Today’s wallpapers are bolder than ever, with design options for every type of home and every wall – and for use in unexpected places, too.
The British have been using wallpaper since the 16th century. Early papers were used to decorate the insides of cupboards and smaller rooms in merchants’ houses – it wasn’t until much later in the early 1900s that it began to appear throughout the home, and ‘feature walls’, so beloved of interior designers and style bibles, w
ouldn’t appear until a century later.
“Wallpaper has the magical ability to transform any space,” says Jamie Watkins, co-founder of London-based Divine Savages (right). “Bringing bold colour and pattern into a potentially boring space that serves to be practical and functional can work wonders. It is also the easiest way to bring instant character and warmth to a room. With people becoming increasingly braver in their interior choices, we’re seeing wallpaper used in more unexpected places, even on the ceiling.”
Standout designs from the company’s collections include Geometric Aviary, featuring exotic birds, and Crane Fonda, which has the long-legged creatures wandering among palms.
Equally dramatic are Arte’s papers (left), whose new Le Couturier collection includes the chain-like Franges design (also available as a fabric), whilst those from Rebel Walls feature Soaring Cranes and Jungle Forest designs that would work well as a mural behind a bed or dining table (below). The company also has a range of abstract designs, including Ash Dots and Serpentine. They will also turn your own images into bespoke wallpapers. “We want to encourage people to be and express their true selves, making the world more beautiful, colourful and diverse,” says Sandra Willund, Creative Director.
For something rather more demure, the National Trust has teamed up with Little Greene to produce a collection of floral designs. Ruth Mottershead, Creative Director at Little Greene, echoes Watkins in the belief in paper’s transformative power: “Patterned wallpaper is one of the simplest ways to create a dramatic change in any interior. Bolder designs can be used in combination with vibrant coordinating colours,” she advises. “Used in period properties, our traditional wallpaper will feel natural and cohesive. Floral wallpapers in particular have a universal and enduring appeal, serving as a timeless and elegant backdrop.”
Italian company Fornasetti, most known for its highly stylised decorated plates, recently collaborated with UK heritage brand Cole & Son to produce Senza Tempo II, a range of papers that includes a geometric design with watermelon, a cityscape with floaty clouds and a paper featuring cheerful smiling suns, reminiscent of its plates. Whilst the feature wall remains popular, Watkins wants us to “embrace wallpaper in a big space by papering all the walls. We always encourage people to be braver in their interior design. A bold wallpaper helps create a lavish sense of drama.”
Inspired to move for a new interior design project? Start your search for your next home at www.jackson-stops.co.uk.
Mian image above courtsey of Fornasetti.
