5 living room wallpaper trends to try this year
Wallpaper is having a confident moment in Australian homes. After years of white walls and cautious neutrals, living rooms are embracing pattern, tactility and colour that feels personal. The latest designs are flexible enough for a relaxed coastal house, a compact Melbourne terrace or a polished apartment in Brisbane.
The strongest wallpaper ideas are less about covering every wall and more about creating atmosphere. A feature wall behind the sofa, a framed panel beside a fireplace or a softly patterned nook can transform a room without making it feel busy. The right print should work with your furniture, natural light and the way your household uses the space.
| Trend | Best for | Design effect | Colours to consider |
|---|---|---|---|
| Textured natural finishes | Calm, layered interiors | Adds warmth and depth | Sand, oat, sage, clay |
| Oversized botanical prints | Feature walls and high ceilings | Creates a dramatic focal point | Olive, rust, ink, cream |
| Colour-drenched rooms | Confident contemporary homes | Makes the space feel enveloping | Chocolate, blue-grey, terracotta |
| Heritage and retro patterns | Character homes and eclectic styling | Brings charm and personality | Mustard, burgundy, dusty pink |
| Soft geometric designs | Apartments and small living rooms | Adds structure without clutter | Taupe, navy, eucalyptus |
Textured finishes for a warmer living room
Grasscloth-inspired wallpaper, linen-look surfaces and subtle woven patterns are bringing a quieter kind of luxury to living spaces. These designs may look simple from a distance, yet their raised fibres and gentle variations create depth as the light moves across the wall. They are a good choice when you want interest without a strong repeat.
Natural textures pair particularly well with timber furniture, boucle seating, rattan accents and handmade ceramics. In an Australian home, this combination feels easy rather than overly formal. A pale oat or warm beige wall can soften the sharpness of black metal shelving, while a muted sage texture works beautifully with Australian hardwood flooring.
Use this trend behind a television unit, along a long hallway wall that opens into the lounge, or around a reading corner. Textured wallpaper can make a large room feel more settled, but it still allows artwork and furniture to take the lead. Check samples in both morning and afternoon light, especially in northern-facing rooms where strong sun can reveal undertones you did not notice in the shop.
Oversized botanicals with an Australian spirit
Large-scale leaves, palms, vines and painterly flowers are replacing smaller, repetitive botanical prints. The generous scale gives the living room a curated, almost mural-like quality. Instead of appearing fussy, the pattern becomes a single visual gesture that anchors the seating area.
For a distinctly local interpretation, look for designs inspired by eucalyptus, banksia, wattle or abstract native foliage. A charcoal background with dusty green leaves suits a modern Sydney apartment, while a sandy base with terracotta flowers feels at home in a sunny Queensland living room. The design does not need to depict Australian plants literally; colour and shape can create the connection.
Keep the rest of the room relatively restrained. A botanical feature wall looks strongest with plain upholstery, simple curtains and a rug that picks up one or two colours from the paper. If you have a period fireplace, centre the print around it or use it on the wall behind the mantel to make an existing architectural feature feel even more important.
A large pattern also works well in open-plan homes where the living area needs a clear identity. It can visually separate the lounge from the dining or kitchen zone without building a wall. For related decorating ideas across the home, the kitchen design collection offers useful ways to coordinate materials and colour between adjoining spaces.
Colour drenching for a cocooning effect
Colour drenching means using closely related shades across the walls, ceiling, trims and sometimes larger furniture pieces. Wallpaper makes this approach easier because it introduces tonal movement while keeping the overall palette unified. A deep blue-grey paper can be paired with painted skirting boards and a sofa in a slightly lighter or darker shade.
This trend suits rooms where you want a sense of comfort and enclosure. Rich chocolate, olive, smoky blue and burnt clay are especially effective in living rooms with evening use. In a bright Australian house, these colours can balance abundant daylight rather than making the room feel gloomy. In a darker apartment, choose a design with a soft sheen or a lighter background so the walls still reflect some light.
The key is to control contrast. If the wallpaper is richly coloured, avoid adding several competing prints through cushions and curtains. Instead, introduce variety through timber grain, wool, leather and brushed metal. A cream boucle chair, dark oak coffee table and aged brass lamp can give a saturated room enough texture to feel layered.
Before committing, tape a large sample to the wall and view it when the lights are on at night. Warm white globes can make some purple, green and blue tones look unexpectedly intense. A professional installer can also advise on how the pattern will meet corners, windows and cornices, which matters more when the room has a strong all-over colour story.
Retro patterns with a fresh finish
Mid-century curves, small-scale geometrics and 1970s-inspired motifs are returning in more sophisticated colour combinations. The current version of retro wallpaper avoids looking like a themed set. Instead of matching every piece, combine one nostalgic pattern with contemporary furniture and modern lighting.
Look for arches, scallops, abstract blooms and irregular checks in earthy tones. Mustard with cream, rust with soft pink, or burgundy with tan can add warmth to a neutral living room. These colours are particularly effective in older Australian homes, including Federation cottages and Melbourne terraces, where decorative details already provide a sense of history.
A retro pattern does not have to cover the whole room. Try it inside built-in shelving, above a dado rail or on the wall behind a compact sofa. Framing wallpaper within moulding is another polished option, particularly when you want the effect of artwork without committing to a full feature wall.
Balance is important. Pair a busy print with a streamlined sofa, a plain rug and one or two sculptural accessories. A vintage timber cabinet or curved armchair can reinforce the mood, while a contemporary floor lamp keeps the scheme from feeling stuck in the past. The goal is character, not a showroom reproduction.
Gentle geometry for compact spaces
Soft geometric wallpaper is a practical choice when you want the room to feel organised but not severe. Arcs, hand-drawn lines, rounded checks and small abstract shapes create rhythm across the wall. Because the forms are usually simple, they can add personality without overwhelming modest floor plans.
This is a useful approach for apartment living rooms, study-lounge combinations and narrow spaces. A vertical design can make a low ceiling appear taller, while a delicate horizontal pattern can visually widen a short wall. In open-plan Australian apartments, a geometric feature can define the living zone while leaving the kitchen and dining areas visually connected.
Choose a low-contrast pattern if the room already contains strong furniture shapes. Taupe and ivory, eucalyptus and chalk, or navy and pale grey will provide structure without becoming the first thing you see. If the furniture is very plain, a higher-contrast design can supply the energy the room lacks.
Removable wallpaper is worth considering for renters or anyone who likes to refresh their interiors frequently. Australian rental properties often have strict rules about painting and permanent alterations, so a peel-and-stick option can offer a lower-risk way to experiment. Always check the product’s suitability for your wall surface and test a small section before installing several rolls.
How to make a feature wall feel intentional
The best wallpapered living rooms have a clear visual reason for the pattern. Use the wall that naturally attracts attention, such as the surface behind the sofa, the fireplace wall or the first wall visible from the entry. Wallpaper placed on a random narrow strip can look accidental unless it is used to highlight a niche or architectural break.
Repeat one colour from the design elsewhere in the room. This might be a cushion, ceramic vase, artwork, curtain edge or ottoman. Repetition makes the wallpaper feel connected to the furniture rather than pasted onto an unrelated scheme. In homes with pale Australian timber floors, a warm accent from the wallpaper can also help the room feel more grounded.
Scale deserves careful attention. A small print can disappear in a large living room, while an oversized design may dominate a compact space. Ask for a larger sample or create a rough digital mock-up before ordering. Roll widths, pattern repeats and wastage can affect the final cost, so measure carefully and allow extra material for matching.
Wallpaper is also a useful way to work around awkward features. A print can draw attention away from an uneven wall, while a darker panel can make a television feel less prominent. Around fireplaces, choose materials and installation methods appropriate to the heat exposure. When in doubt, ask a qualified wallpaper hanger or local interior supplier rather than relying on a quick online assumption.
Choosing paper that suits Australian conditions
Sun exposure, humidity and everyday wear all influence the best wallpaper choice. A north- or west-facing living room may need a fade-resistant product, particularly if large windows receive strong afternoon sun. Coastal homes should avoid finishes that are poorly suited to moisture, while Brisbane and other humid areas benefit from careful attention to ventilation and wall preparation.
Washable vinyl and coated papers are practical for households with children, pets or frequent entertaining. More delicate grasscloth and handmade papers create beautiful texture but may show marks and variation more easily. That does not make them unsuitable; it simply means they are often better placed in low-contact areas rather than behind a busy play space.
Think about maintenance before choosing a dramatic trend. Sample the paper against your sofa, flooring and existing paint, then inspect the surface at different times of day. If you are buying online, order several samples because colours displayed on a screen can be misleading. Keep the product information and batch details in case you need an extra roll later.
It is also sensible to review a retailer’s policies before purchasing, especially for made-to-order materials or installation services. Information about how personal details are handled can be found in the site’s privacy policy, which is useful when browsing, subscribing or making enquiries online.
Bringing the five looks into one home
These trends can be adapted rather than followed literally. A textured neutral paper may suit the main lounge, while a botanical print works in a smaller sitting room or reading nook. Retro geometrics can appear inside cabinetry, and colour drenching can be limited to a fireplace wall instead of the entire space.
Start with the feeling you want the room to create. Textured finishes feel calm and tactile, botanicals bring movement, saturated colour creates intimacy, retro patterns add character, and gentle geometry gives a room order. Once that direction is clear, furniture selection becomes easier because the wallpaper provides a reliable palette.
Remember that a living room should still feel comfortable after the trend has passed. Choose a pattern you enjoy seeing beside your everyday furniture, not just one that photographs well. The most successful wallpaper choice is the one that suits the room’s light, the home’s architecture and the way people actually live there.