What’s Next in Wallpaper: 2026 Design trends from Wallpaperdirect
As we head into 2026, wallpaper design is embracing a return to lasting elegance, natural palettes and heritage appeal. Based on recent interior magazine coverage, Pinterest and social-media buzz and evolving consumer preferences, these are the top wallpaper and decorating trends we expect to dominate next year, plus real wallpaper picks to match each look.
Pantone Colour of the Year 2026, Cloud Dancer: Calm neutrals and elevated whites as a design strategy
Soft whites, warm off-whites and chalky neutrals are set to define interiors in 2026. Rather than acting as blank backgrounds, these whites will become a deliberate canvas for furniture, art, texture and light by offering calm and curated interiors.
Wallpaper picks to deliver the look:
Earthy Vibrancy: rich naturals with depth and saturation
2026 interiors are expected to return to nature-inspired palettes with sophistication: mossy greens, clay ochres, muted terracottas, deep mineral blues. Wallpapers that combine texture or botanical motifs with these earthy hues will anchor rooms with warmth, depth and character.
Wallpaper picks to deliver the look:
Tactile Textures: Luxury Through Texture and Weave
Texture is emerging as one of the most powerful wallpaper design tools for interiors by adding depth, tactility and sophistication. Think grasscloth-effect papers, linen-like weaves, soft embossing, and textured plains that catch light and create a sense of calm luxury.
Wallpaper picks to deliver the look:
Small-Scale Motifs & Micro-Prints: pattern without visual clutter
Particularly in homes featuring smaller rooms, micro-scale patterns, ditsy florals, tiny geometrics, small repeats, will become increasingly popular. They add visual interest and style without overpowering a space, making them ideal for bedrooms, hallways or compact living areas.
Wallpaper picks to deliver the look:
Modern Country Revival: a softer, curated rural aesthetic
The country look is evolving. Instead of rural rustic clichés, 2026 sees a more refined, curated country style: soft florals, gentle heritage stripes, hand-drawn botanicals and colours that evoke countryside tranquility without heaviness. Think understated comfort, not cottage-core excess.
Wallpaper picks to deliver the look:
6. Painterly Murals and Scenic Panoramas: traditional grandeur
Large-scale murals remain timeless. In 2026, the focus will be on painterly, hand-inspired scenes: botanical panoramas, classical garden vistas, soft landscapes or architectural motifs that evoke grand interiors and serene spaces.
Wallpaper picks to deliver the look:
Romantic Maximalism: pattern-rich, heritage-inspired elegance
After years of minimalism, there’s growing appetite for richer, more expressive interiors. Romantic maximalism combines layered florals, damasks, historical patterns and saturated colours to create evocative, deeply personal spaces.
Wallpaper picks to deliver the look:
Tips from the inside:
Wallpaperdirect Team top picks for a 2026 update..
Small Prints
In 2026 I’m introducing the Symington wallpaper by GP&J Baker into my guest bedroom. A space I’ve fully colour-drenched in a rich, uplifting yellow. This design’s timeless and delicate floral pattern stripe brings a layer of sophistication and “quiet drama” to the room, with the hope that anybody who comes to stay with us finds the room cosy and curated. GP&J Baker’s heritage in creating beautifully detailed, artisan-inspired prints makes this wallpaper an ideal pairing; their style is known for its craftsmanship, classic British sensibility, and ability to balance boldness with refinement. I can’t wait!
Rosaria M
Content Editor
Wallpapered Ceilings
Wallpapering my bedroom ceiling is on my To-Decorate list for next year, and how dreamy to be able to fall asleep beneath calming clouds every night. I wouldn’t stop there, I would also love to reupholster my headboard with a complimentary fabric to bring the softness of the cloudy skies onto my bed. 2026 for me is all about creating a cosy safe haven to escape from the chaos of the day, and what better place to start than in my bedroom.
Caris J
Social Media Editor
Earthy Vibrancy
I am really drawn to this Josephine Munsey paper because of its earthy palette. I’m loving the brown and blue combinations right now in fashion. This gorgeous statement stripe offers a fresh twist on a heritage-style design, which feels both timeless and current.
Rebecca H
Content Editor
Large Scale Feature Walls
In the new year, I’ll be decorating my master bedroom with a feature wall behind the bed using Ferndale in Coral Pink from the new Timothy Wilman Home Volume II Collection. I’m drawn to this striking climbing fern, and in the coral pink colourway it brings a beautiful softness to the space.
Amy G
Marketing Lead
Romantic Maximalism
I have been obsessed with this design since it first appeared in 2018 – I just love the magical details: toadstools, ‘bird of paradise’ flower heads along with the parrots and flamingos. I also adore the symmetry of the pattern which references classic designs and stops the design from being overwhelming…. and the dark base colour is just perfect, for the moody interior look I would like. This would be my new bedroom wallpaper – probably on just the one wall, with the paper also used on my room divider to carry the pattern across the room. Love, love it!
Miriam B
Content Editor
Modern Country Revival