Is Pattern Moving Back Onto the Walls, and Can It Carry a Whole Room?
Last updated: 4 November 2026
In short: Yes, according to designers writing over the past year. Rebecca Craig of Sanderson and Morris & Co. says pattern on walls is back in a significant way, with the US following the UK toward bolder scales and richer color. Brandon Schubert sees interiors turning warm and deep, and Jade Joyner wants depth without a shout. A pattern drawn from an original painting arrives with those terms already decided by a hand.
Is wallpaper really back on the walls?
Country & Town House (Charlie Colville, January 2026) quotes Rebecca Craig, lead designer at Sanderson and Morris & Co., saying: "Wallpaper on walls – and pattern on walls – is back in a significant way, appealing to a new generation of interior design enthusiasts." She adds: "In the UK, we're seeing a renewed love of pattern, while the US is quickly following suit with bolder scales, richer colour and an increasing focus on florals."
These designers describe a move toward scale and color, away from the quiet accent wall. Craig's sentence goes on to texture and decorative effects.
What do designers want from the color?
Brandon Schubert of Brandon Schubert Ltd in London told Livingetc (Rory Robertson, 5 January 2026): "To my mind, it's a natural evolution from the cool and cold gray interiors of the early 2000s, towards interiors that feel warm and deep, rooted in the earth somehow."
Jade Joyner of Metal + Petal in Athens, Georgia, speaking to Apartment Therapy (Kelsey Mulvey, 2 November 2025), points to "Grass cloth, silks, or natural weaves that add depth without screaming for attention." Schubert wants warmth and Joyner wants depth, and both want it without a shout.
These quotes come from late 2025 and January 2026, so they are not from this season. I could not verify a named-designer quote on the subject dated this autumn, and I would rather say so than borrow one.
What does a pattern drawn from a painting bring to that?
Scale, color and depth are what a painting is built from. Each pattern in my wallpaper collection begins as one of my original paintings, so the color relationships were decided at the canvas, by hand, over many sessions. The wallpaper itself is printed, never painted: 20 oz Type II commercial-grade vinyl with an embossed face and a strié shimmer over a laminated fabric backing.
A painting-derived pattern is not a trend response. It is a pattern whose color and scale had a reason before anyone asked for it, which is useful when a designer wants a bold wall to feel considered.
How should a designer test a bolder pattern?
Order a sample and pin it at eye level for a week. Look at it in morning light and again after dark, and note whether the room still feels like itself. If it does, the pattern has earned a larger area; if it competes with the furniture, the scale is wrong or the color is too loud.
How do you begin?
Browse the artist-designed wallpaper collection and order up to five free samples. Rolls are 24" pre-trimmed and unpasted, with 52" widths for commercial use, and custom colorway and scale are available to the trade. Print-on-demand takes roughly two weeks. Designers can start with the Trade Program, and the studio's story shows where the patterns begin.
A wall that begins with a painting begins with a decision someone made by hand.
Frequently asked questions
Is pattern coming back to walls?
Rebecca Craig of Sanderson and Morris & Co. told Country & Town House that wallpaper and pattern on walls are back in a significant way, with the US following the UK toward bolder scales and richer color.
Is the studio's wallpaper hand-painted?
No. Each pattern is drawn from an original painting by Angela Simeone, and the wallpaper itself is printed on 20 oz Type II vinyl with an embossed face over a laminated fabric backing.
Can designers order samples or a custom colorway?
Yes. Up to five free samples are available, and custom colorway and scale are offered to the trade. Orders are print-on-demand and take roughly two weeks.
What sizes does the wallpaper come in?
Rolls are 24 inches wide, pre-trimmed and unpasted, with a 52-inch width for commercial use.