he walls of our homes do far more than just define the physical dimensions of
our living spaces. They serve as the blank canvas upon which we launch our
master design plan. With the choices we make for their color and texture, walls
set the mood of the room and can instill a sense of harmony when other
complementary elements are added.
For years, wallpaper was out of favor among consumers and designers who
preferred the look of painted walls
—whether with semi-gloss, matte or a variety of faux finishes. Not so today.
Wallpaper is back . . . what
’s more, it’s looking better than ever.
“Today’s wallpaper has something to suit everyone’s tastes,” says Stacy Senior, marketing director for Thibalt Designs Inc. “Thanks to the myriad of choices available, wallpaper can add texture, dimension,
color and interest to any room of the home.
”
New Trends for Colors and Patterns
Some of the hottest new trends in wallpaper involve patterns and colors that
borrow from the past to create a thoroughly modern look that can work in a
variety of design plans.
A great example is Thibaut’s new Residence Collection, which evokes the timeless elegance of the European
Renaissance in its luxurious new line of wallpapers and fabrics. Traditional
damask patterns, long the mainstay of wallpaper designs, have been revamped for
the collection
—first by enlarging the pattern, and then by using color and gloss to make it
pop.
Damask patterns also figure prominently in new offerings from F. Schumacher and
Graham and Brown, two industry leaders in beautiful wall coverings. Exciting
new colors play a big role in their new collections, too.
For Graham and Brown, the color grey in all of its variations is the new
neutral.
Their famous Superfresco Collection, first introduced in 1984 and now
celebrating its 25th
year in the market, has added seven new designs, including contemporary climbing
leaf patterns and bold, floral designs in trend-setting colors, such as fresh
greens, charcoal, plum and sunshine yellow.
Liz Nightingale, marketing director of F. Schumacher and Company, also sees
colors trending toward a softer hue for wall coverings.
“Think soft, clear colors, such as spa and mineral blues, pale butter yellow,
celery green, blush and pearl gray,
” Nightingale says.
Schumacher’s new Greenhouse Collection offers a beautiful grouping of botanically inspired
wall coverings that feature lush blossoms, leafy trellised vines, colorful
birds and butterflies intermingled with softly hued patterns perfectly suited
for timeless interiors.
For wallpaper patterns, we’re revamping old favorites.
“The hot new trends in wallpaper designs are hand-crafted looks, such as block
prints, embroidery and hand-made papers,
” adds Nightingale. “Surface printing, which is used in our Greenhouse collection, gives the effect
of a block print and the look of antique wall covering.
”
Wallpaper can also shimmer and shine, especially when metallic inks are used in
the manufacturing process, such as in Brewster Wall Coverings
’ Nouveau from the Dahlia Collection. According to Graham and Brown, choosing a
design with accents of metallic, mica or interference inks in the wallpaper can
add an air of instant sophistication to any room. This new technology, using
interference inks, gives movement to the pattern and makes your walls come
alive,
What’s more, they look sumptuous when paired with silk, velvet and other luxurious
fabrics.
In fact, choosing the right fabric to complement your wallpaper is almost as
important a decision as choosing the wallpaper
’s design.
“The key to working with wall covering and fabrics is that they do not have to
match,
” offers Nightingale. “It’s about making colors blend and complement each other. For example, fabrics can
be a shade darker or lighter than the wall covering, and that works very well
in any room setting. Also, bold wall covering patterns can be combined with
subtle fabric textures with spectacular results.
”
Senior suggests that you consider the scale of the room when choosing your
wallpaper design. Larger spaces can handle larger designs with ease, while a
smaller design works best in compact spaces.
“Subtly-patterned wallpaper is an excellent option for a bathroom, especially if
the room doesn
’t have a window,” adds Senior. “In smaller spaces, wallpaper should enhance your space without demanding too
much attention to the walls themselves.
”
