The Most Beautiful Wallpaper Trends For 2026
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2 weeks ago
White paint making you want to climb the walls? These wonderfully whimsical wallpapers should give you plenty of inspiration to change things up
And so the home transformation continues. Next up on the list: what to do with the walls? If a lick of colour isn’t enough to feed your creative appetite, look beyond the pots of paint to the rolls of paper waiting to be spread. And for fresh 2026 inspiration, read on – here’s what the design experts have to say about this year’s biggest wallpaper trends.
Designers Reveal Their Top 2026 Wallpaper Trends
With maximalism now creeping back into the design sphere, 2026 is shaping up to be a big year for colour, pattern and personality – especially when it comes to wallpaper. ‘Wallpaper on walls – and pattern on walls – is back in a significant way, appealing to a new generation of interior design enthusiasts,’ says Rebecca Craig, lead designer at Sanderson and Morris & Co. ‘In the UK, we’re seeing a renewed love of pattern, while the US is quickly following suit with bolder scales, richer colour and an increasing focus on florals. Design is shifting to embrace texture, colour and more decorative effects.’
Ready to spark some ideas for your next home project? These are the wallpaper trends set to take 2026 by storm:
Top Trends At A Glance
- Animal Print
- Outdoors Indoors
- Contemporary Heritage
- Faux Fabrics
- Murals
- All-Over Application
House of Hackney
1. Animal Print
‘For the past few years, earth tones have dominated interior trends,’ notes Choe Vince, senior decorating consultant at House of Hackney. ‘But now is the time for optimism and energy – expect to see bold uses of colour and maximalist play.’ And the print leading the design trend? ‘One way we expect this approach to translate when it comes to wallpaper is animal print with a twist. Reimagining nature’s neutrals, think rose-hued cheetah and verdant green tiger print. A true celebration of nature’s wild artistry.’
House of Hackney
2. Outdoors Indoors
Speaking of the great outdoors – designers predict even more nature-inspired decor making its way inside the home in 2026. ‘No longer just a decorative backdrop, in recent years, there has been a growing demand for interconnectedness and people looking to use nature inspired wallpapers,’ confirms Chloe. ‘Not only are they beautiful, but they’re a powerful tool for creating atmosphere and expressing identity.
‘These immersive environments help to blur the lines between art and architecture and help to create a sense of escapism, which seems to be more important than ever.’
Sanderson
3. Contemporary Heritage
But don’t worry, there’s still room for the classics – especially if they come with a modern edge. ‘As always there will be an appreciation of heritage craft and design, but with a contemporary lift,’ notes Chloe. ‘Think bold, playful colour palettes and scales.’
‘A luxury heritage aesthetic is re-emerging,’ adds Rebecca. ‘There’s an increasing interest in heritage designs – particularly in new colourations and techniques – imagined for more contemporary settings, not just traditional ones.’
Harlequin
4. Faux Fabrics
It’s not just paper making it to the walls this year. ‘We’re seeing a lot of fabric on walls,’ says Rebecca, ‘whether through wallpapers that mimic the look of textiles, paper-backed fabrics, or rich tapestry effects. Within the same vein, decorative techniques are prevalent, from new embroideries applied to wallpaper to appliqué details and the combination of print and embroidery. Tactility, or the illusion of tactility, is emerging as a key future trend in wallpaper design’
‘Textural wallpapers, and designs that create a true “fabric-on-the-wall” effect are becoming a key trend for 2026,’ adds Flora Daly, lead designer at Harlequin. ‘Think wallpaper designs taken directly from textiles or lifted from embroidered fabrics, allowing us to amplify both texture and detail. The result is a lovely sense of movement and texture that brings walls to life.’
Sanderson
5. Murals
Moving from textural details to the bigger picture, design experts also see a shift towards more dramatic murals as we head into 2026. ‘Murals have been part of the design conversation for years, but their role in interior schemes is becoming increasingly important,’ highlights Rebecca. ‘Rather than starting with carpet or fabrics, designers and homeowners are now beginning with wallpaper – often using murals as the foundation to bring a scheme together. Botanical designs continue to perform strongly within this space.’
Morris & Co.
6. All-Over Application
While the walls make a stunning canvas for patterned papers and colourful backdrops, others are starting to set their sights elsewhere. ‘Wallpaper is being used in different, inventive and unexpected ways – from ceilings and the interiors of cabinets to borders applied cleverly around door frames to add colour and pattern,’ confirms Rebecca. ‘Overall, there’s a clear move towards a more-is-more approach.’
