Wallpaper Is Here to Stay
- ashlylynn21
- Feb 6
- 4 min read
Wallpaper has always held a certain quiet confidence — and right now, it’s experiencing a well‑deserved resurgence. Not as a fleeting trend, but as a thoughtful design tool that adds depth, warmth, and intention to a home.
One of the reasons wallpaper is so compelling today is the sheer breadth of what’s available. Designers and artisans are creating collections rich in color, refined in pattern, and layered in texture. From soft, tonal designs to bold, graphic statements, wallpaper offers a level of expression that paint simply cannot replicate. The possibilities truly are endless.
Photography courtesy of York Wallcoverings
Photography courtesy of Graham & Brown
A Layered Approach
One of the most timeless ways to incorporate wallpaper is by pairing it with architectural detailing. In larger rooms and hallways especially, wallpaper combined with paneling — board and batten, vertical treatments, or framed panel walls reminiscent of traditional raised panels — creates a sense of structure and balance.
The millwork grounds the space, while the wallpaper brings softness and personality. Together, they create rooms that feel curated and complete, rather than decorative for decoration’s sake. It’s a classic pairing that feels equally at home in both traditional and transitional interiors.
Photography courtesy of York Wallcoverings
Photography courtesy of York Wallcoverings
Wallpaper Studios Worth Knowing
As designers, we’re constantly inspired by the creatives and makers behind the materials we use. In the process of writing this piece, a few wallpaper studios stood out not only for their collections, but for their generosity and commitment to thoughtful design.
York Wallcoverings has been crafting wallpaper for more than a century, manufacturing from the same historic factory in Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna Valley since 1895. Today, they stand as the oldest and largest wallcovering manufacturer in the United States — a distinction rooted in enduring craftsmanship, innovation, and respect for tradition.
Drawing inspiration from one of the most extensive wallpaper archives in the world, York’s designs reflect a rare balance of artistry and authenticity. Their studio, long recognized for fine and innovative work, continues to reinterpret historic patterns for modern living. With an unparalleled range of printing methods — from turn-of-the-century presses to advanced digital techniques — York preserves the integrity of the craft while producing wallcoverings designed to last. We’re deeply grateful for their generosity and continually inspired by their commitment to quality, heritage, and thoughtful design.
Photography courtesy of York Wallcoverings
Graham & Brown is a family-owned brand defined by generations of creativity, craftsmanship, and a deep understanding of home. For more than eighty years, they have designed wallpaper with everyday living in mind — creating spaces that offer comfort, inspiration, and enduring quality.
Guided by historic artistry yet driven by future ambition, their collections reflect a thoughtful confidence that comes only with time. From archive designs reimagined for modern life to patterns crafted to last, Graham & Brown approaches wallpaper as storytelling — honoring the past while inviting self-expression in the present. We’re sincerely grateful for their generosity and inspired by the way they continue to celebrate heritage without ever feeling dated.
Photography courtesy of Graham & Brown
Wallpaper, when chosen with intention, becomes more than a backdrop — it becomes part of a home’s story. Thoughtfully layered, beautifully crafted, and deeply personal, it’s a design element we continue to reach for again and again.
Photography courtesy of Graham & Brown
Small Rooms as Design Moments
Smaller spaces can offer an opportunity to be bold. Powder rooms, hallways, studies, and secondary rooms are ideal places to lean into drama. Darker palettes, richer patterns, and more expressive designs can transform these spaces into memorable moments.
When done intentionally, darker wallpaper doesn’t overwhelm — it envelops. These rooms become intimate, layered, and impactful, proving that size doesn’t limit sophistication.
Photography courtesy of Graham & Brown
Photography courtesy of York Wallcoverings
Following the Light
Natural light should always guide design decisions, and wallpaper is no exception. In rooms flooded with sunlight and surrounded by views, lighter and more subtle wallpapers often feel most appropriate, allowing the outdoors to take center stage.
Conversely, rooms with fewer windows invite a different approach. Rather than fighting the lack of light, embracing deeper tones and moodier patterns can result in spaces that feel cozy, grounded, and atmospheric. These rooms gain character precisely because they lean into their inherent qualities.
Photography courtesy of York Wallcoverings
Photography courtesy of York Wallcoverings
Photography courtesy of Graham & Brown
Beyond the All‑White Era
For some, wallpaper still carries hesitation — a reminder of a time when it fell out of favor and was stripped away in favor of stark white walls. While minimalism has its place, an overreliance on white can leave spaces feeling flat, sterile, and unfinished.
Today, homeowners are craving something more. Color. Pattern. Texture. A sense of warmth and individuality. A home should feel decorated and lived‑in, not overly cautious or impersonal.
Photography courtesy of Graham & Brown
Photography courtesy of York Wallcoverings
Timeless, Thoughtful, Enduring
When used with intention, wallpaper elevates a home. It signals thoughtfulness. It creates continuity. It transforms rooms from simply clean to beautifully designed.
Wallpaper isn’t about following trends — it’s about creating spaces that feel layered, personal, and enduring. And for that reason, it’s not going anywhere.
In fact, it’s exactly where it belongs.
Photography courtesy of Graham & Brown
Photography courtesy of York Wallcoverings
Photography courtesy of Graham & Brown
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