Wallpaper is back in, and it’s louder, bolder and more vibrant than ever.

The decor has been hailed by interior designers across the country for the personality and warmth it can add to a room.

Interior Designer James McNamara said that while many would remember the wallpaper of the 1970s as a general nightmare to put up and take back down, things have since changed.

“As everything, wallpaper has evolved and how it’s used has evolved, and it’s not just the old dated patterns anymore,” he told Moncrieff.

“There’s texture, there’s different colours – it’s a world of possibilities, and it’s a very exciting tool to use in your interior spaces to create a more exciting space.”

Mr McNamara said that any interior design trend tends to come back around, but in a way that’s updated.

Serious clients with material samples of facades of kitchen cabinets and discussing details with interior designer in office of furniture store. Image: Addictive Stock creatives. 21 July 2023

“It’s not for everyone, of course, nothing is, but it is a really fun way to create texture and excitement in your home,” he said.

“Instead of wallpapering everything, it’s a fun opportunity to zone into specific areas of the space.

“So, incorporating it with panelling or in your door fonts, you can mold it in that way as well.

“It’s not as extreme as it was back then.”

How to incorporate

According to Mr McNamara, there is no one right way to incorporate wallpaper into a space.

“Personally, I’m not a big feature wall person,” he said.

“If I’m doing wallpaper, I like to incorporate it in with the panelling, or I like to put it on the ceiling or as a feature in a cabinetry style, like a wardrobe or something like that.

“I think it’s more fun to curate the space around it instead of making it the main attraction, if you will.”

Mr McNamara said he would always recommend getting a professional to do a wallpapering job.

Main image: Full-length rear view of couple applying wallpaper to wall. Image: Moodboard Stock Photography. 13 March 2014