We Asked Designers If Wallpaper Is Finally Out in 2026—And Their Answer Surprised Us

Wallpaper made a few enemies during its heyday in the late 20th century. Despite its nearly three hundred-year run in popularity, the 1980s and 1990s sealed its fate. Wallpaper borders, Tuscan murals, and quaint chintzes earned wallpaper a reputation as something that felt dated and, occasionally, cheesy. From bedrooms to dining rooms, wallpaper was ripped down and replaced with plain paint.

Then, sometime in the last decade, wallpaper started to creep its way back into the design lexicon. First, it was the occasional accent wall, then it was a bold powder room, and now, design enthusiasts don’t blink an eye at a full room pattern or a dramatic wallpaper mural.

But is wallpaper here to stay? Or was this a flash-in-the-pan resurgence? Two designers share their thoughts on whether wallpaper is in or out in 2026.

Wallpaper Shapes the Emotion of a Room—And That’s Always In

Wallpaper has been around for centuries and, if interior designers have any say, it’ll be around for centuries more.

“Wallpaper isn’t going anywhere. It’s one of the most powerful tools for creating mood, personality, and a sense of intention in a space,” says Darci Hether, principal designer and founder of Darci Hether Interior Design.

A bold print or a subtle pattern can both shape the emotion and feeling of a space in a way that paint never can, and it makes a bigger impact than any singular piece of upholstery or a drapery panel. ”

We can lean on bold patterns in powder rooms to make an unforgettable statement, tonal prints in bedrooms, and playful motifs in unexpected spots like laundry rooms or walk-in pantries,” says Hether.

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One-Size-Fits-All Pattern Trends Are Out

You’ve probably seen the wallpaper prints that hit like a flash in the pan. All of a sudden, they’re all over Instagram, appearing in everything from foyers to family rooms. But those one-size-fits-all patterns that are used simply because they’re the pattern du jour are quickly falling out of favor.

“What is fading are the overly busy, one-size-fits-all patterns,” says Hether. “The staying power lies in thoughtful, space-specific selections.”

Wallpaper Can Be Timeless, Depending on the Pattern

Wallpaper has been used for centuries, so it’s not the paper itself that will fall out of fashion; instead, it’s the prints and patterns. Before grandmillennial made a comeback, you could easily date a floral trellis design to a certain bathroom style in the 1980s.

A loud orange and avocado green abstracted floral was clearly a holdover from the 1970s. But those are patterns that become time warps, not the actual treatment of wallpapering a room.

“Wallpaper is always en vogue,” Susan Jamieson, founder of Bridget Beari Designs, explains, “It’s the patterns and colorways that can fall out of fashion. Some designs are more timeless than others, such as delicately colored Chinoiserie and Toile de Jouy.”

Other wallpaper motifs that will always look timeless include grasscloth and Art Deco designs. A moody William Morris botanical looks as sophisticated today as it did in the 19th century.

Jameison also adds, “I have a Parisian-inspired pattern in my collection called Roux, printed on a subtle, silvery grasscloth, that has been used in homes from modern to traditional for years.”

Decorative Paint is an Increasingly Popular Alternative

If the idea of committing to wallpaper is still too much, even knowing that it’s likely here to stay, then there is an alternative option to give your walls a design-forward look.

Decorative paint is becoming increasingly popular among designers, particularly in treatments like lime wash or roman clay.

“Decorative paint treatments are a wonderful alternative if you’re wavering on a wallpaper commitment,” says Jameison, who’s used everything from ethereal cloud motifs and ombré sky colors on ceilings to bold wall stripes.

“Paint is often the more affordable option for larger surfaces, and it allows you to creatively play and customize your palette.”

While it’s also seen its share of ups and downs (remember sponge paint?), decorative paint can be a lower-stakes way to bring style into a room without worrying about removal. Another can of paint, and that design decision is gone again.