ROLL PLAY

Wallpaper is back - and it's ready to be the star of the show

- Miriam Methuen-Jones

Remember your childhood bedroom? Chances are it was decked out in some brilliantly awful wallpaper. Mine was a mix of 3D florals (which I diligently picked off, much to my mum's despair), boats and a Laura Ashley border of ragdolls and books. Choices were made. Perhaps because of that bin fire, I find there's something so comforting about wallpaper, and I always get a thrill of nostalgia when I find myself in a papered room. Happily, times have moved on, and it's possible to distil a little of that feeling without resorting to naff.

Today, technology has stepped in to widen the world of wallpaper, giving us almost endless design possibilities as well as much more sophisticated materials. Sustainability is a big deal for most print houses, with the focus on non-toxic, FSCcertified, non-woven (stronger, but easier to strip) papers, while the amount of water used in production has decreased dramatically. Interior designer Jessica Buckley has been impressed by what she has seen: "Digital and surface printing technologies are evolving to create papers that look almost identical to the more traditional, expensive hand-blocked prints," she says.

Post-pandemic, we're willing to spend more time and money on our homes, and a high-quality wallpaper is a worthy investment. "Wallpaper in general seems to be increasingly popular," agrees Jessica, "especially charming botanical patterns and Indian block-print-inspired designs, rather than the sharp geometrics that were popular ten years ago." 

But why paper and not paint? "It's a matter of aesthetics rather than ease," believes Jessica. "Wallpaper creates interest on large expanses of wall, or creates a wow-effect in an otherwise mundane room, such as a small powder room, for example."

It also fulfils that common craving for a textured living space - the equivalent of adding a cushion to your sofa.