This year’s homes are bold and unapologetic, and walls are being dressed in some of the most dramatic prints in the entire household. Reminiscent of trends straight out of the Seventies and Eighties, 2019’s top decorators love wallpaper. That means botanicals, tropical prints, and even stripes are finding their way into the wall treatment space.
Sustainable Design
It’s not enough to be stylish. Wallpaper today carries with it a sustainable ethos. You’ll find fewer toxic chemicals and vinyl on the shelves. Wallpaper from the Sixties used to contain bromine, arsenic, and lead, so manufacturers have been working hard to find a more eco-friendly option for home improvements. Most large manufacturers stock PVC wallpapers, which can cause breathing problems. Water-based ink keeps those chemicals at bay, while recycled paper replaces vinyl and its toxins without adding to deforestation.
Bold Prints
The most dramatic looks for summer are botanicals. Tropical prints are being interpreted literally and abstractly, but geometric prints are just as dominant. Custom homes today are widely embracing a sense of fun. A strong print sets off a minimalist home, but if you have a flair for design, don’t be afraid to mix more than one print in a room. Decorating is supposed to be an adventure, so set your spirit free.
Clutter is eclectic and can work if you keep careful control of your palette. Choose one dominant colour, which should fill at least 60% of your room. One of wallpaper’s most interesting talents is that it can fit the print of your upholstery. This is certainly a challenging aesthetic to pull off with style, but the right attitude will take you halfway there. Let go of old decorating rules and choose exuberance over subtlety.
Advanced Fabrication
Fabricators can mimic cork, wood, and linen today, even in water-based materials. If you’re creating a rustic aesthetic, consider adding natural-looking fabrication to your walls, then enhance it with bold copper, cool stone, and vibrant blue decor. Your natural look needn’t be dark and moody. Linen wallpaper in blush, dusty pinks, and neutral shades are trendy, too, and they’ll carry you into the coming season with aplomb. Playing with these different textures adds drama to your walls for a chic home aesthetic.
Memphis Graphics
Graphic prints from the Memphis Movement have been out of style for decades, but they’ve made their way back into home design in a big way. Curved lines and tub chairs suit reds, greens, and yellows on walls. Choose symmetrical graphic squares and rectangles in your wall treatments or allow your artwork to act as a focal point, framed by ombre walls.
Geometric wallpaper is the perfect way to enhance your old study decor. Inviting bright prints and even metallic wallpaper into a sleeker room reinvents it entirely. You’ll feel as though you’ve given the space a completely new look. If you’re not ready for that much brightness, create an accent wall, which you can even outline with empty frames.
Renaissance Art
Another nod to ages long past, Renaissance-inspired art has returned, outlined by floral wallpapers and gold accents. Oversized paintings and Forties furnishings have always been paired with subtle accessories, but now’s the time to let go of controlled sensibilities. Nothing is too bright or bold for your home improvements this season. Poppies, citrus blossoms, and ferns are fun ways to add interest to your artwork, and ottoman wallpaper is sure to add elegance to your home.
Bottom Line
This year’s wallpaper is louder and more vibrant than it has been for years. Homeowners rarely get an opportunity to flout the rules quite this boldly, so take advantage while you can. Wallpaper is one of the cheapest, easiest ways to reinvent your space, giving you the feeling of a remodel at a fraction of the price.