With the rise of Cottagecore (an interior style that worships the simple, English country garden aesthetic) and a resurgence in popularity of ‘Arts & Crafts’ decor, wallpaper is now more favoured in interiors than ever. While wallpaper in bedrooms or dining spaces has always been customary, wallpaper is presently commonplace on Pinterest in areas such as the bathroom (paired with panelling on the lower half of the wall that receives the water splashes), and entire hallways are being livened up with print and pattern. 

Botanical Biophilia 

Biophilic design has been a keyword within interiors since the start of lockdown. As our access to the outside world was curtailed, our appreciation for nature increased and intensified our desire to incorporate elements of the natural environment within our indoor living spaces. House plants, having access to natural light, as well as including natural materials such as wood and clay in our home decor can reduce stress and improve our mental wellbeing. Therefore, it is no surprise that decorative wallpapers depicting delicate single-picked fern leaves (or the stems of pressed flowers) are trending right now. Simple and dainty, Botanical Biophilia wallpapers are calming while still containing lots of intricate, visual detail. 

Waves and Curves 

Scallops, waves, curves and ric rac designs continue to dominate within home décor, as irregular-shaped mirrors and ruffle-edged cushions overtake standard rectangle forms. This trend is now passing over into wallpaper as soothing, rounded and looping patterns are more coveted for the modern home. Curves are pleasing to the eye, while a wavy-patterned wallpaper is a great way to soften a sharp, boxy room that is otherwise full of straight lines and sharp corners.  

Archive Prints 

The Arts and Crafts movement has returned to interiors in a big way as the joy of a more simple life has been embraced after lockdown (think gardening, home cooking and sewing). There is also an increased appreciation of the well-made and handcrafted, as we look to buy preloved furniture and create a sustainable home that avoids having a negative impact on the planet. The Arts and Crafts movement of the second half of the 19th Century honoured skilled crafts in the face of the Industrial Revolution, and there is no one more representative of that era than William Morris (his timeless prints and wallpaper designs are currently some of the most favoured by leading interior designers and interior influencers on Instagram). Meadow Sweet and Willow wallpapers are my personal favourite designs - they look particularly good in hallways combined with corresponding paint colours on the woodwork. 

Block Prints  

Another nod to the returning popularity of Arts and Crafts is the in-demand block print. A simple, repetitive stamp of the same design allows for a more uncomplicated pattern for those after a wallpaper that is decorative but avoids feeling overly ‘busy.’ Block printing also allows for a smaller-scale design, so they work well in compact spaces where larger, sweeping print wallpapers can feel misplaced.  

Green 

A number of leading paint manufacturers – including Benjamin Moore – picked out green as their top Colour Of The Year for 2022. Lighter sage greens are marked to be more popular than deeper greens, but as a whole green has been trending within interiors for the past few years as it is well-liked and seen as an easy and pleasing colour to use within the home. Because of the popularity of green, many wallpaper manufacturers have been offering their designs in this shade and there is now a wealth of green wallpaper to choose from. To keep it authentic, choose a green wallpaper that represents where it can be found in the natural world. I’m a particular fan of Sanberg’s Hassel Arboretum – a climbing Hazel branch design in a muted green and brown colourway.

Stripes 

Bold, repetitive patterns such as thick stripes and checkerboard designs are back; while checkerboard wallpaper may be too much for most, a block stripe is a classic design that works well in the home. Reminiscent of the quintessential British deckchair, stripes have an underlying elegance that also feels fun. Vertical stripe patterns can also make a space feel taller, which is why stripy wallpaper works well in low-level rooms with truncated ceilings. Stripes on the wall don’t have to be streamlined and linear – see Britta Mallory Stripes Wallpaper By Colefax and Fowler and Pil Arboretum Wallpaper By Sandberg for stripey wallpapers with distinction. 

Chinoiserie Style 

 Thanks to the introduction of new technology, the hand-painted silk walls which embody the Chinoiserie style - usually only possessed by the wealthy - are now more accessible thanks to high-quality digital printing methods. With a magical and fanciful charm, Chinoiserie patterns incorporate tropical birds, fruit-filled trees, and bamboo and blossom designs. A great way to use Chinoiserie wallpapers is to combine them with traditional wall panels - apply the paper inside the rectangular moulding for a high-end, time-honoured look.

Texture 

Neutral interiors have really been embraced in the past few years; to make a colourless decor palette work, there must be the inclusion of texture. Texture is vital to bring depth and visual interest to a space, which is why there has been a surge in popularity of bouclé sofas, chairs, and furniture: the curly, knotted yard adds tactility to an otherwise plain backdrop. Other popular textured home decor items include large, rough stone vases and plant pots, plus accessories made from rustic knotted woods. The demand for texture is now so high that textured wallpaper is set to be a huge trend in 2022, with Wallpaper Sales stocking a huge range: discover tactile grasscloth, weaves and intricate looped detailing. Textured walls bring so much warmth to a room, which is why they are particularly good to use in the bedroom.  

Peel & Stick 

One of the best developments within interior design in recent years is a focus on creating interior products for renters. Just because you rent, it doesn’t mean that you should not be able to enjoy and be creative within the home in which you live. Wallpaper is something that has often been avoided by tenants as a product that is too permanent to use within a rental, but now there are some excellent choices within ‘Peel & Stick’ wallpaper ranges that allow you to apply and easily remove wallpaper (without the need for a strong adhesive that has to be scraped or steamed off). Thanks to social media, interior-loving renters are sharing their walls adorned in self-adhesive wallpaper, which in turn has led to the removable product being one of the most in-demand wallpaper styles for 2022. Wallpaper Sales sell a range of self-adhesive wallpapers with no requirement for paste (my personal favourite is the ArtiStick Tribal Wallpaper by Arthouse).