What's hot and what's happening in 2024!
Transforming your living space into a cosy haven or a stylish sanctuary involves paying attention to the details. One often-overlooked element that can add a touch of sophistication and personality to your walls is textured wallpaper. If you're looking to elevate your home decor, this ultimate guide to textured wallpaper will help you navigate the world of patterns, materials, and application techniques to create a stunning, textured masterpiece.
1. Understanding Textured Wallpaper:
Textured wallpaper adds depth, character, and visual interest to any room. Unlike traditional flat wallpapers, textured varieties feature raised patterns or embossing that can mimic various materials such as fabric, stone, or even grasscloth. The texture not only enhances the aesthetics of the space but also provides a tactile experience.
2. Choosing the Right Texture:
Selecting the right texture is crucial for achieving the desired ambiance in your home. Consider the existing decor, your personal style, and the function of the room. For example, a subtle texture might be perfect for a sophisticated living room, while a more rugged texture could bring warmth to a modern kitchen.
3. Materials Matter:
Textured wallpapers come in a variety of materials, each offering unique benefits and visual effects. Common materials include vinyl, grasscloth, fabric, and printed textural non-wovens. Vinyl is durable and easy to clean, making it suitable for high-traffic areas, while grasscloth adds a touch of natural elegance. Fabric wallpapers, on the other hand, bring a luxurious feel but may require more care.
4. Playing with Light:
Textured wallcoverings really come into their own when carefully lit creating a magical effect in a room. The textured surface along with the special inks, metallic effects or special embossing plays with the light and creates another layer of detail and ambiance in the room.
5. Pattern Play:
Textured wallpaper doesn’t have to be completely patternless, and the right choice can make or break a room's design. From subtle textural geometrics to contemporary abstract designs, the options are limitless. Consider the scale of the pattern in relation to the size of your room, and don't be afraid to mix and match textures and patterns for a dynamic look.
6. Installation Tips:
Proper installation is key to achieving a seamless and professional finish. If you're a DIY enthusiast, follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully and invest in the right tools. However, for larger or more intricate projects, it's advisable to hire a professional installer to ensure precision and a flawless result.
7. Maintenance and Care:
Maintaining textured wallpaper is generally easy, but it's essential to follow specific guidelines based on the quality. Vinyl and other washable wallpapers can be cleaned with a damp cloth, while more delicate options like fabric or grasscloth may require a gentler touch. Always check the manufacturer's recommendations for cleaning and maintenance.
Textured wallpaper is a versatile and impactful design element that can breathe new life into your living spaces. By understanding the different textures, materials, and patterns available, you can make informed decisions to create a visually stunning and inviting home. Whether you prefer a subtle touch or a bold statement, textured wallpaper is a fantastic way to express your style and enhance the overall atmosphere of your living space.
Trending Textured Wallpapers: Elevate Your Space with Style
In the ever-evolving world of interior design, keeping up with the latest trends can help you infuse a fresh and contemporary vibe into your living space. Here's a look at some of the 5 trending textured wallpaper categories that are making waves in the design world:
- Fabric-look Textures:
Sometimes understated is more than enough of a design statement. This is no more obvious than when you see an interior which has been elegantly wrapped in a fabric-like textured wallpaper. This subtle wallpaper option is timeless and elegant and will allow your art or other décor ideas to shine in the space and not be overwhelmed. This type of wallpaper may be printed with textured inks on a non-woven substrate or it may be printed on an embossed vinyl substrate which looks just like fabric. Both can work a treat.
- Natural Fibre Textures:
Bringing the outdoors inside is a timeless trend, and natural fibre textured wallpapers are currently in vogue. Grasscloth and woven textures provide a tactile experience and add warmth to your space. These wallpapers are an excellent choice for creating a warm inviting atmosphere in a space.
- Real Fabric Textures:
If you’re after a really authentic fabric textured wallcovering, why not look at actual fabric wallcovering options where the fabric has been laminated onto a wallpaper substrate. These qualities are often a little pricier and come in a wide fabric format to minimize the number of joins you will end up with on your wall. Due to the unique nature of real fabric wallcoverings, the joins do tend to be visible and as with grasscloth wallcoverings, are part of the charm.
- Embossed Vinyls
Embrace the power of embossing with textured wallpapers featuring bold and intricate embossed patterns. The incredible detail and realistic textural effects achieved add a unique touch to your walls, creating a visually striking focal point. The three-dimensional aspect of these patterns adds depth and interest, making them a popular choice for accent walls in living rooms and bedrooms.
- Subtle Metallic Accents:
For a touch of glamour and sophistication, consider textured wallpapers with subtle metallic accents. Gold, silver, or copper hues integrated into the texture can catch and reflect light, creating a stunning visual effect. These wallpapers are perfect for adding a touch of luxury to dining rooms, main bedrooms, or guest bathrooms.
Choosing the Right Room: Where to Showcase Textured Wallpapers
Not all rooms are created equal when it comes to showcasing the beauty and impact of textured wallpapers. Each space has its own unique characteristics, and the choice of textured wallpaper can significantly enhance the ambiance. Here's a guide on which rooms are best suited for textured wallpapers and the reasons behind these choices:
- Living Room:
Ideal Textures: Embossing, Subtle Metallic Accents
Reasoning: The living room is often considered the heart of the home, and textured wallpapers can add depth and personality to this central space. Creative embossing provides a modern and stylish touch, while subtle metallic accents can catch and reflect light, creating an inviting atmosphere for socializing and relaxation.
- Bedroom:
Ideal Textures: Natural Fibre Textures, Embossed Motifs
Reasoning: Bedrooms are retreats for relaxation and rejuvenation. Natural fibre textures, such as grasscloth, create a cosy and serene environment. Embossed floral or leafy motifs add a touch of romance, turning the bedroom into a haven of tranquility. These textures can be particularly effective on an accent wall behind the bed.
- Dining Room:
Ideal Textures: Metallic Accents, Embossed Vinyls
Reasoning: The dining room is a space for both daily meals and special occasions. Metallic accents bring an element of sophistication, creating a luxurious dining experience. Embossed vinyl wallpapers with their wealth of design options, incredible detailing and artistic flair, can be a conversation starter, making the dining room a stylish and inviting area for entertaining guests.
- Home Office:
Ideal Textures: Natural Textures, Abstract Textures
Reasoning: The home office is a place of focus and productivity. Natural textures or concrete and industrial textures can contribute to a modern and functional workspace. Abstract textures offer a creative and inspiring backdrop, fostering an environment that encourages innovative thinking and problem-solving.
- Guest Bathroom:
Ideal Textures: Metallic Accents, Bold Textures
Reasoning: Guest bathrooms are often small, making them an ideal canvas for bold design choices. Metallic accents and bold textural patterns can elevate these intimate spaces, transforming them into stylish and memorable corners of your home.
- Wet Bathrooms or Kitchens:
Ideal Textures: Textured Vinyl
Reasoning: Vinyl wallpapers are non-absorbent and as a result they’re easily washable, making them ideal for wet rooms like kitchens and bathrooms. Vinyl is thick, durable, stain-resistant, and can withstand steam, which means if you’re looking to wallpaper part of a kitchen or bathroom, it’s an ideal choice.
- Entrance/Hallway:
Ideal Textures: Embossed Vinyls, Subtle Textures
Reasoning: The entrance sets the tone for your home, and hallways are transitional spaces that connect various rooms. Embossed vinyl wallpapers can make a bold statement in the entrance, creating an immediate visual impact and on top of that are also fully washable, which is a great feature when you consider the grubby fingers which often adorn a family home’s walls. Alternatively subtle textures in hallways can add interest without overwhelming the space.
- Children's Room:
Ideal Textures: Playful Textured Patterns, Embossed Vinyls
Reasoning: Children's rooms are spaces where creativity and imagination run wild. Playful textural patterns and washable embossed wallpapers can contribute to a vibrant and stimulating environment, encouraging creativity and playfulness, without any worries about cleanability.
In essence, the choice of textured wallpaper depends on the function of the room and the atmosphere you wish to create. Whether you're aiming for a cozy retreat, a sophisticated entertaining space, or an inspiring workspace, textured wallpapers can be tailored to suit each room's unique purpose, making your home a reflection of your personal style and taste.
Want to start bringing textured wallpapers into your home? Browse our selection online or visit us in our Kramerville, Jhb showroom and let’s start transforming your space for the year ahead together.