Many homeowners, especially those who have removed stubborn paper, dislike having wallpaper in their homes. However, today’s styles are trendy, colorful and easier to remove than their ancestors.
Although wallpaper can be subtle in pattern and color, using an exciting paper as a home accent is a wonderful way to dress up any space. Using wallpaper on only one wall, a large-scale pattern becomes a piece of art. A paper in a vibrant accent color adds punch to a small powder bath.
Textured Wallpaper
Texture is the biggest element of wallpaper today. One of the newest trends on the market is flocked wallpaper. Flocking is a manufacturing process which places small fibers onto a surface with an adhesive. This process creates a velvety texture and soft feel. Flocked wallpapers were popular in the 1960s, but the newest versions are quite different than their predecessors.
Flocked wallpapers today can be found in large-scale, graphic patterns and hot colors. York Wallcoverings offers patterns featuring fern leaves and damask patterns. Colors range from soothing tans to vibrant violet, and everything in between.
Besides flocking, texture is finding its way onto wallpaper in other ways. Tiny glass beads adorn new, upscale wallpapers, creating an understated sheen. These papers are best used in low-traffic areas, such as bedrooms or over a mantle, since they are not as durable as other wallpaper options.
For another elegant option, wallpaper now features crystals embedded into the pattern. These tiny jewels offer even more sparkle than the glass beads, and become the focal point of any room.
Natural Wallpaper Materials
As a part of the trend featuring green and sustainable design, natural wallpaper products are increasing in popularity. Another product of the 1960s and 70s, grasscloth is again surging in popularity. The woven texture of this product adds warmth and texture to a room. Grasscloth, which is woven grass fibers, is available in an array of colors, and many new patterns. Unlike the grasscloth of the past, it now comes in leaf, damask and scroll patterns, among others.
Homeowners do need to be aware that grasscloth does not hide its seams; because of the woven properties of grasscloth, all seams will be visible after installation. This effect is called “paneling” in the design trade.
Sanded wallpapers bring a different texture and elegance to the latest patterns. Unlike glass beads, sand gives the paper a rough texture and a matte finish. Sand is showing up in patterns similar to the beaded papers, from large damasks to scrolls and leaves.
Real leaves can also found in the latest wallpaper styles. Transparent leaf skeletons are applied to wallpapers to create an eco-friendly look. These papers are less durable than some on the market, and are best used in low-traffic areas such as bedrooms or dining rooms.
Most often used on floors, cork is also being applied to walls. Not only used as bulletin boards, cork wallpapers offer a warm, rich look to walls. Available in many patterns and colors, cork is a sustainable design choice.
Murals and Wall Art
Wallpaper murals are another trend in home décor. These large pieces of wall art are available in patterns ranging from paintings of Paris street scenes to photos of a Tuscan countryside. Homeowners can even have wallpaper made from their own digital photos. Although they are designed to cover an entire wall, murals are usually available cut into narrow rolls, making them easy to install.
Large-scale, bold and graphic wallpaper patterns such as damask scrolls, tree branches or florals are now available in hot color combinations such as black and white or lime green and chocolate brown. Applied to a single feature wall, these gorgeous papers become a modern and elegant focal point in the room. In fact, they are often the only art needed on any wall they occupy.
Whether wallpaper is installed in a powder bath, a bedroom or a dining room, it can have an amazing impact on the style of the space. The York Wallcoverings website offers a large array of wallpapers in the latest styles. Designed for the commercial design market, DL Couch offers unique papers, as well as durable vinyl wallcoverings, in trendy patterns and colors that make any home a showcase.
Teri Larsen - Professional Interior Designer, Freelance Writer, Executive Editor of Metro Women Magazine, Mom of 2, Artist and Generally Creative ...
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