For centuries, designers and homeowners have rediscovered wallpaper and its versatilitybut only a few prints have proven timeless.
These are the wallpaper names to know.
Wallpaper was also an economical alternative to tapestries, improving insulation and concealing cracks.
Credit: Edmund Barr
Manyearly wallpapersmimicked more expensive materials, including brocade and wood.
Flock wallpaper, made to resemble cut velvet, also gained popularity in the early 1600s.
As wallpaper became more affordable, colorway, pattern, and material options greatly expanded.
Credit: Helen Norman
But a few prints have proven to be truly timeless.
Here are the top 11 wallpaper names to know.
Damask
The earliest surviving piece of European wallpaper was created by Hugo Goes of York in 1509.
Credit: Emily Followill
It showcased a damask-styleconventional pomegranate designderived from Islamic prototypes and later imitated in Italian and Spanish textiles.
Damask is a heritage design most recognizable for its symmetrical medallions.
Heavy, rich fabrics, like silk and linen, were used to weave early damask ornaments on handlooms.
Credit: Werner Straube
Damask Wallpaper Today
Damask printsform the ultimate sophistication for antique, vintage, and glam homes.
Chinoiserie
Despite its name, chinoiserie did not come directly from Asia.
The termchinoiseriecomes from the French wordchinois,or “Chinese.”
Credit: Courtesy of Lulu and Georgia
Chinoiserie Wallpaper Today
Chinoiserie is a decorating classic most often paired with traditional interiors.
Along with wallpaper, this design can be found on lacquered wood and porcelain or ceramic jars.
The pattern is housed in the permanent wallpaper collection at theSmithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Credit: Michael Partenio
Floral Wallpaper Today
Flowers symbolize natural beauty and freshness.
However, some prices are listed by the single roll but sold only as double rolls.
Check dimensions and prices carefully when shopping for wallpaper.
Credit: John Bessler
Strawberry Thief
William Morriswas a British textile designer, poet, artist, conservationist, and socialist.
Strawberry Thief was produced in 1883 and is one of Morris’s most popular repeating textile designs.
Loggers are partly to thank for plaid becoming popular in America.
Credit: Werner Straube
The1990s grunge movement also influencedtoday’s plaid.
Plaid’smulti-dimensional lookalso transitions perfectly to throw pillows, bedding, drapery, and wall coverings.
Zebras
TheHouse of Scalamandre’splayful leaping zebra wallpaper was originally designed in the 1940s for the Gino of Capri restaurant.
Credit:David Tsay
Zebra Wallpaper Today
This print is still showcased in fabrics and wall coverings.
Today, The Inside offers it on throw pillows and as an upholstery option on furniture.
The iconiczebra patternhas also made guest appearances on paper products, footwear, face masks, and more.
Credit: Kim Cornelison
David Tsay
9.
Countryside gardeners first invented these structures to support growing vines.
According toThe Design Pool,King Louis XIV hired an architect to build trellises in his garden at Versailles.
Credit: Brie Williams
Morris borrowed the trellis pattern from his garden and created the illusion of three-dimensionality.
Trellis Wallpaper Today
The idea ofbringing nature indoorsisn’t new to interior design.
Hexagon
Hexagons have a long history in the design world.
Hexagon is one of his most in-demand designs and is still available throughCole & Son.
Hexagon Wallpaper Today
Hexagon prints bring a polished geometric background for acontemporary interior.
Opt for a large-scale pattern for a modern app.
