botanicals or plains in your schemes across your fabrics. `You can play with different scales of patterns too to really layer the look. This wallpaper below is from Borastapeter

4. Murals

These are always high impact, and people will genuinely ask if someone has painted the design onto your wall which most people ask when they come into my daughters room and see this Spring Meadow pattern from Rebel Walls.. With some murals you can measure the wall and the company will send over rolls printed just for your wall so that the scale is correct. Murals can be almost fairytale like or etherial too as we don’t expect to see one large cohesive picture or scene playing out domestically. Embrace them if you dare.

TIP: Murals can be really playful so are ideal for childrens rooms. See Little Greenes latest collection for a wonderful take on a mural design – Potters Woodland in the Storybook Papers Collection.

5. Faux effect wallpapers

You can use wallpapers to fool the eye and create architectural interest or character in your home. These can be designs which mimic other materials such as wood, tiles, stone and even leather. I’ve used a pink bare plaster look in a cafe to give that lovely industrial feeling and likewise you could use something like a driftwood cladding if you’re seeking a coastal interior or a stone wall for a rustic look. Arte International who have the most amazing range of textured wallpapers have created a lux looking wooden panelled wall covering.

TIP: Making a faux effect wallpaper work within a room can be a big ask so consider all the existing character and features of the room to make sure your faux effect blends in seamlessly

However you decide to use wallpapers just be careful as they are addictive! Deciding where to wallpaper can be as difficult as deciding on the paper itself. Personally I would avoid the ‘feature wall’ idea as i think it can be harder to achieve balance and cohesion in a room if only one wall is papered. Wallpapering the ceiling can also look fabulous once you’ve run out of walls…

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