Wallpaper Murals

Wallpaper has been trending for the past few years, but in 2023, it’s used as a mural or panel with light woods or light colored furniture to let the wallpaper be the star. Think of this wallpaper as art and “more is more” is the lesson.

Botanicals and bringing the outdoors in will be big in 2023; the goal is to bring meadows, flowers, trees, rolling hills & mountains, etc…into the home as there is a real psychological effect of being surrounded by nature. This trend plays into this time of reset. 

This wallpaper feels like those old vintage botanical posters with the black background. I would love this in a kitchen or a powder room. 

This wallpaper is two trends in one. It uses botanicals and the mauve background color that will be hot for 2023. This would be perfect for a powder room, a kid’s playroom and a kid’s bedroom. I also see it being very whimsical in a feminine office.

Love this foggy mountain scene which would be perfect in a living or behind a bed in a master bedroom. Don’t you just love the feeling it evokes?

Monochromatic wallpaper will be big in 2023. Think sepia toned or old black and white photos.

This photo of a building underneath the stairs is a cool way to add a little interest in a little used space. You could even put a desk in front of it and turn it into an office.

City skylines are always a good choice for when you’re not sure what wallpaper to choose. It’s usually seen in a living room, but as you can tell below, it works for a child or teen’s room too. 

This sepia-toned wallpaper of the Eiffel Tower is epic! As you can see from the photo below, there is a low sofa so it doesn’t block too much of the wallpaper. You would really want this to be seen. Try it in a foyer/hallway with nothing against it to see the full majesty. Love, love, love.

Oriental is an emerging trend of wallpaper that pairs perfectly with the Japandi  (Japanese/Scandinavian) style of interiors that’s been trending all year. But, it would also pair well with other styles.

This wallpaper is not shown in a room, but it’s so beautiful, I couldn’t leave it out. It would be striking in a powder room or at the end of a hallway creating a focal point. 

This is a more subtle oriental pattern on an entry wall. It’s much more versatile and could work in just about any room.

I love this whimsical bird print so much. It’s dramatic without being over the top and could work in any room in my opinion.

Tropical and Jungle themed rooms are ones that conjure up thoughts of Palm Beach or a kid’s playroom, but this is not the wallpaper of old. The modern take on this wallpaper is sophisticated and not at all kitsch. 

Take this wallpaper below in a dining room. It has a dreamy feel and plays well against the light colored table and green velvet chairs. 

This wallpaper is the ultimate in sophistication. The green leaves with a dark background makes it very sexy and the wood chest pops against it. Gold finishes on the lamp and chest base, gives it the final pop.

This paper is more whimsical but can still work in a sophisticated setting. It’s modern overscaled look is fun and dramatic and works perfectly with the bamboo sear and rattan bench. Modern boho at its best.

Wallpaper on the ceiling is huge and gives you an unexpected twist in any room. These examples give you an idea of how and when to use it. 

This wallpaper is an ikat pattern that ties into the ottoman’s pattern but it’s done in muted tones so as not to compete with all of the color going on in the room. This room has so much pattern in it that the wallpaper on the ceiling just adds another layer. Is it needed, no, but is it fun, a definite yes.

In this cozy study, the wallpaper gives the room a lightness that’s in contrast to the darkness in the room. The blue is Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue, which is still a designer favorite.

In a serene bedroom with white walls and minimal pattern, the pop of this swirly wallpaper just adds another lovely pattern.

Earth Tones 

2023 is also going to be the year of earthy clay tones. Think terracotta, cognacs, browns with  pink undertones, sienna and pumpkin spice. Paint companies like Sherwin Williams (Redend Point) and Dunn-Edwards (Terra Rosa) picked their 2023 Colors of the Year based on this trend. For more Colors of the Year, see my previous blog post.

Clay with pink undertones is a perfect description for the room below. It’s used on the walls as well as the rug and is surrounded by blues and beiges. Since technically clay is in the orange family, blue is opposite on the color wheel and creates a stunning contrast.

These chairs are fabulous in cognac leather. They pop against the neutral colored kitchen. I could live in this kitchen all day.

Southwest is a microtrend for 2023 and clay tones in the pillows and accent chairs are used as accessories in this neutral Southwest inspired living room. The browns and cream tones are lovely and lend a casual air to this very sophisticated room. I also love the cactus!

This bedroom below is a study in neutrals and it proves that neutral is not boring at all. With different textures, a mix of light and dark wood and plants, it keeps your eyes bouncing all around the room with interest. 

Moody Rooms           

There are two interior design styles called Dark Academia and Grandpa Chic and they’re basically the same thing. So you know if you name something twice it has to be a trend, right? I like to think of this style as very British because it conjures up Harry Potter visions in my head of old libraries and reading nooks with candlelight. 

The plaid carpeting in this living room made my heart jump because it’s so good. Paired with the blue/green paint on the wall and it has the perfect amount of moodiness. Glidden also picked this shade of “teal” for its color of the year for 2023 and called it Vining Ivy. See my blog post for the paint companies 2023 Color of the Year. 

This study is perfectly cozy and I love the combination of dark green and light wood. Play with different brass accents, lots of books and you have a lovely moody room.

There’s so much goodness coming up in 2023 that I had to break up all of these trends into Part One and Part Two. Stay tuned for Part Two and let me know in the comments what your favorite trend is. I think mine is the wallpaper. As I like to say, “Wallpaper is Life”.