Design 101: Is Wallpaper Making a Comeback?

“Is wallpaper making a comeback?”

If you’ve done any research into 2022 design trends, you might be asking yourself this question. And the answer is yes — wallpaper is back in style. After years of being considered old-fashioned and drab, wallpaper is suddenly everywhere and it’s quickly becoming one of the hottest trends of 2022. But there's a fine line between wallpaper that accentuates your home and wallpaper that dominates. So let’s take a look at the most popular wallpapers for 2022, then we’ll go over some ways to use them in your home!

2022 Wallpaper Trends

• Florals & Botanicals 

If the trend forecasts are correct, biophilia will be huge in 2022. This trend reflects humanity’s desire to connect with nature in an ever more digitalized world; and already nature-inspired materials, prints, colors, decor, etc. are all over the interior design industry. So, it shouldn’t be a surprise that florals, botanicals, or other naturalistic designs are one of 2022’s top wallpaper trends. These designs can range from funky, bright wallpapers to calm, happy scenes. Usually depicting flowers, plants, animals, and landscapes in varying combinations, these prints give your room some color and fun without being overwhelming.

• Textures

From the Frenchs’ Trompe-l'œil to fake wood, designers are loving textured wallpapers for 2022. Textured wallpaper softens blank walls, generates visual interest, and gives homes a lived-in feel. Trompe-l'œil, which means “a trick of the eye” in French, creates an illusion that your wallpaper is three-dimensional which adds sophistication to your home. For this reason, it’s one of the best trending textured wallpapers for 2022 along with faux brick, stone, fabric, and wood wallpapers. 

• Geometrical Prints & Patterns

If you want a more modern wallpaper look for 2022, try a large-scale geometric print or pattern. While patterned wallpaper can look quite busy up close, from a distance it creates a larger, repeating pattern that’s relaxing to the eye. Plus, they come in a wide variety of colors and styles, so you can pick an energizing multicolored design or a calming green wallpaper pattern. 

• Murals & Dramatic Darks 

Maximalism is one of the biggest trends emerging in 2022. Replacing the minimalist craze of past years, designers are now opting for strong colors and designs that add drama and have distinct personalities. For that reason, dark wallpaper is everywhere. In any hue, dark wallpapers can make your home feel cozy, yet modern and sophisticated. And it's also a great backdrop to display interesting furniture or decor against. But if you really want to make a statement, a mural is the way to go — they’re one if not the hottest wallpaper trend of 2022. They tell a story and vary in composition, color, light, focal points, etc. in a way patterned wallpaper cannot. And a landscape mural is a great way to make a statement while adding some biophilia into your home. 

Wallpapering Your Home 

Knowing what styles of wallpaper are in vogue can be helpful, but before you go picking out wallpaper, you need to know how and where you’ll use it. Let’s take a look at how you can use wallpaper in your home!

• Statement Walls & Paneling 

One of the most common uses of wallpaper is to create an accent wall. Adding an accent wall will give the room more energy and personality, but you can take the traditional accent wall a step further by trying wallpaper paneling. Using wallpaper as paneling instead of an accent wall keeps your wallpaper from being floor-to-wall and overwhelming the room. Plus, it adds another element of shape and design to make your home feel more sophisticated. 

• Mix & Match 

Mix it up with maximalism by using more than one style of wallpaper in the same room. Mixing patterns can be intimidating and difficult to pull off, but if you love the maximalist look it’s worth a try! To keep your space from being too busy, it’s best to use two different varieties of the same wallpaper style. But the key to creating visual cohesion is allowing the two wallpapers to have some similarities — in areas such as style and color palette — and some differences — in areas such as size and texture. For example, if you love floral wallpapers, choose one large-scale floral design and one small-scale pattern both in the same color palette. This ensures that your wallpapers will mesh well together while providing pops of color and pattern in your designs. 

• Wallpaper the Unexpected 

Wallpaper has been around since the 16th century, but you can make it feel fresh and modern by getting inventive with where you place it. For example, some wouldn’t consider placing wallpaper in the bathroom or kitchen. After all, too much moisture could damage the paper and leave you wishing you hadn’t put it up at all. But, the right remodeler can ensure your wallpaper will last, which has allowed colorful kitchen wallpaper and bathroom wallpaper to shine going into 2022. You can get a little more creative by wallpapering your ceiling or decorating your bookshelves with wallpaper backing. But for something truly modern try using archway wallpaper. One of the coolest accent wall trends of 2021, these wallpapers create large arches on your walls, reminiscent of gothic architecture, and will continue their popularity in the new year. 

Does your home need a refresh? Are you ready for a new coat of paint, wallpaper, or altogether remodel? If so, check out our services or learn more about remodeling costs in the Louisville area by checking out our bathroom, basement, and kitchen remodeling cost guides.