Intimidated by wallpaper? We understand, there's thousands on offer. With choice aplenty, we’ve picked 10 wall trendsetters that are hot right now and suggest tips to consider if you're new to the papering game.
Buyer's guide to wallpaper
Bold pattern : eco velvet leaf
© IE Wallpaper
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2. Be unique
'Why force yourself to live with poorly printed patterns, in washed out inks and colours when you could invest in something unique,' says Johanna Basford, who draws bespoke wallpapers by hand, before they are traditionally silk-screen printed in her Aberdeenshire studio. Go feminine with her parlour design or monochrome with her intricate Peking wallpaper (both £16.50 per metre). -
3. Graphic and green
Dominic Crinson uses technological processes and futuristic designs to create his graphic wallpaper prints. Best of all, his collections use FSC certified textiles and products and non-toxic inks so they’re completely above-board environmentally. We love this washable Jantar Mantar design (£62.95) which can even be used in wet areas. Read more about Dominic Crinson in our exclusive interview. -
4. Traditionally English
Sanderson, Zoffany, Osborne & Little and Cole & Son are among the most established wallpaper companies producing high-end quality designs worth their weight (and cost). Their collections reflect classic, stylised motifs and will become timeless additions to your decor. Sanderson’s birdsong design (£27.99 per roll) from their Classic Collection at Wallpaper Direct is a fresh option for spring. -
5. Size matters
“Choose a pattern that suits the size of the room,” says Bryonie Porter, who wallpapers furniture. “A large block print will make a small space appear even smaller. See if there are any photographs of the paper. These will give you a better idea of what it will look like in your space.” Get a tactile and truly unique piece of furniture with her skulls and flowers desk (£700), in The Magnificent Chatwin Brothers wallpaper. -
6. Metallic sheen
If you are fortunate enough to have walls that are flat and silky smooth, metallic wallpapers will work wonders giving them a shiny edge. Go super graphic with Erica Wakerly’s monochromatic designs like Angles (£49). “Avoid mirrored wallpaper if you have bumpy walls” says interior designer, Emma Stevenson who admits to having made the mistake herself. Instead choose wallpaper with an embossed or expanded surface texture. -
7. Cheap and cheerful
Even big stores like B&Q and Focus will get top designers to do their ranges today, says Bryonie Porter, so buying cheap may not mean you are compromising on quality. B&Q’s flock effect Divine Wallpaper ((£16.98) is both tactile and contemporary. But Porter recommends, 'if you want your wallpaper to last longer it can be varnished using a waterbased satin varnish after it has been put up.'
