6 statement wallpaper trends you need to know about...and not a palm print in sight!

Now, don't get me wrong. I totally get the whole botanical palm print thing. It's bright and breezy and with this horrible unreliable English weather why wouldn't we want to bring some tropical sunshine into our lives. I don't think a luscious leafy palm print will ever truly go out of fashion...BUT I'm also a bit of a rebel at heart and I can't help but feel that lately we are reaching peak palm print and personally I've been giving it a wide berth for a while now. And I don't think I'm the only one. Plus, there are so many other exciting new wallpaper effects out there at the moment from the subtle, to the downright audacious. So here is my edit of the best non-palm print statement wallpaper trends.

1) Photographic florals

I mean, what's not to love about these darkly dramatic romantic florals? These hyper-real photographic florals are anything but chintz. The image above is the home of Wild at Heart florist Nikki Tibbles' bold and beautiful living room as featured in Living Etc (where this picture was taken from) How totally appropriate is that? This wallpaper (and the two below) are from Netherlands-based designer Ellie Cashman who pretty much corners the market in these lush moody floral wallpaper prints. Her prints are my current obsession and I am in conversation (with myself, no-one else cares) about where in the house to put her work. I say work, because this wallpaper, inspired by the Dutch Masters, really is like a work of art. Our guest bedroom is an option...

The only danger with this is that I will end up wanting to move in to the spare room myself. I also love in the idea of going all out with a blown up print in the ensuite bathroom, which is in dire need of a makeover and it doesn't get much more wow than this.

There are some other fabulous alternatives too. If you're after something slightly less dramatic and a tad more playful, I really like this floral holy trinity of anemones, ranunculus and eucalyptus from US print designer Samantha Santana

Also check out Surface View's incredible floral murals which are completely customisable and printed to fit your space.

2) Metallic

Because you are reading my blog, I'm going to assume that you too prescribe to the belief that gold is indeed, a neutral. And I therefore don't need to explain to you that gold wallpaper is always a good idea. Because you are already fully on board, right? But just in case you did need a little gentle persuasion..have a look at these heavy metal wonders. First up is the gold art attack which adorns my very own living room. Ok, ok so I'm biased, but I am still head over heels for this Jonathan Adler Drip paper. It's so much fun, brings instant glamour even on the gloomiest of days, and makes me smile every time I look at it. My walls are currently painted in Little Greene's Basalt, which is a deep, dark, inky navy and looks even more dramatic set against the gold wallpaper. However I often think about what colour I'll go for next in here and the truth is this wallpaper will look great with so many different shades. If you want to get in on the action, be warned you'll need to wait a little while for it because the paper isn't stocked in the UK and you need to wait for it to be shipped from the New York store. But it's so worth the wait.

Then there's interior design queen Kelly Wearstler's stunning wallpaper collection which includes several metallics like the one below. You may have to sell a kidney in order to furnish your wall in such style but my husband is always telling me I need to prioritise...and anyway, who needs two kidneys??? I'm sure that's what he means...right?

Back in the real world, Harlequin's Sumi would pack a real punch in a hallway and could pass as a Kelly Wearstler design, at a fraction of the price.

There are also some lovely metallic options from Erica Wakerly. Her Angles design comes in copper, gold and silver.

And I'm also quite partial to Zoffany's Lustre Tile which you can see behind the bed in the boudoir below, styled by the brilliant Jo Berryman. It reminds me of foxed glass and the verre eglomise (aka aged mirrors) which I have a major crush on right now.

FYI, for those of you who didn't see it in Living Etc last year, this is Gary Linekar's house. You should see the rest of it. I'm not too proud to say that I liked it a lot. But that's because Jo is an interior design wizard.

3) Geometric

If you're looking for impact, there are few things better than a bold geometric print. I love Cole and Son's classic hexagon Hicks' Grand wallpaper which would be the perfect print to jazz up a small space, like this office below.

Osborne and Little's Minaret is another classic which makes a nod to the art deco era while also managing to look super cool and modern. The monochrome version is the perfect backdrop for some bold pops of colour...just don't stare at it too log or you might get dizzy!

And Graham and Brown have just released their bold and sophisticated Zen collection in mustard, teal, navy and charcoal and silver, priced at a very reasonable £40 a roll.

4) Marble

This is another of my absolute favourite looks at the moment. Because you can never have too much marble right? Calico Wallpaper have created the absolutely stunning Inverted Spaces wallpaper range which is what I imagine heaven must look like. It's pricey though. Sigh! But all is not lost because....

...luckily Murals Wallpaper has an array of different marble effect wallpapers starting at £25 per square metre. Not cheap, cheap, but it will look so luxurious on your walls. Plus it's cheaper than the real deal and a much more appropriate way to do marble beyond worktops and showers. Imagine having an actual marbled wall in your bedroom? Even I'd draw the line there!

5) Ombre

IF you're handy with a paintbrush I have watched numerous YouTube tutorials which suggest that it is easy peasy to get the ombre effect yourself with nothing more than a roller, a paintbrush, two tins of paint and a water spritzer. However if, like me, you don't trust yourself not to make a total pig's ear of it, you'll be pleased to hear there are a number of wallpapers on the market which will give you that dreamy washed out, faded look, without you needing to dig out your GCSE Art skills. Designers Guild's Saraille wallpaper comes in 11 shades and evokes that faded Venetian palazzo vibes. Perfect in a room with high ceilings and lots of light.

And good old Murals have come up trumps again with a range of ombre wallcoverings in a surprising blend of colours, including the one below, which is almost as good as watching a Miami sunset IRL. Almost.

6) Grunge

When it comes to interiors, I think it's fair to say that I am about as far from a grunge girl as you can get. Despite this, few things give me more joy than an artfully faded, crumbling plaster wall. But short of chipping away at my own (freshly plastered) walls, there is little hope of ever recreating this look in my own house. However, exciting online wallpaper and textile shop Feathr have an alternative. Their collaboration with artist Kiki Slaughter has led to Oh La La, a beautifully textured print which draws on that aged, grungey vibe. I also LOVE the fabric.

Image - Oh La La by Kiki Slaughter for Feathr.com

Also on the Grunge theme is Feathr's Machair print, the result of a collaboration with artist albaquirky. I really love this in the inky blue colour way (below) It reminds me of mould spores. But that doesn't put me off in the slightest. Which is a bit odd really!

Image - Machair by albaquirky for Feathr.com

There's quite a lot of food for thought there. Have I persuaded you to maybe step away from the botanicals? Or do you still only have eyes for palm print? Good for you if so. The best thing anyone can do when choosing a wallpaper is to choose something you really love. That way when trends pass, you'll still be in love with it. I just wanted to throw a few other ideas in the mix. Just to keep you on your toes ;-)

Jess x