Every few years, something shifts in how homeowners think about their walls. Right now, we’re in the middle of one of those shifts — and it’s a meaningful one. After more than a decade of minimalism, white walls, and “keep it simple,” people are ready for something that actually says something. Wallpaper is back, and not as a passing trend — as a permanent fixture in how thoughtful interiors are designed.
At D. Marie Interiors, we’ve been watching this shift closely through the projects we design and the clients we work with. Here’s our honest take on what’s actually worth putting on your walls right now — and what we’d skip.
1. Texture Over Pattern: The Quiet Statement
This is the trend we’re most excited about right now, and for good reason: it delivers the visual richness of wallpaper without the bold commitment of a busy pattern. Grasscloth, linen-effect, plaster-look, and embossed wallpapers are dominating what our clients are asking for — especially in living rooms, primary bedrooms, and home studies.
The appeal is tactile as much as visual. These papers make a wall feel like it has depth and materiality, which changes the entire quality of a room without announcing itself. They photograph beautifully, hold up well over time, and work with almost any furniture style. If you’re newer to wallpaper and want something with longevity, textured wallpaper is where we’d start.
What to look for: Natural colorways — warm taupes, creamy whites, warm grays, and soft greens. Avoid anything that reads too shiny or synthetic.
→ Browse our full wallpaper collection
2. Botanical & Nature-Inspired Wallpaper
Oversized botanicals are having a genuine moment — not just as a Pinterest aesthetic but as a real design direction we’re seeing in actual projects. The look: large-scale tropical leaves, garden murals, and nature motifs in deep greens, ochre, terracotta, and dusty sage.
The “modern heritage” aesthetic — think maximalist nature imagery with a slightly vintage, art-print quality — is defining some of the best rooms right now. It works particularly well in dining rooms, powder rooms, and primary bedrooms, where you want one wall that genuinely surprises you.
What makes botanical wallpaper work — and what makes it fail — is scale. In a standard-height room, an oversized leaf print can feel dramatic in the best way. Scale it down too much and it reads busy instead of bold. When in doubt, go bigger than feels comfortable.
→ Shop our wallpaper murals & botanical decals
3. Moody Statement Walls
Deep greens, plum, charcoal, and midnight blue are replacing the neutral backdrop that’s dominated interior design for years. These colors show up powerfully in wallpaper form, where texture and pattern add dimension that a flat painted wall simply can’t match.
The rooms we love most right now have a moody feature wall in the dining room or primary bedroom. Not an entire room papered (though that works in the right space), but one wall that anchors everything else. A deep green botanical on a single dining room wall, surrounded by lighter furniture and natural wood, is one of the most satisfying combinations in residential design right now.
Designer note: If you’re nervous about dark wallpaper, start with the wall opposite your bed or behind a sideboard. It reads richer in real life than in a small sample, and you’ll live with it better than you think.
4. Intentional Maximalism
Maximalism is back, but the version worth paying attention to is different from the cluttered-room maximalism of the past. What’s working now is intentional maximalism: one bold wallpaper choice that carries the room, surrounded by restraint everywhere else. A wildly patterned grasscloth in a bathroom. A floor-to-ceiling mural in a small study. A fully papered dining room with clean-lined furniture.
The pattern gets to be the statement. Everything else steps back. This is more accessible than it sounds — you’re not asking an entire room to be bold, just one element of it.
What’s Fading Out
Here’s what we’d skip:
- Shiplap and faux-wood wallpaper — The farmhouse era is winding down. These are starting to feel dated.
- Cool gray geometric patterns — Too cold, too much. Cool gray geometry has run its course.
- Oversized chevron and ikat — Both peaked a few years ago. There are better pattern choices with more longevity right now.
- White walls chosen out of fear — White walls aren’t wrong, but choosing them because you’re afraid of pattern usually results in rooms that feel unfinished. Wallpaper is how you add what’s missing.
Not Sure Where to Start?
The best entry point for wallpaper is almost always the powder room or a single accent wall. Low square footage, manageable commitment, and the impact can be genuinely dramatic. Peel and stick wallpaper is particularly good here — it lets you experiment with a bold pattern before committing fully, and comes down without damaging the wall.
For larger spaces — bedrooms, dining rooms, living rooms — we almost always recommend one statement wall rather than papering all four. It uses less material, costs less, and in most rooms it’s the stronger design choice: one wall that draws the eye, three walls that let it breathe.
→ Browse peel & stick wallpaper — no commitment required
Frequently Asked Questions
What wallpaper styles are trending right now?
The strongest trends right now are textured wallpapers (grasscloth, linen-effect, plaster), botanical and nature-inspired patterns, and moody deep-toned feature walls in greens, plums, and charcoals. Intentional maximalism — one bold pattern, restrained everything else — is also a major design direction.
Is wallpaper coming back in style?
It never really left — but it’s having a genuine resurgence right now. After years of minimalism and white walls, homeowners are actively seeking texture, pattern, and personality. Wallpaper is the most efficient way to add all three at once.
What type of wallpaper is easiest to install?
Peel and stick wallpaper is by far the most beginner-friendly option. It requires no paste, no special tools beyond a smoothing tool and a level, and comes down without damaging the wall — ideal for renters or anyone experimenting before committing. Shop our peel & stick collection here.
How do I choose the right wallpaper for my room?
Start with the function and feel of the room. Bedrooms benefit from texture and softness — grasscloth and linen-effect work beautifully. Dining rooms and powder rooms can handle more drama — botanicals, moody tones, and bold patterns all work well. For living rooms, one statement wall is usually the stronger choice. When in doubt, order samples and live with them on the wall for a few days before committing.