Decorating Guides
Botanicals Gone Wild: Wallpapers that Wow
Sweet Floral Prints Are Bigger and Spreading Faster Than Kudzu
It used to be that big, bold geometric wallpapers were constantly catching my eye. After growing up in a house full of wallpaper that featured sweet flowers, strawberries and butterflies in small patterns, I doubted I'd ever go back to florals. However, the new botanical wallpapers are out to give the bold graphic geometric prints a run for their money. Let's take a look.
I'll admit it, the more I look at this image I'm not sure if that's wallpaper or a mural, but it's just such a great bold abstract botanical graphic that I had to throw it in here.
This designer knew the moment she saw this Neisha Crosland wallpaper that it was the perfect backdrop for a cheerful dining room.
Large and bold red flowers visually extend the headboard area. Just covering the back wall is the solution for a room this size.
Some of the new botanicals have taken on a more mural-like scale. Here full trees extend from floor to ceiling.
Tip: Consider coordinating your ceiling color to go with your wallpaper. The black ceiling here is so much more interesting than a white ceiling.
This wallpaper is by Cavern Home. It's called "Blackbird".
Tip: Consider coordinating your ceiling color to go with your wallpaper. The black ceiling here is so much more interesting than a white ceiling.
This wallpaper is by Cavern Home. It's called "Blackbird".
Similarly, this cherry blossom paper has vines that wrap around the walls in a mural-esque fashion.
Tip: Consider reflective sconces on a papered wall – look at how these blend in by reflecting the wallpaper pattern.
Tip: Consider reflective sconces on a papered wall – look at how these blend in by reflecting the wallpaper pattern.
If you want a more tropical feel, think palm leaves. The composition of these leaves is downright dynamic.
Here a striking floral paper is so potent that covering only a section of a wall is the right amount of wallpaper for the room.
When picking which wall to paper, consider the one you look straight at when you walk into the room. Here the back wall of a room with slanted ceilings is the right choice, and the person who lives here gets to enjoy the view of the wallpaper as well as the view out the window.
Also note how well the paint color plays off the color of the oversized blossoms.
Also note how well the paint color plays off the color of the oversized blossoms.
This fern wallpaper from Ferm Living is a delicate rendering of a soft plant, but is scaled and composed in a way that layers in a geometric pattern.
Again, this floral emphasizes the circles, creating a geometric pattern that stands out when you look at the whole wall.
This type of subtly geometric botanical works in bathrooms as well.
This pattern creates sinuous lines from floor to ceiling, which emphasizes height and draws the eye up.
This paper has a subtle botanical print that's enlivened by birds of paradise. The new wallpapers are starting to use botanicals as a base and adding layers of elements on top.
Not only does the lovely botanical pattern stand out here, but the combination of colors keeps things interesting.
Tip: Don't be afraid to try a large-scale print in a small powder room.
Some of my favorite sites for finding beautiful wallpapers online are Ferm Living, Design Public, and Walnut Wallpaper. What are some of yours?
Tip: Don't be afraid to try a large-scale print in a small powder room.
Some of my favorite sites for finding beautiful wallpapers online are Ferm Living, Design Public, and Walnut Wallpaper. What are some of yours?