Words: Anne Schauffer | Images: Supplied
“Wallpaper is here to stay,” says Karen Nelson-Palmer, owner of Wall-paper. And although wallpaper is more expensive than paint, Karen says you can’t compare the two. “Paint application is a single texture; wallpaper can be so many. And the materials it’s made from vary considerably. It can be vinyl, paper, embossed, flocked, metallic, wooden veneer, cork, grass cloth, have Swarovski crystals attached – the possibilities are endless!”
Today’s wallpapers
Yesteryear’s wallpapers had a certain formality to them, but today, they can create or contribute to any mood you choose. From world maps to black-and-white images or newsprint, there’s a wallpaper for every purpose. A single wall wallpapered with monochrome images of vintage telephones turns a beautiful, cool home office from clinical to classic.
Local and international
Internationally, wallpaper has exploded and become exciting for interior designers and decorators. “We import mainly from the UK, Belgium and the US, and they’re surprisingly affordable,” says Karen. South African brands are also growing in popularity.
“Some South African fabric designers, image gurus or distributors, like Robin Sprong or Clinton Friedman, are very popular,” she adds.
Walls and ceilings
Wallpaper can also create the illusion of changing the room’s dimensions, like the effect of pale or dark colours bringing a wall forward or pushing it back. Wallpaper with thin vertical stripes can seem to raise the ceiling in a cramped space. Wallpapers can even accentuate a surface. Karen says, “We’re papering a lot of ceilings. From classic pressed ceiling designs to artificial brickwork, papered ceilings can be fun, creating a fantastic textured area.”
Karen also considers cleverly chosen wallpaper on a feature wall to be a really affordable alternative to changing curtains or scatter cushions.
Local trends
South Africans are still riding the wave of local imagery and nature, with the escape it represents from today’s techno world featuring strongly in wallpaper choices. The “back to nature” trend isn’t exclusively South African, of course, nature motifs are huge globally, even if there’s been a maturing of the trend with the introduction of genuine texture, metallic touches and fresh takes on older themes. Natural wood grains and plant patterns continue the story, but once again, with a twist.
Botanical prints have also been incorporated into sensational fabrics and wallpapers, some with dark and mysterious animal prints, and others with lighter and more quirky designs. Karen says, “I’m seeing leafy designs not in natural shades, but rather in new vibrant colours, with strong geometric designs coming through for 2018.”
Last word
Wallpaper, like art, has the dual purpose of making the home more visually appealing and allowing visitors to gain insight into the homeowner’s life experience. The wide range of wallpapers available locally and internationally allows homeowners to be brave and play a little. If it no longer works in a few years, you can change it. It’s that simple.
