Thanks to high-end companies such as Osborne & Little—whose creative team supplies the design industry with a constant flow of fresh, up-to-date styles and enduring, quality interpretations—the perception of “wallpaper” as a faded floral print reserved for your grandmother’s parlor is passé. Popular new or redefined styles include visual textures, special finishes, embellishments and vivid color.
Peter Osborne and Antony Little, two brothers-in-law with a shared passion for creativity and instinct for business, opened a small showroom in London in 1968. Their award-winning first collection of exquisite hand-printed wallpapers was an instant success. Throughout the years, the business has expanded its product range to include fabrics, trimmings, furniture and accessories.
In general, wallpaper was popular in the ’60s and ’70s. Its popularity declined during the ’80s when “minimalist” decorating and neutral paint colors became more popular. Wallpaper is like artwork … it adds depth, color, interest and impact to any room.
Another reason wallpaper fell out of popularity was because it was difficult to apply and take down. The first choice when working with wallpaper: Hire a professional if you lack the experience in this area. Like any skill or craft, you get better as you do it more. Use someone who hangs paper day in and day out for the best result. If you plan to hang your own wallpaper, however, look for the “non-woven” variety. Not all papers are made of this, but some are. In Europe, it’s called “easy up.” The hanger actually pastes the wall, not the paper, and it can be moved around, making it super simple.
Here are a few trends in wallpaper for the current season:
1. Wallpaper that gives the illusion of texture is popular now.
Osborne and Little’s Rabanna collection represents this trend with wallpapers that appear to be textured using holographic foil grounds and wallcoverings that have been subtly embossed to create a texture.
2. Like the fashion runway for fall and winter, wallpaper is showing a mix of patterns and textures within one design.
This autumn Osborne launched EDEN, the debut collection of fabrics and wallpapers by British fashion designer Matthew Williamson. They are highly decorative. For example the Tyger Tyger pattern has a tiger on a delicate, almost lace-like ground. Pegasus at first glance is a damask, but within the design there are winged horses.
3. Adding a small amount of wallpaper can bring a quick update to unexpected locations at home. For example, wallpaper makes the inside of this trunk lovely and colorful, and something you want to open up for display.
4. Rich colors  this season include cerise, jade, amethyst, teal and blue. Wall coverings, in contrast to paint, have the benefit of using innovative printing techniques: beading, mica finishes, ombre effects, etcetera. Look up-close at the unique finish on Matthew Williamson’s Ocelot Ombre wallpaper, and Nina Campbell’s Kintail beaded wallpaper.
What are the rooms people cover most?
Typically, people would say: the kitchen and the bathroom first, the foyer, dining rooms and possibly a master bedroom next. People are most willing to take the risk of patterned walls in small spaces like the bathrooms, kitchens and mud rooms. Wallpaper in a dining room can create instant atmosphere. One novel idea—Paper one “feature wall” in a room … especially with strong patterns.
There is no right and wrong. You can use something very modern in a traditional home, or perhaps a very classical design, like graphic black-and-white colorway, in a loft space. It’s all about being creative.
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Thank you to the experts at Osborne & Little for telling us about trends in wallpaper today. Enjoy looking at their trend-setting and traditional designs at www.osborneandlittle.com.
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