Choosing vintage wallpaper — the eras, styles and rooms that bring character home
Vintage wallpaper brings something new design often lacks: character, warmth and a sense of story. Far from feeling dated, a well-chosen vintage design feels curated and timeless, whether you are honouring the period of an older home or adding nostalgic charm to a modern one. "Vintage" spans a whole century of style, from ornate Victorian florals to glamorous Art Deco and bold mid-century pattern. Here are the eras to know and how to use them.
Vintage wallpaper styles by era
Victorian designs are ornate and romantic — rich damasks, trailing florals and intricate detail that suit period homes beautifully and add instant heritage.
Art Deco is all glamour and geometry — bold shapes, fans, sunbursts and gold detailing from the 1920s and 30s, for a look that feels luxurious and confident.
Mid-century modern brings the clean, playful pattern of the 1950s and 60s — bold shapes and warm, optimistic colour for a retro-modern feel.
Seventies retro leans warm and earthy, with big, bold repeats and burnt-orange, mustard and brown tones making a real comeback right now.
Vintage florals and chintz are soft and nostalgic — faded blooms and traditional patterns with a cosy, lived-in charm.
Antique and faded designs have a gently worn, timeworn quality, from old maps to distressed patterns, for an effortlessly collected look.
Why vintage wallpaper works
Vintage designs carry a warmth and depth that comes from decades of design heritage. They suit period homes by honouring their era, but they are just as effective in a modern home, where a single vintage feature wall adds soul and stops a space feeling too new or bland. The nostalgia is part of the appeal — a vintage design feels familiar, characterful and collected rather than off-the-shelf.
Colours for a vintage scheme
Vintage palettes tend to be warm and muted — sepia, faded florals and soft neutrals for a gentle, timeworn feel, or richer jewel tones and gold for Art Deco glamour. Seventies and retro schemes bring in burnt orange, mustard and brown. Choose the palette to match the era, and let the pattern do the talking.
Vintage wallpaper by room
Living rooms suit an Art Deco or bold mid-century feature wall for character. Bedrooms feel cosy and romantic in a vintage floral or Victorian design. Dining rooms come alive with a rich, ornate or deco pattern by lamplight. Hallways gain instant heritage from a period design in an often-plain space.
Which material to choose
Every vintage 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.