Choosing chinoiserie wallpaper — the timeless, hand-painted East-Asian style
Chinoiserie is one of the most enduringly elegant styles in interior design. Inspired by East-Asian art, it brings together delicate flowering branches, blossom and birds in a soft, hand-painted style that has graced grand homes for centuries — and still feels fresh and sophisticated today. It is grand without being fussy, and soft without being plain, which is why it works as beautifully in a modern home as in a period one. Here are the chinoiserie styles and colourways to consider and where each works best.
Chinoiserie wallpaper styles
Branches and birds is the classic chinoiserie design — graceful birds perched among flowering branches, painterly and full of movement. It is the signature look, and the most versatile.
Cherry blossom brings soft, romantic blossom in delicate detail, one of the most beloved motifs in the style.
Garden and landscape scenes are the grander end, with sweeping, detailed vistas of trees, water and wildlife for an immersive feel.
Floral chinoiserie leans into the blooms — peonies, magnolias and blossom in a soft, painterly style.
Japanese and oriental designs are a related, slightly more graphic take, with blossom, cranes and traditional motifs.
Chinoiserie colourways
The colourway changes the whole mood of a chinoiserie design. Soft gold and pink feels warm, romantic and a little luxurious. Blue is the timeless classic, echoing traditional blue-and-white porcelain, calm and elegant. Grey is understated and contemporary. And richer, more exquisite tones make a grander, more dramatic statement. Choose the colourway to suit your room and the scheme around it.
Why chinoiserie works
Chinoiserie has stayed in style for centuries because it strikes a rare balance — it feels grand and considered, yet soft and liveable. The hand-painted quality gives it an artistry that printed patterns often lack, and its blend of nature and elegance suits almost any room. In a period home it feels entirely at home; in a modern one, a single chinoiserie feature wall adds soul, softness and a sense of history.
Chinoiserie wallpaper by room
Dining rooms are a classic setting — an immersive chinoiserie scene feels elegant and special around a table. Living rooms suit a branches-and-birds design as a sophisticated feature wall. Bedrooms feel calm and pretty with a soft blossom or blue chinoiserie behind the bed. Hallways gain instant elegance from a striking design in an often-plain space.
Which material to choose
Every chinoiserie design is a made-to-measure mural on a choice of four materials — two paste-the-wall and two peel-and-stick, including water-resistant and waterproof grades for bathrooms and kitchens. You choose your material, and see the price for your exact wall size, on each product page.