Written by Robin Howard

For those of a certain age, the mere mention of wallpaper conjures images of scraping and steaming outdated paper. The minimalist era of the early 2000s, with its gallery-white walls and architectural purity, seemed to have driven the final nail in wallpaper’s coffin. But in a stylish twist, modern wallpaper has staged a major comeback.

Thanks to innovative materials and bold, sophisticated patterns, wallpaper is once again a staple in high-end interior design. Today’s wallpaper trends blend classic charm with contemporary flair, offering textures, murals, and prints that elevate any space.

One of the biggest draws of modern wallpaper is its user-friendly application. It’s now easier than ever to install and remove—no professional experience required. Whether you’re looking to add subtle dimension or make a dramatic statement, there’s a design to suit every style.

From luxe metallic finishes to botanicals and abstract murals, top wallpaper designers are pushing boundaries and setting the tone for interiors in 2025 and beyond.

Chelsea Lane, owner of Chelsea Lane & Co. in West Palm Beach, celebrates the shift. “Wallpaper is the ultimate finishing touch,” she says. “It can be bold or beautifully subtle, but it always makes a statement. I’ve walked into impeccably designed rooms that still felt like something was missing, and the moment wallpaper was added, everything came to life.”

The luxury wallpaper market has wholeheartedly embraced these innovations, with luxury textile manufacturers Kravet, de Gournay, Fromental, and Phillip Jeffries producing coverings that frequently command prices of over $1,000 per panel. Far from balking, discerning clients are investing in these pieces as they would fine art, because that’s precisely what they’ve become.

Maybe the most exciting is the new possibilities in texture. No longer confined to flat paper, today’s offerings incorporate a range of materials, from crushed silk and hand-embroidery to intricate beading and metallic leaf. These dimensional surfaces interact with light throughout the day, ensuring the room never feels static.

Leta Austin Foster, principal of her eponymous Palm Beach interior design firm, demonstrates the transformative power of textural wallcoverings in her projects. “I know that wallpaper is the in-thing right now, but it has always been an in-thing for me, as I believe it is the greatest bang for your buck in decorating,” she says “It enriches and enlivens rooms far more easily than collecting a great art collection, and yet, pictures look fabulous on wallpaper. Although I love the richness and cool quality of fine paint, I always try to use wallpaper on a job, even if it’s only the powder room.”

Part of wallpaper’s new allure lies in its increasingly temporary nature. Luxury removable wallpapers from manufacturers such as EazzyWalls, Painted Paper, and Tempaper & Co. have liberated even the most commitment-phobic decorators to experiment with bold, contemporary patterns. With this new flexibility, seasonal changes are not just possible, they’re encouraged. The ease in temporary wallpaper’s application and removal has opened wallpaper to spaces previously considered off-limits. Kitchen backsplashes protected by glass panels, headboard walls that change with the seasons, and ceiling applications that draw the eye upward are all part of wallpaper’s expanded territory.

As with all great design revivals, wallpaper’s resurgence isn’t merely about decorative trends; it’s about rediscovering the joy of living with beauty. And in that pursuit, Palm Beach’s leading designers are showing that wallpaper has proven itself not just resilient, but irreplaceable.

What distinguishes today’s wallpaper renaissance from typical trend cycling is the blend of technological innovation with personal expression. If you’ve dismissed wallpaper as a relic of the past, it’s time to reconsider!

Mally Skok, a South African-born interior and textile designer with a studio in Palm Beach recently showcased her Shantaram wallpaper at the Kips Bay Decorator Show House.