Wallpaper is showing no signs of losing popularity in 2023 with it now becoming a regular feature in our design decisions. They are no longer confined to a feature wall, with many people using wallpaper in the kitchen, hallway, upcycling furniture and even wallpapering the bathroom!
What is Trending in Wallpaper 2023?
The popular wallpaper designs of 2022 are still going to make an appearance, but there are some emerging patterns and styles in wallpaper trends for 2023. The top paint colors for 2023 are centered around reds, browns, and golden yellows with a nod to the 70s.
Wallpaper Trends for 2023
Retro-style prints and more simplistic styles like stripes and monochrome patterns will be the dominating designs for 2023. Here are my top predictions:
1. 70’s Print
As seen in the emerging paint colors for 2023, bright colors of the 50s, 60s, and 70s play an important part in décor for 2023. The 70s in particular is a decade that is seeing a resurgence in wallpaper for walls with retro, bold geometrics in many different shades of brown, orange, purple, and green.
If you don’t fancy using bright and retro patterned wallpaper design on a wall, look at using it as a backdrop on a bookcase or part of a furniture upcycle. Another way to introduce bold patterns is to use peel and stick wallpaper. This way, if it doesn’t work for you, it can be easily changed.
These wallpaper designs are perfect when paired with the deep/rust red paints that are trending for 2023. If you don’t want to paint a whole room in a deep red, you can break up the color with a splash of wallpaper!
Use a wallpaper design that incorporates a modern trend like a retro print or oversized floral patterns. All of these designs give a nod to the 70s and can easily be adapted to refresh and update a room.
2. Wallpaper in Furniture
This isn’t a new thing with many designers and upcyclers using wallpaper to update and transform dated and tired pieces of furniture. Wallpaper is used in contrasting tones to make the back of a cupboard or bookshelf stand out and paint can be color matched to the wallpaper to paint the wood or joinery.
When using wallpaper with furniture, you want the wallpaper design to be the starring role. Use brightly colored prints and bold geometric patterns or go completely OTT and use the same wallpaper on your walls to decorate your furniture.
Some ideas to provide an interesting and unique touch to furniture with wallpaper include –
- Use wallpaper to line the drawers of a dresser or even cover the front panels of the drawers.
- Line the back of a bookcase with vibrant or patterned wallpaper.
- You can use wallpaper on the top of a desk, sealing it with a glass top or a clear sealer.
- Wallpaper can be used to line the inside of glass-fronted cabinets or open shelving units.
- Wallpaper the top of a side table and protect it with a custom-cut piece of glass or seal it with a clear coat for durability.
- Add wallpaper to the inside of a wardrobe or armoire for a fun, unexpected pop of color and pattern.
- Doors of a cabinet or a free-standing wardrobe can be covered in wallpaper to provide a distinctive appearance.
3. Large-Scale Print
I’m a huge fan of large-scale print and think it’s a brilliant way to add pattern and texture to a room without it looking too busy. If you’re looking for bedroom wallpaper trends for 2023, you can’t go wrong with oversized patterns.
Botanical prints, murals, and floral patterns all look better oversized and can provide a real wow factor in a room. Keep the rest of the room simple or neutral so that the wallpaper can take center stage.
4. Texture
With everything getting more expensive and the need for us to tighten our spending at home, textured wallpaper designs can be the answer to our décor problems! Faux textures that can mimic design features are an easy and cheaper alternative if you use wallpaper.
You can get designs that look like fresh plaster or concrete or go for a brick effect. No expensive tradesmen are needed and easy to change if you don’t like the look!
Another great way to add texture to your walls is to hang throws and fabric. Pattern doesn’t just have to come in the form of wallpaper. If you like the pattern too much to throw on a sofa or on your bed, hang it up!
This is a quick and easy way to introduce living room or bedroom wallpaper trends into your home.
5. Stripes
Moving on from texture, stripes are making a big splash on the décor scene for 2023. If you don’t fancy going for a continuous pattern or big print, stripes are a classic pattern and can keep your décor simple.
Striped wallpaper can come in many different forms. You can choose wallpaper with a simple linear design, or find a wallpaper that uses stripes and adds a contemporary twist, like this wallpaper from Curious Egg.
Stripes work best in a hallway or bathroom, where straight lines and grid patterns are plentiful. Stripes can also help elongate a wall or make a small room, like a porch or utility room appear bigger.
6. Wallpapered Ceilings
This isn’t for the faint-hearted, but wallpapered ceilings are a brilliant way to highlight the 5th wall! Keep your walls all the same color and use a wallpaper design that helps highlight the color. Or, keep your walls neutral and make your ceiling stand out with a bold print, painting doors and the trim in the same color.
If you want the full wow factor, go for a full-size Renaissance painting on your ceiling in the dining room that will really give your guests something to talk about! I think this is one of my favorite wallpaper trends for 2023!
7. Monochrome
Black and white homes are hugely popular on social media with monochrome designs keeping décor simple and elegant. Monochrome is the art of using the same tone throughout and wallpaper can help achieve your dream décor.
Black and white motifs in wallpaper design can create a beautiful feature wall and provide a simple backdrop to different colors in a room. You can go with abstract patterns or a modern take on botanical prints in black, grey, and white.
Monochrome can provide a timeless and elegant look to any room, especially if you play with different patterns. The wallpaper could be an accent wall providing an interesting focal point in a bedroom or living room, or use it in a dining room with lots of wood accents to provide contrast.
8. Dark Floral Prints
I feature dark floral wallpaper prints frequently in my blog posts as they always seem to be a popular choice in emerging trends. However, if they are in emerging trends every year, they’re not really emerging!
They are an extremely popular wallpaper design if you want to make a huge statement in a room. The beauty of using dark floral prints is that you can contrast them with pale neutrals and the wallpaper will still have a huge impact without overwhelming the decor.
Living room wallpaper trends often include dark wallpaper designs as they can help the room feel inviting and cozy. Graham and Brown have named Florenzia Dusk Wallpaper as their Wallpaper of the Year 2023. They describe it as –
“A classic floral re-imagined. Florenzia symbolizes the restoration of historical beauty and celebrates bringing new life and color into an artwork that has been carefully selected from our archives. Once hidden away, we reclaim this design now refined and ready for the walls of 21st-century homes”.
If you are going to use dark florals in a room, try and pick out lighter colors from the design and add them as an accent shade throughout so that the wallpaper doesn’t become too overwhelming.When shopping around for the perfect wallpaper, use Wickes voucher codes to get paper at the best price. Whether you want to add texture or vamp up your furniture, Wickes is known for its quality wallpaper in a range of designs!
9. Under the Sea
We all love being by the sea, so why not bring some of that beach life to our homes? Waves, seaweed, rockpools, and shells are perfect in teals and greens and can easily be used in bedrooms or bathrooms.
Seaweed prints with sea animals interspersed work really well with dark green cabinets in the bathroom or use abstract sea-inspired wallpaper design in a living room with dark green or navy blue velvet sofas.
Use ocean-themed wallpaper design on a feature wall in your living room to create a serene and calming environment. Images of waves, underwater scenes, or beach landscapes would work beautifully.
Or you could choose a gentle, ocean-themed wallpaper for a bedroom. Images of soft waves, beaches at sunrise or sunset, or even a simple seashell pattern can create a peaceful ambiance. Whether you prefer realistic, photographic designs or abstract, artistic interpretations of the sea, there’s a wallpaper out there to suit your style.
10. Wall Murals
A bit like dark floral prints, wall murals are growing in popularity and becoming bigger and better every year. You can add an outdoor scene in a living room or go for a full-size architectural backdrop to draw you into another world.
I have a huge tropical-inspired wallpaper mural in the living room and it brings all the colors of the room together. Wall murals are ideal for bringing color into a room without having to decide on one paint color.
In fact, I find wall murals easier to choose than a paint color itself and have always been big in living room wallpaper trends.
I have my eye on several wallpaper trends for 2023, I just need more rooms to decorate!
FAQs >>>
Q. Is wallpaper back in style?
A. I get asked this question over and over again and I constantly see it on social media and in design forums. I don’t think wallpaper ever really went out of style? It is such a personal design choice, however, new technologies and printing techniques have allowed for a wider range of styles, designs, and textures than ever before.
Q. How to choose wallpaper for living room?
A. You need to consider the size of the room to decide what color and pattern you should go for. If your living room is small, opt for wallpaper designs with a light color scheme and small to medium-scale patterns. Large rooms can accommodate bolder colors and larger patterns.
If your living room gets a lot of natural light, you have more flexibility in terms of color choice. If it’s darker, you might want to choose lighter wallpaper to brighten up the space.
Q. There are so many wallpaper designs, how can I choose the right one?
A. Are you more attracted to traditional patterns, modern geometric shapes, abstract wallpaper designs, or perhaps something whimsical or nature-inspired? Start by identifying your personal style and aesthetic preferences.
Also, think about the color scheme you want. Do you want the wallpaper to match your current room’s color scheme or are you open to introducing new colors? Consider whether you want a bold contrast or a more harmonious blend.
Choosing wallpaper is a long-term decision, so take your time. The right wallpaper should not only match your décor and color palette but also make you happy when you see it.
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- How to Hang Wallpaper for Beginners
- Wallpaper Trends for 2022
