There has been a massive reaction against the Skandi minimalism and Japanese-style decluttering trends which have reigned for the last few years. Maximalism is back.

Gorgeous wallpapers are everywhere this spring and they’re no longer reserved for feature walls. The fashion for papering behind the sofa is over. Wallpaper looks so much better on all four walls. Or be like the French and paper up and over the ceiling too!

Using striking pattern and strong colours, alongside eclectic furniture and objects, can result in fantastic interiors which really tell a story about who lives there. Experiment with patterns and have fun. Be bold and embrace pattern and texture. Express your individuality and personality, whether that’s through clashing wallpaper or large-scale patterns.

This look works best in strong, saturated colour palettes, it is not for the faint-hearted. However, over-sized designs in subtle colour combinations are beautiful too and create movement and interest in a room. Or, if you are just wanting to add just a little interest and texture to your current decorating scheme, you can introduce pattern as an accent just as you might with colour. Try using wallpaper in the back of a bookcase or kitchen dresser, or inside an alcove.

With this in mind, this spring Farrow & Ball have introduced three of their most popular wallpaper patterns in striking new colourways by adding bold accents of Hague Blue, Vardo and Arsenic, along with a bespoke metallic.

Wallpapers are usually made with ink, but not at Farrow & Ball. Made in the Wimborne factory using their own paint and traditional, painstaking methods, inspired by archives of timeless wallpapers, fabrics, and patterns from all over the world, they create a seamless connection between paint and paper.

Beginning with rolls of high quality paper, a coat of paint is brushed on, creating the first layer of texture. For larger designs and longer pattern repeats, a traditional block printing method is used, each block being carefully engraved by hand.

Roller block printing is used for the more intricate designs. Similar to the flat bed block prints, the tactile nature of these wallpapers is the result of how the roller releases the paint as it peels off the paper.

 

For striped and dragged papers the trough printing method is used. It’s a process that requires absolute attention to detail and a great deal of patience. The texture of the paint must be just right for a smooth and even flow through the trough pads and onto the paper. These pads are also carefully cut by hand, with each needing to be replaced as often as every five rolls to maintain accuracy and quality.

Finally, the wallpapers are finished with a glaze so not only is it wonderfully tactile, it’s tough as well.