San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
The big cover up
Give your walls a modern makeover by embracing wall coverings in the latest colors and designs
Wallpaper isn’t going anywhere — it’s just getting more fabulous. From papers made with cork to modern chintz patterns, these coverings are just the thing to give your rooms a much-needed lift. Check out these trends:
1. Material things
While paper is still the go-to material, wallpaper is having a moment with texture. Grasscloth, straw, wicker and other natural materials give walls a fresh look while adding warmth and depth. The star, though, is cork. “It’s for someone who wants a visual texture without an attention-grabbing pattern,” said Bryce Capp, creative director at Milton & King, a luxury wallpaper manufacturer. A lighter-finished cork wallpaper gives a room a spacious and airy feeling, said Deanna Hain, executive director of marketing for York Wallcoverings. “A darker option creates a moodier tone while choices that incorporate metallics allow for a bolder approach.”
2. A warm feeling
Last year wallpaper was all about cool hues like blue and gray; in 2020, its temperature has risen with the focus on warmer colors like coral, terracotta and sage green. Also heating things up: browns,
mustards and golds.
3. The 3D effect
To give a room a different perspective, hang 3D wallpaper, which enhances the illusion of depth. And it’s not just for contemporar y homes. “You can use 3D wallpaper in a traditionalstyle room, too, as long as the style and color of the design pattern fit the traditional motif,” Capp said. “Floral and damask styles feature traditional patterns that can be realized with modern 3D methods.”
4. Glam slam
With chevrons, octagons and other geometric shapes taking center stage, ar t deco lives on in wallpaper design. “The classic dimensional-pattern styles feel timeless and work beautifully in rooms with traditional design schemes,” Hain said. Period colors include reds, greens and blues mixed with silver, black or chrome.
5. Chintz is chic
This is not your grandma’s chintz. “This style is evolving into a new categor y that centers on the grandmillennial trend, of fering contemporar y palettes in traditional styles that feature smaller prints and brighter colors,” Hain said. These new reimagined classics are often used in tandem with a more eclectic mix of patterns and texture for a fresh, global sophistication with respect for heritage.
6. Tropical flair
Botanical prints are perfect for covering the walls of a bedroom or bathroom. “Tropical- or botanical-themed styles are so bold and specific that most homeowners typically want to contain this type of décor and of fer something special to these rooms,” Capp said. “Kitchens, living rooms and dining rooms are often visible from adjacent rooms in the home, especially in open-plan constructions, and the tropical and botanical themes can bleed over into rooms that you may want to cordon off with a different sort of vibe.”