What’s the freshest, easiest way to fill your home with personality? Wallpaper.Yep, this classic decorating staple is back and better than ever. Gone are the days of fussy floral prints. The latest crop of wallpapers not only look and feel modern, but they’re also made from materials that are much easier to apply and remove.
“Wallpaper today is really so different from anything we’ve seen in the past,” says Paula Berberian, Creative Services Manager for Brewster Wallcovering Company. “Thanks to all of the fresh designs and new technologies, a whole new generation has fallen in love with it.”
And why not when you have so many cool choices? Several manufacturers are using new technologies such as printing with metallic inks or incorporating sand, beads and crystals into their wallpaper.
Another huge trend consumers are craving? Large-scale prints such as tropical leaves, classic clover shapes and oversized floral silhouettes are among some of the more popular choices. “Homeowners are falling in love with these amazing large-scale patterns and finding funky new ways to use them,” says Theresa Roh-Roberson, Director of Marketing, Seabrook Wallcoverings, Inc. “Papering just one wall, an accent wall, in a living room or bedroom can really make a bold statement in a home.”
The exciting color combinations being used to create these new prints are another reason for wallpaper’s recent popularity. According to The Wallcoverings Association, a member-based not-for-profit organization that tracks trends in the wallcoverings industry, there are a few top hues leading the way right now.
Safe, calming neutrals such as gray and the classic black-and-white pairing are hot, closely followed by nature-inspired hues like kelly green and pale blue. Yellow has made a huge comeback thanks to its strong presence in fashion this year, as well as other bold choices like fuchsia, coral and cobalt. Rounding out the group is bronze, a metallic that has been well-received in the kitchen, popping up on everything from refrigerators to cabinet hardware.
In addition to all the punchy colors and patterns, both Berberian and Roh-Roberson note that the use of more user-friendly non-woven fabrics, also known as substrates in their industry, are appealing to consumers. “Non-wovens are far superior to the substrates of the past,” said Berberian. “Since they are manufactured in one solid piece [rather than made up of separate fibers woven together], they are easy to put up and to strip off, often coming down in one piece.”
Whether it’s the stylish designs, appealing color combos or the ease of use, wallpaper has certainly come a long way. Isn’t it time you gave it another look?
A former magazine editor, Lauren DeBellis has been writing and producing stories about home decorating and design for nearly ten years. She resides in East Northport with her husband.