Ask Ellen: Are Wall Coverings Back to Stay in Interior Design?

Thursday March 05, 2009

Posted by TheHome

If you’re like me, you spent countless hours removing old wallpaper from the walls in your home, sanding down the walls, and painting them. After the 1980’s metallic paper fad passed, it seemed like every designer of any caliber was recommending paint, not paper, for a stylish look. But it looks like we’re coming around to wall coverings again. I’m seeing them everywhere on design blogs and in the print media.

Dose of Design

Wallpaper as we know it first was used sometime around 1400 – it was a less expensive wall covering than tapestry or paneling, but it was still attractive and useful for keeping out drafts and dampness. Since then, wall coverings of paper, vinyl, fabric, leather, and other materials have been a mainstay in interior design, waxing and waning in popularity with changing styles. Today, I’m seeing a lot of crisp geometrics, murals, and textures, along with some gorgeous hand-painted custom wall coverings.

Tell me what you think:
Are you using any new wall coverings in your décor? What appeals to you about wallpaper versus paint? If you’re sticking with paints, what’s your objection to wallpaper?

Dose of Design - www.doseofdesign.blogspot.com

Tagged Under Decorating and Design, Paints and Walls, Trends

Comments

Lark about 1 year ago:
I think the reappearance of wall paper is due to a few factors:
- A reaction against the over-simplified ultra plain styles of the early part of this decade - the decorating equivalent of khakis and a white button-down shirt without any accessories.
- The profusion of strong graphic images in media that started with the early iPod commercials of dancing silhouettes on bright backgrounds. The silhouettes have crossed over to other arenas (textiles and ceramics) and are now overlaid against more interesting backgrounds. This has whetted the visual appetite for more interesting things to look at.
- High definition TV can reproduce more detail in the scenes that are broadcast. Episodes of the now canceled TV series “Pushing Daisies” could leave the viewer pattern drunk with layer upon layer of detailed prints on the actors, on the furniture and on the walls. Wallpaper was definitely a favorite of the set designer for the series. As for me, I can’t wait to replace the current country check wallpaper in my kitchen with a sleeker, more sophisticated wallpaper pattern.

Pam Pettrone about 1 year ago:

I belong to the National Guild of Paperhangers in Chicago. I found the trend going back to wallcovering and less faux finishing. The cycle seems to go around that way. Texture wallcoverings have been popular for at least 4 years now. What I have been installing is fabric that has been paperbacked. It gives it a very rich feel. Remember the 50’s murals? Well there back! Some beautiful murals tha make you feel you are at a villa in Tuscany. Wallpaper has never been completely out, but it is certainly growing again!