Welcome to Wallpaper 2.0. In case you haven’t been paying attention, wallcoverings have undergone a revolution. Those chintzy flower patterns or tiny polka dots from grandma’s living room? Gone. In their place are textured papers and big, bold designs in strong colors that can add depth, warmth and more than a little personality to a room.
The patterns aren’t the only change. These days, wallpaper is easier to put up and take down, and it’s often used more sparingly than in the past. Think of it as akin to a piece of artwork or a new throw pillow: an adventurous accessory that can pull a room’s elements together and give it some zing.
No one’s quite sure why the wallpaper trend — which is particularly popular among young Washingtonians — caught fire. It could be the “Mad Men” phenomenon: the sudden rush for all things reminiscent of the 1950s and ‘60s. More likely, though, it’s part of an overall increased interest in home decorating and the effort to find something to distinguish one’s home. “There are hundreds of design blogs, shelter magazines — everywhere you look, you’re seeing new ideas. I think people are more aware of their options,” said Jennifer Sergent, marketing director for the Washington Design Center and writer of the popular DC by Design blog.
David Passerell, an IT manger, was looking to make a unique statement in his U Street corridor apartment. “I wanted something different,” he explained, adding that a friend of his is a professional wallpaper hanger and suggested he go with paper. Passerell wound up with a rectangular design in gold and black on one wall by the kitchen, to match his black table and brown walls. The wallpaper covers a small space, but “it really adds a totally new character to the place,” he said.
That’s the goal these days. Many of the new patterns are designed to pack a graphic punch: Imagine tight geometric shapes in contrasting colors; blown-up damask prints in hot pink or orange; or stark black-and-white trellis designs. Equally popular are textured papers, which may be lined with grass or other natural fibers, beads or simply raised patterns, and may or may not be printed with a design. “Even if you do a solid color, the texture gives more depth than just paint,” said Sally Steponkus, an interior designer located in the District.
It doesn’t have to totally break the bank, either. Sure, there are firms like the U.K.-based Farrow & Ball — whose classy, Victorian-inspired prints are enough to get any home decorating devotee’s mouth watering — that charge more than $200 per roll (covering about 50 square feet), or over $3,000 to cover an average-size room. But most are much more affordable. Companies like Schumacher, Thibaut and Graham & Brown, for example, offer beautiful, cutting edge designs that sell for under $50 a roll. Not all can be purchased online without going through a decorator as an intermediary, but most are available in Washington stores.
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