Wallpaper is back, and these photos from Denver readers are proof
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John Skrabec and his husband used 10 different wallpapers throughout their home. Photo: Courtesy of Emily Minton Redfield Photography
Designers were all about wrapping rooms in personality-packed wallpaper this year — and the trend is here to stay for 2025.
Zoom in: John Skrabec and his husband bought their Cheesman Park new-build townhouse back in 2019. When making the space their own, they started with wallpaper — which drove all the furniture and styling choices from there.
- They have 10 different papers throughout the house.
What they're saying: "It's certainly not everyone's cup of tea, but we consider it artwork," Skrabec tells Axios.
- Their interior designer, Ann Baumgartner, describes the vibe as "Palm Springs in its heyday, world cultures, and a touch of modern."
The big picture: Taskrabbit saw a 70% year-over-year increase in wallpapering bookings from January to May 2024 compared to the same period last year.
- Businesses selling wallpaper report lucrative sales, too. North Carolina-based House of Harris co-founder Charlotte Lucas tells Axios since their launch in 2017, the company's wallpaper sales have outdriven fabric sales and demand is still growing.
What we're hearing: "Granny chic" is still in style, but some may find those classic wallcoverings are too "old-timey or stuffy," according to interior designer Maggie Bratton Dillon.
- "It's all about the balance, though, and choosing complementary patterns, colors, furniture and more can really elevate a space," she says.
The intrigue: It's not just bedrooms and dining rooms. Nooks and crannies, closets, bookshelves and laundry rooms are all getting makeovers, too.
- These small spaces are a playground for bold colors and patterns that might be overwhelming in main living areas, experts say.
What's next: "Wallpaper borders have been and still are making a real comeback," Dillon shares with Axios.
- It's lower risk and more affordable than covering an entire wall, but still makes an impact, she says.
- Mural wallpapers have been and continue to be big, too, Lucas says.
The bottom line: Plain walls be gone.
