Choosing painterly wallpaper — the soft movement and artistry of real paint
Painterly wallpaper brings the softness, movement and artistry of real paint to a wall. Watercolour washes, visible brush strokes and blended, artistic effects feel less like a printed pattern and more like a large-scale piece of art — which is exactly why they are so popular. Soft and modern, calming yet full of character, painterly designs suit almost any room. Here are the styles to consider and where each works best.
Painterly wallpaper styles
Watercolour washes are the softest — gently blended colour with the translucent, layered quality of real watercolour, calming and modern.
Brush strokes bring visible, painterly marks and real movement to a wall, especially striking in richer tones like emerald.
Abstract painterly designs combine loose shapes and colour in an artistic, gallery-like way.
Ombre and gradient washes move gently from one tone to another, adding soft depth without any hard pattern.
Painterly florals and nature take blooms, foliage and landscapes and render them in soft, brushed, artistic style.
Ink and sketch designs are the more graphic end — loose, hand-drawn marks in a single colour for a modern, artistic feel.
Colours and mood
Painterly designs are all about the colour and the way it blends. Soft, tonal palettes create a calm, sophisticated backdrop that suits a bedroom or living room. Bold, artistic colour makes a statement wall that reads as a piece of art. Monochrome ink and brush designs are sleek and modern. Because the colour is blended and layered rather than flat, even a single tone has depth and movement.
Why painterly wallpaper works
A painterly design has an artistry that a flat, printed pattern lacks — the soft edges, blended tones and visible strokes give a wall real depth and a considered, gallery-like quality. It is also wonderfully flexible: with no rigid repeat or literal subject, it slots into almost any room and sets the mood through colour alone. And the soft, mottled quality is very good at disguising minor wall imperfections.
Painterly wallpaper by room
Living rooms suit a large watercolour or brush-stroke design as an art-led feature wall. Bedrooms feel calm and restful with a soft watercolour behind the bed. Home offices gain a modern, creative backdrop that looks great on video calls. Hallways make an instant impression with a bold, artistic design in a space you pass through.
Which material to choose
Every painterly 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.