TL;DR
Get home appliances delivered free — and shop member deals
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Access to Prime Big Deal Days deals on October 6–7
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
A House Beautiful retrospective charts wallpaper styles from the subdued tones of the early 1940s to the bold florals, murals and textured designs seen in the 2020s. The article describes trends across nine decades, while noting that the current decade is still underway and its defining style remains uncertain.
House Beautiful has traced wallpaper styles across nine decades, from subdued colors during World War II to the oversized botanicals, murals and textured finishes appearing in homes in the 2020s. The retrospective draws on rooms featured in the magazine over the years, but says it is too early to know which designs will come to define the current decade.
The account describes a shift within the 1940s: wallpapers in the first part of the decade used more subdued tones during World War II, while the postwar years brought more color and playful patterns. House Beautiful points to bold florals, geometric designs and a mix of traditional and modern motifs in a room published in April 1946.
In the 1950s and 1960s, busy patterns and strong color remained common. The magazine lists novelty designs such as boomerangs, aquariums and kitchen utensils alongside pastel florals in the 1950s. Mod styles in the 1960s brought graphic florals, geometric shapes and contrasting colors, including orange, brown and green; psychedelic swirls and abstract patterns also appeared.
The retrospective describes the 1970s and 1980s as decades of visual intensity, with larger, more detailed repeats and materials such as vinyl and grasscloth in the 1970s. In the 1980s, floral chintz and prairie-inspired patterns existed alongside vibrant abstract designs associated with the Memphis Group. The examples include a 1982 bathroom with multiple wallpaper treatments and borders.
Wallpaper Tracks Changing Home Tastes
The retrospective shows how wallcoverings reflect broader shifts in domestic style, from postwar optimism to the decorative abundance of the 1970s and the more restrained look described for the 1990s. It also shows that styles did not change in a single direction: florals and traditional motifs persisted even as graphic and abstract designs gained attention.
For homeowners and renters, the most practical change cited is peel-and-stick wallpaper, which became an option in the 2010s. House Beautiful says it made wallpaper more accessible to renters and DIY enthusiasts. That development matters because it lowered the commitment involved in adding a patterned surface, though the retrospective does not provide data on adoption or sales.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
From Postwar Patterns to Peel-and-Stick
House Beautiful anchors its account in rooms and images from its own archive, including examples published in 1946, 1954, 1962, 1974, 1982, 1994, 2006 and 2014. The decade summaries are an editorial overview of trends, rather than a market study or a comprehensive survey of wallpaper use.
The article says the 1990s leaned toward neutral colors, simple patterns and country-cottage interiors, while traditional and romantic styles continued. In the 2000s, shabby-chic florals and toile appeared alongside brighter, computer-designed abstract patterns. The 2010s brought peel-and-stick products as well as textured and trompe-l’oeil effects; minimalist geometric prints such as chevron were also popular, according to the magazine.
For the 2020s, the article identifies maximalism and biophilic design as current influences. Its examples include oversized florals, richly colored botanical patterns, immersive wallpaper murals and continued use of grasscloth. These are presented as trends already visible, not a final account of the decade.
““We’re only just over halfway through the 2020 decade, so it’s not possible to say for certain what wallpaper styles will come to epitomize this era.””
— House Beautiful
textured wallpaper for living room
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
The 2020s Style Is Still Taking Shape
The decade is not over, so its lasting wallpaper style cannot yet be established. House Beautiful points to botanicals, murals and textured finishes as visible trends, but does not offer sales figures, a survey of designers or evidence showing how widely these designs are used. The retrospective also does not define how it selected the trends or archival examples for each decade.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
More Decade, More Design Shifts
The next test is whether today’s popular looks persist through the remainder of the 2020s. Further design coverage and new magazine examples may show whether botanicals, immersive murals and grasscloth remain influential or give way to other patterns and materials. For now, the magazine presents them as current observations rather than a settled verdict on the decade.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
What wallpaper styles are associated with the 2020s so far?
House Beautiful points to oversized florals, richly colored botanicals, wallpaper murals and textured finishes, including grasscloth. The magazine describes these as trends visible so far, not definitive markers of the decade.
How did wallpaper change during the 1940s?
The retrospective says early 1940s wallpapers used more subdued tones during World War II. In the second half of the decade, it describes more colorful, playful designs, including bold florals and geometric patterns.
What made wallpaper more accessible in the 2010s?
House Beautiful credits the availability of peel-and-stick wallpaper with making it more accessible to renters and people doing their own decorating. The retrospective does not give figures for how many people used it.
Which decades favored bold wallpaper?
The magazine describes bold, busy designs in the 1950s, graphic and psychedelic patterns in the 1960s, and larger, more detailed prints in the 1970s. The 1980s combined floral styles with vibrant abstract designs.
Source: rss
Cold & flu season Picks
humidifiers
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
