Wallpaper Style Selector
Find Your Perfect 2024 Wallpaper Style
Take this quick quiz to discover which wallpaper styles will work best in your space based on the 2024 trends.
Recommended Styles
Wallpaper isn’t coming back-it never left. In 2024, it wasn’t about reviving old patterns or pretending to be vintage. It was about wallpaper trends 2024 that felt real, personal, and deeply rooted in how people actually live now. No more boring backsplashes or safe neutrals. Homeowners wanted walls that told a story, held emotion, and changed the mood of a room without lifting a hammer.
Texture Took Center Stage
Flat, glossy wallpaper? Gone. In 2024, texture ruled. Think grasscloth woven with natural fibers, linen-look finishes that caught the light just right, and embossed papers that felt like stone or plaster when you ran your hand over them. People weren’t just decorating-they were creating tactile experiences. A living room with a textured paper in warm oatmeal didn’t just look cozy; it felt like a hug. Brands like Phillip Jeffries and Cole & Son saw sales jump 47% year-over-year, mostly because homeowners realized texture adds depth without paint.
Why did this work? Because modern homes are quieter. Open-plan spaces need visual weight to define zones. A textured wall behind a sofa acted like a natural divider. No need for bulky bookshelves or room dividers. Just one wall, one material, and suddenly the space had structure.
Bold, But Not Loud
Color was back-but not in the way you think. Forget neon greens and electric blues. The boldness came from deep, saturated tones that felt grounded. Think forest green, burnt umber, and navy with a hint of purple. These weren’t accent walls. They were entire rooms. One client in Wellington painted her entire bedroom in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Hague Blue’ and said, ‘It’s like sleeping inside a quiet forest.’
What made these colors work? They paired with natural wood, matte brass, and unbleached linen. The contrast was calm, not chaotic. Designers stopped calling them ‘statement walls’ and started calling them ‘emotional anchors.’ They didn’t shout-they held space.
Biophilic Patterns, Not Just Leaves
Botanical wallpaper didn’t mean generic ferns or roses. In 2024, it meant realism. Hand-painted illustrations of native New Zealand ferns, detailed moss textures, and even subtle aerial views of forest canopies. Brands like Brewster and Graham & Brown started collaborating with local artists to create patterns based on regional flora. One Auckland homeowner chose a wallpaper that mimicked the bark of a kauri tree-right down to the cracks and lichen spots.
It wasn’t just about nature. It was about belonging. People wanted walls that reflected where they lived. In coastal towns, patterns echoed ocean waves. In mountain regions, designs mirrored rock strata. This wasn’t decoration-it was identity.
Minimalist Geometrics with Soul
Geometric patterns didn’t disappear. They evolved. The sharp, cold lines of 2020 gave way to soft-edged shapes that felt hand-drawn. Think uneven hexagons, wavy lines that looked like brushstrokes, and asymmetrical grids that looked like they’d been sketched by hand. These weren’t made by machines-they looked like they were.
One popular trend was the ‘broken grid’-a repeating pattern where one or two shapes were intentionally misaligned. It created movement without chaos. A hallway with this pattern felt alive, not sterile. People loved it because it looked curated, not mass-produced.
Wallpaper as Art, Not Just Cover-Up
More people started treating wallpaper like canvas. Instead of covering every inch, they used it in small, intentional areas: behind a single shelf, inside a built-in bookcase, or even on the ceiling. One designer in Christchurch installed a hand-blocked floral pattern only on the inside of a closet door. When opened, it was a surprise. When closed, it was invisible.
This approach wasn’t about being fancy. It was about control. People wanted to pick where the drama happened. They didn’t need wallpaper everywhere-they needed it where it mattered most. This also made it easier to change. Swap one panel. Redo one corner. No full-wall removal needed.
Why Wallpaper Beat Paint in 2024
Paint is still popular. But wallpaper won because it does things paint can’t. It adds texture. It holds pattern. It creates depth without layers. And it’s faster. One homeowner replaced a dated 1990s kitchen backsplash with removable wallpaper in under two hours. No grout, no sanding, no fumes. The result? A wall that looked like it had been there for decades.
Modern wallpapers are also way more durable. Many are now washable, scrubbable, and even mold-resistant-perfect for bathrooms and kitchens. Vinyl-backed papers with micro-ventilation layers stopped peeling in humid climates like Auckland’s. That’s not marketing. That’s engineering.
What Didn’t Make It
Not every trend survived. Murals of tropical birds? Too busy. Overly ornate gold foil? Too much. Faux brick wallpaper? Still stuck in 2018. People realized they didn’t need to replicate architecture-they wanted to enhance it.
Also gone: the ‘all-white’ trend that tried to make every home look like a Scandinavian catalog. White walls felt cold. White wallpaper felt sterile. The shift was toward warmth, depth, and personality.
How to Pick Your 2024 Wallpaper
- Start small. Try a sample on one wall. Live with it for a week. See how the light changes from morning to night.
- Touch it. Texture matters as much as color. Run your fingers over samples. Does it feel like something you want to live with?
- Match your mood. Do you want calm? Go for soft textures and muted tones. Want energy? Try a subtle geometric with a deep base.
- Think long-term. If you’re renting, go removable. If you own, invest in washable, high-quality vinyl.
- Don’t overthink the pattern scale. Large patterns can work in small rooms if the color is quiet. Small patterns can feel busy in large rooms if they’re too contrasty.
Top 5 Wallpaper Picks That Actually Sold in 2024
| Style | Best For | Key Feature | Top Brand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Textured Grasscloth | Living rooms, bedrooms | Natural fibers, warm undertones | Phillip Jeffries |
| Deep Tone Solid | Entire rooms, small spaces | Rich, saturated color with matte finish | Farrow & Ball |
| Regional Botanical | Entryways, studies | Native plants, hand-painted detail | Cole & Son |
| Soft Geometric | Hallways, kitchens | Hand-drawn lines, asymmetrical rhythm | Brewster |
| Removable Accent Panels | Shelves, closets, ceilings | Peel-and-stick, low-commitment | Tempaper |
Final Thought: Wallpaper Isn’t a Trend. It’s a Tool.
In 2024, wallpaper stopped being a decorative fad and became a design tool-like lighting or furniture. It didn’t try to be the center of attention. It just made everything else around it feel better. It added soul to a blank wall. It turned a room from functional to feeling.
That’s why it stuck.
Is wallpaper still popular in 2024?
Yes, more than ever. Wallpaper sales grew 32% in 2024 compared to 2023, with textured and biophilic designs leading the way. People aren’t just using it for accents-they’re covering entire rooms because it adds depth, warmth, and personality that paint can’t match.
What’s the most popular wallpaper color in 2024?
The most popular colors were deep, earthy tones: forest green, burnt umber, navy with a purple undertone, and warm oatmeal. These weren’t loud-they were quiet but rich. They created calm, grounded spaces that felt personal and lived-in.
Can I use wallpaper in a bathroom or kitchen?
Absolutely. Modern wallpapers are now made with washable, mold-resistant vinyl backings that handle humidity well. Brands like Graham & Brown and Brewster offer specific lines for kitchens and bathrooms. Just avoid direct water spray areas like behind the showerhead.
How do I choose between a bold pattern and a subtle texture?
Start with your room’s lighting and size. Small, dark rooms benefit from subtle texture-it adds depth without overwhelming. Large, bright rooms can handle bold patterns because the light balances them. If you’re unsure, pick texture. It’s safer, longer-lasting, and works with almost any style.
Is removable wallpaper worth it?
If you’re renting, moving soon, or just want to experiment, yes. Removable wallpaper has improved dramatically. It now sticks securely without residue and peels off cleanly. Brands like Tempaper and Wallsauce offer high-quality designs that look like real wallpaper. Just don’t expect it to last 10 years-it’s designed for 2-5 years of use.
What to Try Next
If you liked these 2024 trends, look into how wallpaper pairs with built-in lighting or how to layer it with wall art. Some designers are now combining hand-painted murals with textured wallpaper panels for a hybrid look. It’s the next step-and it’s already showing up in homes in Wellington and Queenstown.
