I am of the belief that there is a wallpaper design out there for everyone, and every home and it shouldn’t be something to shy away from.

Wallpaper is guaranteed to bring a bit of a pizazz to any space, and it’s had a bit of a renaissance in the last few years. There’s a perfect wallpaper for the mid-century gem, the ornate Victorian grand dame, the architectural masterpiece or the humble cottage – and so many incredible textile designers lending their hand to create special, unique patterns.

It's easy to choose a great interior wallpaper for your rooms when you follow design tips. But like everything there are a lot of of options, so it’s important to find wallpaper that doesn’t just look good but also has longevity.

Here, I share all things wallpaper, with a few easy tips and tricks to keep in mind to help you transform a plain boring room into a dramatic style statement, or calming sanctuary of zen.

I’m acutely aware that the mere mention of ‘wallpaper’ can give a strong reaction, and frankly I don’t blame you. Does a wild 60s floral wallpaper come to mind, nicely contrasted with an equally wild floral carpet? We’ve been scared by some shocking wallpapers, I get it. But that was then. Wallpaper has changed, and it’s nothing to be afraid of.

A kids room is a typical space to use wallpaper, however we’re also seeing it used to great effect in unexpected rooms, such as kitchens, hallways and even laundries. Even the humble powder room should not be overlooked.

Not all wallpaper needs to be patterned. A plain textured seagrass provides a gorgeous warm texture that paint alone can’t provide to a living room or bedroom. A textured grasscloth wallpaper can also be cleverly applied to joinery, such as walk-in-robe doors or to the back of a shelving unit, for a more subtle, understated finish.

A note on wallpaper with small patterns

At first, wallpaper with a small pattern might give the impression that it will make a space feel busy. However, often the opposite it true. A small pattern reads as overall consistent surface in a room and can be layered over with artwork.

A small patterned wallpaper can fade into the background and provide an interesting layer that is not always the first thing that you notice in the space. This is most effective when applied to all of the walls for an all-over look, rather than a noticeable stop-start effect that’s disjointed.

And large patterns…

In contrast to this, large patterned wallpapers work well in smaller spaces, but they can also work in spaces like living rooms and bedrooms. These large patterns give an all encompassing feeling that is quite different to the rest of the house, so they are a great opportunity to do something expressive!

How to choose wallpaper — *Image via Tamsin Johnson*

When you want to add some texture

A classic textured wallpaper like grasscloth, that was popular in mid-century houses still endures today. The term grasscloth is a catch-all for natural woven fibres on a backing paper, and includes seagrass, raffia, jute, hemp and bamboo. Being a natural product no two rolls are the same, so we often see a seam where the panels are joined. This just adds to the textural appeal!

Plain, natural wallpapers can be found with various levels of slubbiness (swoon), paper, linen, cork and often a combination of fibres in various weaves. Being natural fibres, they need careful consideration if the application is suitable – and a highly skilled installer.

If the idea still scares you, look out for printed vinyl wall coverings that are still incredibly natural looking and easier to maintain.

Did someone say Mural?

Nothing is quite as captivating as a mural that sprawls across a wall. A room truly comes alive when a scene is played out on the walls, providing a lush backdrop to any room. A mural can transport you inside a tropical dream, an illustrated forest or more subtly give you the feeling of a sunset inside. What a joyous space to provide the backdrop of everyday life!

Gucci wallpaper — *Image via* *Kate Walker*