“Wallpaper Feels Dated.” How Custom Prints Elevate Contemporary Spaces
Collection: Feeling Africa; Colorway: 03 Paintbrush Scallops in Brown on Black; GH Studio Reference #19343059
The Harmonious Choice That Stays Evergreen (Until You’re Ready for a New Story)
Wallpaper itself isn’t dated.
What often feels dated is the memory of certain patterns, colors, and installations that were simply perfect for another moment in time.
Custom-printed wallcoverings are one of the most powerful tools you have as a designer to make a space feel current, curated, and memorable — especially in a world where every project is photographed, shared, and pinned within an inch of its life.
If you’re reading this as a homeowner or client, think of it as a peek behind the scenes at how designers are using wallpaper right now — and why it feels so different from what you might remember.
Below, I’ll walk through why wallpaper carries that “dated” reputation, what’s evolved, and how custom wallpaper can quietly (or boldly) elevate contemporary spaces.
Why Wallpaper Got a “Dated” Reputation
When someone says, “Wallpaper feels dated,” they’re usually remembering:
Tiny florals and borders that were everywhere in the ’80s and ’90s
High-sheen vinyls that read more plastic than polished
Very busy repeats with little breathing room
Difficult removal experiences that left walls (and feelings) a little tender
Those memories are valid. They’re just not the whole story.
Wallpaper, like fashion, has gone through many eras. Some people are remembering one particular chapter — not the beautiful, current tools you have access to now.
What Makes Custom Prints Feel So Current
Today’s wallcoverings — especially custom and print-to-order designs — live in a different world from the papers many of us grew up with.
Contemporary wallpaper is less about “decorating every surface” and more about intentional storytelling through scale, color, and texture.
Here’s what’s shifted:
Scale feels more architectural—Oversized motifs and expansive geometrics can act almost like a mural, bringing presence and structure without feeling busy.
Color is more curated—Instead of dozens of competing hues, many of today’s prints lean into refined palettes that play beautifully with wood tones, metals, and stone.
Print-to-order means flexibility—I can adjust color, scale, and sometimes layout so the pattern supports your project, instead of you working around a fixed design.
Materials feel elevated and considered—Matte finishes, subtle textures, and eco-conscious substrates help the paper sit comfortably in both residential and commercial spaces.
Designed with the camera in mind—Current pattern design considers sight lines, vignettes, and how the repeat reads in photos and video — essential in a visual-first design world.
5 Ways Wallpaper Elevates Spaces
Think of wallpaper as a design tool, not a decorative extra. Here are a few ways I love designing and using my patterns in clean-lined, current interiors:
1. Soft Structure in Minimal Rooms
In a pared-back space with simple furnishings and strong lines, a quiet, large-scale print can add visual interest without adding “stuff.” The pattern becomes a gentle layer of structure behind your hero pieces.
Where it shines: open-plan living rooms, dining nooks, minimalist bedrooms.
2. A Moment of Personality in Transitional Spaces
Circulation zones are a wonderful place to create a memorable moment with pattern: easy to experience, and very high impact. Where it shines: entries, stairwells, hallways, landings, elevator lobbies.
A graphic yet soft print here makes the whole project feel more intentional and “finished,” while still reading fresh and contemporary.
As these are transitional spaces, the right pattern leading into an attached space (living, dining, large foyer, etc.), can lend excitement in the “unveiling” from one space to another.
3. Depth and Warmth in Highly Glazed or Monochrome Rooms
All-white, high-gloss, or heavily glazed spaces can add sparkle and energy, but feel a bit cool or flat on camera. A tailored wallpaper in a tonal palette brings warmth and dimension back in, while keeping the clarity of a clean, current aesthetic. Where it shines: powder rooms, home offices, conference rooms, lounge areas.
4. Branded Moments for Commercial & Hospitality
For boutique hotels, studios, and creative workplaces, custom wallpaper offers a subtle way to weave in your brand’s personality and point of view without relying on logos.
I can echo the shapes, rhythms, or color story that matter to you in a custom pattern that feels artful and timeless—something that photographs beautifully and quietly supports your visual identity.
5. Cohesive Stories Across Wallpaper and Fabric
This is where the magic happens: when wallcovering and textiles are designed to speak to each other.
Pulling the same design language through wallpaper, drapery, and upholstery lets you layer patterns in a way that feels cohesive, not competitive. It’s one of the easiest ways to create that “of course it looks this pulled together” feeling in your projects.
How to Keep Wallpaper Feeling Current (and True to You)
Because art and taste are deeply personal, I like to treat wallpaper as an expressive medium rather than a right-or-wrong decision. These principles help keep things feeling fresh and aligned with a contemporary sensibility:
Play with larger scale, softer contrast — Large motifs + restrained palettes often read more current and design-forward. Smaller motifs + high contrast tend to feel more nostalgic or traditional.
Choose one hero wall (or room) at a time — Not every wall needs a pattern. Let strategic moments shine and give the eye rest elsewhere.
Look for movement, not fussiness — Abstracts, organic lines, geometrics, and stylized botanicals often glide easily into contemporary projects.
Honor the architecture — Use the pattern to support strong lines (a tall wall, a niche, a barrel ceiling) instead of competing with them.
When to Reach for Wallpaper Instead of Paint
Paint is fantastic — but it can’t do everything. Wallpaper is often the better choice when you want to:
Add instant character to new construction or a blank box
Disguise minor wall irregularities with visual texture or pattern
Create a photo-ready backdrop or nook for content creation or hospitality
Introduce a sense of luxury and intentionality without adding more furniture or décor
Think of wallpaper like a beautifully tailored jacket in a wardrobe. When chosen intentionally, it carries a lot of the look on its own.
How I Partner with You on Custom Designs
My work lives at the intersection of pattern design and interior decoration. I’m always thinking about space—how a pattern will feel when you’re standing in the room, how you and those you design for want to feel in the space, and how it will translate on camera for the stories you’re telling together.
Here’s how I can collaborate:
Custom and semi-custom wallpaper & fabric—I can adjust scale, color, or layout from my existing designs, or create something new for your specific project and those who will be using the space.
Materials boards & pattern curation—I love pulling together finishes, fabrics, and wallcoverings so you can easily present a clear, cohesive story to those you design and decorate for.
Quiet support for trade professionals—If you’re an interior designer, architect, or stylist, I can work behind the scenes as part of your extended team to develop patterns and palettes that support your signature style and give those you design for that “this feels so us” reaction.
The goal is always the same: to help you create spaces that feel refined, personal, and very much of this moment — without judging what came before.
If someone you’re designing for is saying, “Wallpaper feels dated,” it might simply mean they haven’t yet experienced how thoughtfully designed, custom wallpaper can transform a space.
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