The changing face of wallpaper

Bjorn Nilsson is design manager at Eco-Borastapeter.

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by Björn Nilsson

Wallpaper is undergoing a transformation at the moment, in terms of the public’s understanding of what it can do for a space.

No longer is wallpaper just an alternative to paint – it is now being used as an extension of designers’ canvases, whether it be fashion or art. Technological developments in wallpaper, ranging from self-cleaning to scented (both general and ‘scratch and sniff’) are also making it much more than just decoration for the home or office.

Wallpaper once knew its place. Its role as a quiet, decorative backdrop was universally acknowledged. Occasionally, it played a more prominent role as a bold feature wall. Now, however, technological advances and aesthetic development have turned the medium into a powerfully expressive and creative force.

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Of course, interior designers no longer talk about wallpaper – it’s wallcoverings – as the concept of wallpaper has developed away from just paper with the use of new materials. Technology has stepped in and created products with compounds that make them washable, pre-pasted, long lasting and bespoke, allowing people to reproduce any style from any period.

Wallpaper can also play an important role in changing the features of a room. Few know of the unique features that can be obtained with wallpaper, and how it can transform a space – for example, stick with neutral colours to give the illusion that walls are further away than they really are or, to create a higher ceiling effect, use wallpaper with narrow stripes of soft pastel colours and white.

Fashion designers have also moved from the catwalk to the wall. Vivienne Westwood has recently realised that a flat surface is just as good a canvas as a body for her art. Westwood’s range, for all the rebellious attitude of her fashion collections, is surprisingly demure and the majority of her prints translate beautifully from body to wall. Wallcoverings are also receiving international acclaim through awards such as the Elle Decoration Design Award – which Eco-Boråstapeter won last year for its London design.