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If you’re looking for a simple way to add a bit of personality to a room, we’d suggest trying out a new wallpaper. Like a bold paint color or a sculptural light fixture, wallpaper has the potential to pack a big style punch—and one that more and more designers are employing.
This year’s trends emphasize how transformative wallpaper can really be. Designers are being even more intentional in picking a wall covering that makes a statement. “Heading into 2026, we’re seeing wallpaper move beyond decoration and into the realm of atmosphere and emotion,” Rachel Cope, the creative director and co-founder of Calico Wallpaper, tells ELLE Decor. “There’s a growing desire for surfaces that feel grounded, tactile, and deeply personal.”
We asked a few experts what they’re expecting to see on the most stylish walls this year—and what might inspire us to re-cover our own.
More Texture
Colors and patterns will never go out of style when it comes to wall coverings—but some designers and wallpaper creators are also leaning into experimenting with texture. Todd Nickey from Nickey Kehoe highlights grasscloths and other materials that can add a bit of visual dynamism to a space, while also catching and diffusing light in an “understated way.” He leaned into that ethos when crafting Nickey Kehoe’s Koshi Plaid wallpaper, a Japanese-inspired plaid printed on a grasscloth with hand feel of a hemp fabric. “These kinds of surfaces add depth and warmth to a room without demanding attention,” he says.
Alexandra Shamis, Courtesy of de GournayDe Gournay’s collaboration with London-based interior designer Beata Heuman.Detailed Ornamentation
To Jemma Cave, design director of de Gournay, the general mood around textiles and wallpapers is trending towards eclectic ornamentation. These detailed pieces invite onlookers to not just gaze, but also to study every detail.
“There’s a strong preference for a distinctly hand-painted quality and tactile texture,” Cave says. She notes that these works might take the form of “smaller-scale, heritage-driven motifs.” Cave adds: “Designs feel less graphic, less about perfect realism, and more about material suggestion.”
Courtesy Calico Wallpaper
A wall covering from Calico Wallpaper’s Philia collection, which the brand calls “a reverie in color.”
Sophisticated Colors
Contrasting with the attention to detail, Cope is also seeing a shift towards more subdued, “sophisticated” colors in wall coverings. These iterations lend more “subtle movement, nuance, and a sense of hand,” she says. Think earthy pigments, softened contrasts that marble into each other, and layered tones.
Courtesy of Elizabeth Hay
A room designed by Elizabeth Hay featuring green wallpaper.
Interior designer Elizabeth Hay says she’s seeing the color green increase in popularity, with “earthy, verdant” wallpapers functioning a bit like neutrals. “They create a calming backdrop while still adding richness and personality,” she says.
A Fresh Take on Stripes
Stripes have always been classic. But this year, Katie Kime of the eponymous lifestyle brand, is seeing wall coverings with new takes on the traditional pattern. This extra flair gives the motif a whole new visual depth.
Katie Kime
Katie Kime’s Timberline peel and stick wallpaper in hunter.
“If you’re someone who loves color and print like I do, [stripes] allow you to layer many patterns in a room without it feeling overwhelming,” says Kime. “It’s also great if you’re more of a print minimalist and just dipping your toes into the patterned pond.”