Climbing up the walls: why we can’t get enough of stylish wallpaper

Metricon’s Interior design whizz Felicity Tragardh remembers the first time she fell in love with pasting up snazzy wallpaper.

“I was working up in Queensland 20-odd years ago, and I remember I would struggle to get specialist painters in to achieve things like lime washes or other beautiful paint effects I was looking to achieve,” she says. “So I hit on the idea of jazzing up my feature walls with wallpaper that could replicate the same look.”

That passion for wallpaper and how it can transform a room, even if used sparingly, has stuck with her ever since, so she’s been excited by the rise of designer wallpaper as a significant design trend for 2023. “I’m loving seeing how much it’s gained in popularity recently,” she says.

So why should you get into wallpaper too?

“Wallpaper has always been a staple in interior design because it’s a great way to introduce colour, pattern and even subtle details of tactile texture,” Felicity says. “And there are so many designer wallpaper companies producing a huge array of options these days that will suit everyone’s tastes.”

As Felicity mentioned, wallpaper can be a bit of a cheat sheet to achieving a paint effect that would otherwise require getting specialists in at a much greater cost. In fact, wallpaper tends to be easier to apply yourself these days too.

“You can get self-adhesive, stick-on wallpaper that makes it so much easier for people to install themselves,” Felicity adds. “And if you change your mind down the line, it’s much simpler for folks to get off the wall than traditional paste-on papers, too, without having to go nuts with a steamer.”

Wallpaper is a great way to add a dash of your originality

As people are getting more adventurous in their interior design journeys, wallpaper is growing in popularity, Felicity says. “It’s something we’re offering early on in your home’s design and colour selection stage, rather than it being an add-on down the track.”

Using wallpaper as a feature element can transform all sorts of spaces in your home, Felicity suggests, and not just the most prominent spaces.

“You don’t necessarily have to go crazy with it,” she says. “You can use it in a study or reading nook, a powder room, or a little niche in your home that doesn’t leave much room to manoeuvre in, but can end up adding a real splash of pizzaz to an awkward corner.”

Of course, you can go all out and take over a big wall, if you like, whether it’s in the main bedroom or a central living area.

“Wallpaper can work really well to make a statement on a big surface too, and can be a more affordable way to add a bit of creativity to a white wall, rather than having to invest in a lot of artworks,” Felicity says. “Especially if you go for something really bold, like a big pattern or a striking bit of graphic design. So it’s often a more cost-effective design choice, in that way. Your walls become your art.”

You can accompany a feature wall like this with a mirror or a striking bedhead if it’s in your bedroom. And wallpaper isn’t just for grown-ups. “I love using wallpaper in nurseries in particular,” Felicity adds. “It’s an effortless way to add a bit of fun to a room, and kids of all ages will really engage with that.”

Find out more about the key design trends for 2023 here. And if you’re dreaming of a kitchen renovation, we have all the inspo you need right here.