By Gail Bicknell
Wallpaper is a design staple. Popularity grows and wanes over time. It’s out. It’s in. Heading into 2024, it’s definitely IN. Like paint and fabric, wallpaper can be transformative, and it’s the perfect cure for too much white or neutral in a space. Wallpaper can add texture, color, or interest. It can add drama, invigorate, or calm a space.
One of the latest movements in design is self-expression. Wallpaper allows clients to show their personality at a fraction of the cost of new flooring or furnishings. Elegant in the recesses of a coffered ceiling, inviting in a foyer, or punchy in a tiny powder room, well-chosen and installed, it can elicit a real “wow” response.
Wallpaper dates back to the 16th century. Florals and small landscape scenes were hand printed in black ink on individual sheets of paper, approximately 16” x 20”, and were first pasted into cupboard interiors. Flocked paper was made by scattering bits of powdered wool, a by-product of the woolen industry, onto wet ink, allowing color to be added to wallpaper. Turpentine was used in the adhesive ink and had the added advantage of repelling moths! Flocked wallpaper became wildly popular in Europe. By the late 17th century, trading with the East had begun and Chinese wallpaper was introduced in Europe. Handpainted on larger sheets of paper were scenes of Chinese life, exotic animals, birds, and florals~ the quality and sophistication of designs were unmatched in Europe and became highly desirable~ for those who could afford them. Around the same time, block printing became popular in England and wallpaper began being produced in rolls. Designs were engraved into wooden blocks which were inked and pressed onto paper. With multiple blocks, multiple colors could be added to the designs. This was a time-consuming and exacting process since each color had to dry in between and blocks had to be meticulously positioned. A William Morris paper in 1874 used 30 different blocks and 15 individual colors. Technological advances of the industrial age led to the invention of the wallpaper printing machine and within 25 years, wallpaper was accessible to a vastly wider clientele. Craftsman, Art Deco, and Cubist designs became popular in the early 1900’s. In 1961, pre-pasted and trimmed paper was introduced and the DIY craze began. Laminated paper, scrubbable vinyl paper, and metallic finishes became popular in the next two decades.
Today, durable, easy-to-clean wallcoverings are popular in high-traffic hallways, gyms, and children’s rooms. Magnificent, hand-painted papers still exist~ a recent show house in Palm Beach featured a gorgeous wall covering installed in a guest shower under specially treated glass to prevent moisture and mold. Today, bedrooms, powder rooms, and foyers are the most popular places for wallpaper, but nothing is off-limits.
Higher-end and specialty wallcoverings are sold by the yard~ widths of paper vary. A quirky, industry insider tip is that most wallpaper on the market is sold in double rolls but priced by the single roll. If you’re contemplating a wallcovering project, consult with a professional~ for both measuring and installation. I encourage you to consider adding wallpaper to your home to add color, interest, or texture. Today, along with traditional classic designs, you’ll find an amazing array of products that emulate silk, linen, hemp, even nubby wool, and rustic wood.
Ready to update the heart of your home? I’d love to talk with you! Email: fairstreetinteriors@gmail.com
Fair Street Interiors