10 Wallpaper Patterns for Atmospheric Spaces
The right wallpaper can transport us to another place, or at least transform our mood. Which of these beckon you?
Laura Gaskill
January 6, 2018
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance checklist. My favorite pieces to write center around the emotional aspects of home and savoring life's simple pleasures. Decluttering course + discount for Houzzers: https://www.lauragaskill.com/welcome-houzzers
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance... More
Wallpaper, even more so than paint, has an almost magical ability to transform a room. Give your home a good vibe with one of these beautiful wallpapers — including William Morris florals, antique maps, book patterns and fairy tale-inspired designs.
1. Woods with a twist. The ‘Woods’ pattern from Cole & Son has become something of a modern classic. In this new twist on a favorite design, golden pears hang from the black-and-white tree branches for a fairy-tale touch. Try out this pattern in a guest room or den.
Wallpaper: Woods and Pears, Cole & Son
Wallpaper: Woods and Pears, Cole & Son
2. Arts and Crafts. This classic William Morris-designed wallpaper in soft, earthy hues is quietly enveloping. Try a traditional paper like it in a bedroom or dining room paired with other nature-inspired colors and creamy white or natural wood trim.
Boutique Printers Keep Historic Wallpapers Alive
Wallpaper: Honeysuckle & Tulip, William Morris
Boutique Printers Keep Historic Wallpapers Alive
Wallpaper: Honeysuckle & Tulip, William Morris
3. Painterly leaves. Soft, subtle, and small in scale, this leafy wallpaper won’t overwhelm on a larger wall. Try using it to line a long hall or stairwell, or in a bedroom, especially a child’s room.
Wallpaper: Willow Boughs, Morris & Co.
Find a designer to help with your home’s colors and patterns
Wallpaper: Willow Boughs, Morris & Co.
Find a designer to help with your home’s colors and patterns
4. Bookish. Whether tucked in a petite powder room or gracing the walls of a cozy study, bibliophiles will have no trouble thinking of a place or two to put this library wallpaper. Just remember with a design this detailed, less is more: It will look best in a smaller space.
Wallpaper: Library Multi, Andrew Martin
Wallpaper: Library Multi, Andrew Martin
5. Wonderland birds. With a design featuring native birds of England positioned willy-nilly across a bold blue ground, this wallpaper has a whimsical, Alice in Wonderland feel that would be right at home in an eclectic sitting room or nursery. Take a cue from the space shown here and use this wallpaper to highlight an architectural feature, like a beautiful mantel.
Wallpaper: Flights of Fancy, House of Hackney
Wallpaper: Flights of Fancy, House of Hackney
6. Victorian redux. Paired with minty green cabinetry, marble counters and brass rod and ball pendant lights, this William Morris floral-patterned wallpaper bridges the gap between old and new in a renovated 1905 Victorian kitchen. While you wouldn’t want to leave wallpaper uncovered in the kitchen near the sink or stove, it can hold up surprisingly well on an adjacent wall when properly installed.
See more of this kitchen makeover
Wallpaper: Pimpernel in Bayleaf/Manilla, Morris & Co.
See more of this kitchen makeover
Wallpaper: Pimpernel in Bayleaf/Manilla, Morris & Co.
7. Blustery clouds. The dramatic, windblown clouds in this wallpaper from Cole & Son would make a fitting choice for a mudroom (or wherever you welcome guests in from the cold). And although this wallpaper is finely detailed, the subtle shades of gray make it understated enough to work in a larger space, like the dining room shown here.
Wallpaper: Nuvolette, Fornasetti II, Cole & Son
Wallpaper: Nuvolette, Fornasetti II, Cole & Son
8. By lantern light. If you want to make a statement with wallpaper, a wonderful place to do it is in the powder room — the small space gives you a lot of freedom to play with bold designs. Case in point: this deep blue gondola scene, punctuated by glowing orange lanterns.
Wallpaper: Gondola, Cole & Son
102 Eye-Popping Powder Rooms
Wallpaper: Gondola, Cole & Son
102 Eye-Popping Powder Rooms
9. Cartography. Maps can be as beautiful as any work of art, especially when blown up large enough to appreciate the details. When picking a map wallpaper, consider choosing a place that holds special meaning for you, whether that’s somewhere you spent time — or a place you long to visit one day.
Wallpaper: Antique Map of Bath, Wallpapered
Find murals of maps, cities and countries
Wallpaper: Antique Map of Bath, Wallpapered
Find murals of maps, cities and countries
10. Wild things. This bunny-and-bird-patterned wallpaper, created from an original linocut by painter and printmaker Mark Hearld, is equal parts elegant and sweet. Consider using it as a lovely backdrop for a powder room, breakfast nook, or nursery.
Wallpaper: Harvest Hare, Mark Hearld, St. Jude’s
Show us: Have you made over a space with wallpaper or another wall application? Please take a photo and share it in the Comments!
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Considering Wallpaper? Here’s How to Get Started
Browse wallpapers by style
Wallpaper: Harvest Hare, Mark Hearld, St. Jude’s
Show us: Have you made over a space with wallpaper or another wall application? Please take a photo and share it in the Comments!
More
Considering Wallpaper? Here’s How to Get Started
Browse wallpapers by style
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#8 Gondola is absolute stunning. Love chinoiserie!
sorry,, can't get rid of wallpaper fast enough these days.
Loving #10!