This 220-Year-Old Wallpaper Trend Is Back, and It Works Everywhere
Wallpaper has been enjoying quite the renaissance lately, thanks to more affordably priced options and peel-and-stick designs (the latter of which takes away some of the pain points of installation and removal). Adding pattern to your walls has never been easier, and with the design pendulum swinging back towards maximalism from minimalism, wallpaper really can be a one-and-done way to introduce visual interest, character, and color to a room.
But where to start when it comes to patterns? There’s no shortage of options. But lately, I’ve been noticing a new-old motif coming to the fore again: arboreal prints. A fancy name for forest-like tree motifs, these designs have been popping up more and more alongside the typical floral and palm frond designs that have dominated the wallpaper landscape (get it?) for so long. And if you look back into the wallpaper archives, they’ve been around for centuries — at least as far back as French and Chinese wallpapers were available here in America.
Need some proof of their current popularity? Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent have a mural-like, panoramic forest wallpaper in their New York City bedroom, and a beautiful bespoke tree wallpaper from Kravet envelops the guest bathrooms at the newly opened Graduate by Hilton Princeton, a 180-room boutique hotel in Princeton, New Jersey, that’s shown above and just below.
Part of this resurgence is surely due to the rise of biophilic design; bringing the outdoors in allows you to surround yourself with nature’s beauty, even when you can’t actually be outside. “Trees have been the muse for artists since the beginning of time — whether in primitive cave dwellings, perspective painting, watercolor, and more,” says Krissy Melendez, head of design at AJ Capital Partners, which handles the interiors for Graduate by Hilton. “It’s because of this that trees and nature, in general, bring a signature source of inspiration and warmth to any space.”
For Melendez and her team, the tree motif was particularly suited to the recent Princeton project, which also incorporates gorgeous tiles, vintage artwork, and charming custom furniture. “Princeton University’s campus is an arboretum in its own right,” says Melendez. “At the start of the design process, we learned that there are more than 400 varieties of trees and shrubs throughout campus. To emphasize the connection between the hotel and its surroundings, we filled the lobby with plants and selected wallpapers and textiles that reference the natural beauty that makes Princeton so unique.”
Even if you’re far from the woods, though, arboreal wallpapers can transport you to another place and bring you some peace. Melendez thinks so many of these designs are surging because they never really go out of style — and they’re easy on the eyes and the energy of a room. “My take is that it’s because flora, fauna, and arboreal patterns are a timeless element that never feels outdated or overdone,” says Melendez. “Much in the same way that nature has a way of instilling in us a sense of calm, arboreal wallpapers can bring a healthy dose of comfort and serenity to any space.”
If that sound like a vibe you’d be into, check out these eight tree wallpapers. The nice thing about this pattern is that it really does work in just about any space of the home, from a tiny powder room to a moody bedroom to a formal dining room.
Tree Wallpaper Trend 2024
Brewster Home Rose Spinney Toile Wallpaper Brewster Home Rose Spinney Toile Wallpaper
Wayfair
$0.94 (was $1.95)
You cannot beat the price of this rustic tree toile. It’s pre-pasted for ease in hanging, but you might still want to call in the pros for a smooth, flawless finish. I’d use this in a bedroom or even a nursery for a colorful backdrop that reads like a soothing neutral, at least in the teal colorway.
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Scalamandre Raphael Wallcovering Scalamandre Raphael Wallcovering
Bloomingdale's
$250
The Raphael Wallcovering from The House of Scalamandre is a splurge. Reminiscent of a tapestry, though, it’s simply stunning — and there’s a lovely story behind it, too. The design is said to be inspired by Central Park. Who wouldn’t want a bit of that real estate on their walls? I’d hang it in a jewel-box powder room, where it can truly shine.
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Fruit Trees Wallpaper Fruit Trees Wallpaper
Anthropologie
$178
Go a little more folksy with your tree design using this sweet wallpaper from Anthropologie. It’d be a great way to establish a color scheme in a room, as you can pull from its vibrant-but-still-grounded palette. I see this in a home office.
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Umbria Dawn Woods Wallpaper by Holli Zollinger Umbria Dawn Woods Wallpaper by Holli Zollinger
Spoonflower
$129
This tonal beauty can be ordered in peel-and-stick, pre- or non-pasted, or printed on grasscloth varieties. I’d go for the grasscloth and use it to line an entryway. What a first impression it’ll make!
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Chasing Paper Pacific Northwest Chasing Paper Pacific Northwest
Chasing Paper
$45
Designer Max Humphrey’s line for Chasing Paper pays homage to the Pacific Northwest, where he lives and works. I love the quiet whimsy of this peel-and-stick and can see it just about anywhere in a home.
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Lativo Forest Wallpaper Lativo Forest Wallpaper
Amazon
$8.99
Looking for something a bit less traditional and more modern? This forest peel-and-stick is the answer. It’d be at home in a mid-century modern setting and would pair nicely with light to mid-tone woods. You also can’t beat the less-than-$1-per-square-foot price tag.
Scenic Tree Toile Removable Wallpaper Scenic Tree Toile Removable Wallpaper
Pottery Barn
$129
If you want a toile with a little more shade variety, this Pottery Barn peel-and-stick will be up your alley. I love the sketch-like quality of the design, which makes it feel hand-drawn. It’d be beautiful in a dining room above a classic wainscoting, as shown here.
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Rebel Walls Bellewood Rebel Walls Bellewood
Rebel Walls
$6.60
For a similar look to Berkus’ and Brent’s bedroom, try this Rebel Walls mural. It comes in a bunch of colorways, so you can go naturalistic or extra whimsical with your choice.
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