The history of wallpaper is full of damask, trellis and geometric designs. These classic wallpaper patterns are truly timeless, which is how they remain so popular. Why? Because they are so adaptable. You can be a traditionalist and use them in a scheme faithful to the architectural style of period buildings, or combine them with contemporary furnishings in modern spaces. One of the reasons they remain a great favourite with interior designers is that they help tie together a colour scheme. Being, often, simply coloured, they offer interest and structure to a room without fighting with the rest of the furnishings or features.
With our new interpretations of these classic wallpaper designs there is no shortage of inspiration. Updated and re-invented for today’s interiors, we have freed the patterns from their traditional tight pattern repeats. With innovative textures applied, ombre effects used and new contemporary colour combinations, our Timeless Classics work incredibly well as mural wallpapers.
We asked our designers the best ways to use the new Timeless Classics range as mural wallpaper and these are their top tips.
Damask Mural Wallpapers
Damask wallpaper patterns are one of the best known and most popular historical wallpaper styles and they show no signs of going out of fashion. It is, therefore, no accident that two of the designs we selected from the V&A archive were damask patterns. Both depict the scrolling motifs of stylised acanthus leaves, flowers and feathers, a style of damask design that has been continually popular since the Renaissance. Their popularity could be said to be cultural, but really it comes down to the fact that they are so well balanced, easy to use and fundamentally elegant.
It is because of their timeless quality that you can use them absolutely anywhere in the home. Wherever you use them they create an air of graceful sophistication.
Damask Mural Wallpapers in Living Rooms
To create a sumptuous and luxurious living room try using the rich jewel tones of Lydiard Damask Mulberry. Our designers love the way this rich, deep, purple envelops you in an opulent embrace – a perfect backdrop for pops of bright colour and warm neutral colours. Or pair Cranford Damask in Onyx with the cool tones of marble and off white for a contemporary monotone look.
In contrast, our Lydiard Damask design in one of the many soft neutral colourways and Cranford Damask both create a sophisticated neutral living room scheme. The softly textured Cranford Damask in Sandstone, shown here, is the perfect backdrop to classic and contemporary furnishings. All our designers love this one - you just can’t go wrong with it!
Damask Mural Wallpapers in Hallways
Welcome people to your home with a dramatic statement mural wallpaper in your hallway. This new take on a traditional damask, Lydiard Damask in Cinnabar Red is a favourite with our stylists! Pair it with fresh white woodwork, and pops of contrasting colours for a bright contemporary feel. Or in contrast, choose the soft, sophisticated tones of Cranford Damask in Dove Grey for a more subtle effect.
Damask Mural Wallpapers in Bedrooms
For a refined, elegant and restful bedroom scheme, our designers all agree Cranford Damask in Petrol Blue is just perfect. Pair it with crisp white cotton bedlinen for a tranquil fresh feel or with linen bedsheets in blue grey tones for a relaxed yet sophisticated look.
Trellis and Geometric Mural Wallpapers
Many early wallpapers were printed on small sheets of paper about 40cm high by 50cm wide. It was not until the mid-17th century that wallpaper was produced in long rolls. Even so, designs were still restricted to the height and width of the blocks or printing rollers. It is, therefore, not surprising that the rectangular format of production inspired the designers of the day to create linear patterns in a grid structure. Trellis, lattice and geometric wallpaper designs have been perennial favourites ever since.
Now with the introduction of digital wallpaper printing we can break free of the restrictions of the small-scale rectangular pattern repeats of the past and create murals that are limitless with their scale and repeat. Our Uppark Trellis and Paris Plasterwork designs take two traditional geometric patterns and turn them on their head.
Perhaps the reason these designs endure is that they are great for giving a room structure and proportion without over-powering the scheme.
Geometric Mural Wallpapers in Living Rooms
A great backdrop to a classic living room scheme with a contemporary twist, our design team love Uppark Trellis in Limestone. The gentle, painterly ombre in the background will give the room a real sense of light and depth. For a more dramatic look go for Uppark Trellis in Bordeaux Red and create a statement wall with real impact.
Geometric Mural Wallpapers in Hallways
Fabulous in hallways, Paris Plasterwork is both impactful and subtle. It won’t over-power, yet gives a hallway real architectural presence. The gentle ombre effect from bottom to top also give a hallway a sense of light and height.
Geometric Mural Wallpapers in Bedrooms
In a fast-paced world of hectic distractions, a geometric pattern can give a room a sense of structure and calm. Adding a contemporary twist on a classic, these new geometric patterns, Uppark Trellis in Forest Green and Paris Plasterwork in Wedgewood Blue are firm favourites with our stylists for bedroom schemes due to their quiet elegance.
Which is your favourite Timeless Classic and where would you use it? We’d love to hear. Let us know on social channels @surfaceview.
