9 Wow-Worthy Mid-Century Wallpaper Designs
This selection of wallcoverings influenced by mid-20th-century culture is sure to inspire
If you’re a fan of the mid-century look, a great way to inject it into your interiors is with wallpaper. Here are some ideas on how to use reissued iconic designs that originated in the mid-20th century, as well as more recent incarnations that have clearly been inspired by that fertile period of modernist design.
2. Journey to the Far East
The wallpaper in this living room is part of Cole & Son’s Frontier range, which includes patterns from its archives. This one, Gondola, was designed in the 1930s and features Far Eastern boats on a vivid petrol-blue background.
The owners have carried the theme through with the exotic masks on the mantelpiece, and the orange lanterns are echoed in the room’s accessories.
Browse more Asian-inspired interiors
The wallpaper in this living room is part of Cole & Son’s Frontier range, which includes patterns from its archives. This one, Gondola, was designed in the 1930s and features Far Eastern boats on a vivid petrol-blue background.
The owners have carried the theme through with the exotic masks on the mantelpiece, and the orange lanterns are echoed in the room’s accessories.
Browse more Asian-inspired interiors
3. Sleep in a dark forest …
The bold wallpaper at the head of this bed is called Woods and was designed by Michael Clark in 1959. Up close, the repeat pattern of long trees is intricate and beautiful, with a series of horizontal lines forming the bark.
Available in a range of colourways, this silver-on-charcoal version lends a glamorous and sophisticated feel to the grown-up bedroom scheme. It’s complemented by the dark grey walls and enlivened by bursts of strong colour.
The bold wallpaper at the head of this bed is called Woods and was designed by Michael Clark in 1959. Up close, the repeat pattern of long trees is intricate and beautiful, with a series of horizontal lines forming the bark.
Available in a range of colourways, this silver-on-charcoal version lends a glamorous and sophisticated feel to the grown-up bedroom scheme. It’s complemented by the dark grey walls and enlivened by bursts of strong colour.
Lakeside Cabin - Photographs from Image Interiors & Living Magazine
… or awake in a light woodland
By way of contrast, the black and white colourway of Woods wallpaper creates a light and airy space. Complementary materials, such as a wooden bedside table, linen bedhead and ceramic wall lamp, emphasise the link to nature.
Orange accents provide the right amount of zing in this restful bedroom scheme.
By way of contrast, the black and white colourway of Woods wallpaper creates a light and airy space. Complementary materials, such as a wooden bedside table, linen bedhead and ceramic wall lamp, emphasise the link to nature.
Orange accents provide the right amount of zing in this restful bedroom scheme.
4. Go for geometric glamour
One of the most influential interior designers of the 20th century, David Hicks, created this signature pattern of interlocking hexagons. The geometric design is interesting and bold, but not overpowering. For this version, Cole & Son has blown up the design to create a larger-scale pattern, Hicks’ Grand.
The mid-century furniture and accessories in this London penthouse work perfectly with the wallpaper.
Mid-century design features
One of the most influential interior designers of the 20th century, David Hicks, created this signature pattern of interlocking hexagons. The geometric design is interesting and bold, but not overpowering. For this version, Cole & Son has blown up the design to create a larger-scale pattern, Hicks’ Grand.
The mid-century furniture and accessories in this London penthouse work perfectly with the wallpaper.
Mid-century design features
5. Team it with accessories
Part of Sanderson’s 50s collection, the Mobiles wallpaper in the background here was originally printed on fabric. The simple abstract shapes work well as a wallpaper, particularly in this bold colourway. The classic 1950s shades have been picked out in accessories, such as the colourful vintage decanter and glassware.
Part of Sanderson’s 50s collection, the Mobiles wallpaper in the background here was originally printed on fabric. The simple abstract shapes work well as a wallpaper, particularly in this bold colourway. The classic 1950s shades have been picked out in accessories, such as the colourful vintage decanter and glassware.
6. Add simple shapes
The geometric wallpaper here is called Ypsilon, and is based on an original creation by Danish designer Arne Jacobsen. It’s part of a collection called Wallpapers by Scandinavian Designers from Sweden’s oldest wallcoverings company, BoråsTapeter.
The beautifully simple design looks stunning next to the monochrome objects in front of it.
The geometric wallpaper here is called Ypsilon, and is based on an original creation by Danish designer Arne Jacobsen. It’s part of a collection called Wallpapers by Scandinavian Designers from Sweden’s oldest wallcoverings company, BoråsTapeter.
The beautifully simple design looks stunning next to the monochrome objects in front of it.
7. Make it monochrome
Piero Fornasetti used the face of his muse, the operatic soprano Lina Cavalieri, as a motif. He had seen her face in a 19th-century magazine, and in 1952 he began to base hundreds of designs on it. Many are monochrome, with occasional splashes of bright colour.
The Tema e Variazioni wallpaper seen here was withdrawn a few years ago and has become increasingly difficult to source, commanding high prices, but it’s worth trying to track down a roll to paper a feature area.
Here, the black and white images of Cavalieri are matched by the delicate monochrome of the accessories.
Make monochrome magic at home
Piero Fornasetti used the face of his muse, the operatic soprano Lina Cavalieri, as a motif. He had seen her face in a 19th-century magazine, and in 1952 he began to base hundreds of designs on it. Many are monochrome, with occasional splashes of bright colour.
The Tema e Variazioni wallpaper seen here was withdrawn a few years ago and has become increasingly difficult to source, commanding high prices, but it’s worth trying to track down a roll to paper a feature area.
Here, the black and white images of Cavalieri are matched by the delicate monochrome of the accessories.
Make monochrome magic at home
8. Reinvent the era
Nowadays, you don’t have to use vintage designs to get the mid-century modern look. This lovely seaside home features a bright coastal palette of blues and white and a distinct retro vibe.
The bedroom cleverly mixes vintage pieces, such as the teak bedhead unit, accessories and bedside lamps, with more recent designs, including the wallpaper, which is Backgammon by Mini Moderns.
Nowadays, you don’t have to use vintage designs to get the mid-century modern look. This lovely seaside home features a bright coastal palette of blues and white and a distinct retro vibe.
The bedroom cleverly mixes vintage pieces, such as the teak bedhead unit, accessories and bedside lamps, with more recent designs, including the wallpaper, which is Backgammon by Mini Moderns.
9. Mix things up
This Nova Mist wallpaper by Sandra Isaksson provides another example of a product that’s been heavily influenced by mid-century design. It works particularly well in a contemporary interior, and provides a bridge between the vintage and modern elements.
The owners of this Swedish living room have not been afraid to mix things up. They’ve created an interior that’s interesting and individual, rather than rigidly retro.
TELL US
Which is your favourite wallcovering? Have you used mid-century wallpaper in your own home? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse more whimsical wallpaper designs
This Nova Mist wallpaper by Sandra Isaksson provides another example of a product that’s been heavily influenced by mid-century design. It works particularly well in a contemporary interior, and provides a bridge between the vintage and modern elements.
The owners of this Swedish living room have not been afraid to mix things up. They’ve created an interior that’s interesting and individual, rather than rigidly retro.
TELL US
Which is your favourite wallcovering? Have you used mid-century wallpaper in your own home? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse more whimsical wallpaper designs
Swedish design studio Sandberg has access to archives from the golden era of Scandinavian design. Its recently issued Signatur range celebrates the work of four female artists whose designs encapsulate the playfulness, bold colouring and forward-looking nature of the 1950s.
Tistlar, here shown in its red colourway, was designed by renowned painter and textile artist Dagmar Lodén. It features stylised flowers and foliage within a strongly graphical design. The colour is boldly modernist and provides a startling backdrop for the vintage furniture.