It comes and goes but has never really made its official ‘comeback’. Every one of my friends who has redecorated has always been too scared to experiment with a little pattern and the result is bland glossy walls, which can look streamlined and neat – but where’s the fun?

ALMENDRO by Tres Tintas - www.wallpaperfromthe70s.com

Wallpaper can add a stylish angle to the right room – and don’t forget you don’t have to plaster it all over every wall – put the paper on just one wall and leave the others bare for a bit of pattern placement.

Found a gorgeous retro design but too scared to play with the paste? Treat it as art for your walls – cut a square and finish it off with a gorgeous frame.

‘Tile’ busy wallpaper designs on different areas of your wall or use the paper in thick strips to add colour to a plain background.

Designer Johnny Tapete creates vintage, old school wallpapers that you can almost smell the seventies on. If you’re looking for authentic retro designs this is the place to start.

Check out www.johnny-tapete.de - he’s based in Germany but papers can be ordered online as well as vintage/retro furnishings and fabrics.

www.conceptcoverings.co.uk – these guys are very modern and might run some colour schemes that are a little scary to the wallpaper virgin but the main thing is that they’re fun and not afraid to play with colour. If it’s modern and retro you’re looking for, make this site your first stop.

They do a fantastic range of bespoke digitally printed wallpapers so this is the place to come if you have a design and want it transferred to a paper. They offer advice on pattern placement and image size, making sure your finished design will work effectively in wallpaper.

www.wallpaperfromthe70s.com – fantastic site that shows how retro designs don’t have to be scary and how a little injection of colour can transform a space.
The online gallery gives some great ideas in using the papers creatively and the site is really beautiful and easy to navigate. Check it out if you don’t want to end up with the same old Ikea style stuff as everyone else – these guys are based abroad but you can order online.

For pattern that’s a bit more on the delicate side, The Alpha Workshops have some great hand painted, hand printed papers that can be made to order – their Butterfly range (below) is gorgeous – www.alphaworkshops.org.

Other links – www.creativewallcovering.com – don’t be put off by the simple website – take the time to have a browse of the designs, there’s some pretty ornate yet funky stuff on here as far as wallpapers go.

post by Natalie