Wonderful wallpaper: meet the designers leading change on the home front

Forget about your grandparents floral wallpaper of the ‘80s. The pasted paper has come an incredibly long way to become trendy and much sought after again.

For many years, wallpaper was hard to use because it was difficult to apply and maintain, leaving room for paint to invade our interiors. But today, it’s easy to put up, washable and reasonably affordable.

“Our concept is wallpaper sheets that can be laid like tiles. You can mix them like mosaics. It's simple and fun, you apply paste the wallpaper like a puzzle!” says Aude Malbat, co-founder of Joli Jour Paris. 75 different patterns are available in her shop.

From romantic floral motifs to geometric shapes and nature-inspired designs, it has never been easier to create your own unique decor, to break away from normal standards and everyday codes. Wallpaper adds depth and texture to a room, enlarging the space and that's a considerable advantage over paint whether you live in a small spaces or larger dwelling.

Malbat tells Euronews Culture that she believes pasted paper is timeless. ‘’It’s back in the spotlight because people need a warm, special, lively interior that matches their own personality.’’

Besides, old-fashioned items or decorations still hold enormous appeal for some. ‘’Wallpaper is everywhere in England and in the US too!” she says.

In the past, wall-coverings had to be printed by screen or by gravure rollers, which meant the repeat process was limited. But digital printing has allowed the development of large-scale patterns and murals that can cover an entire wall without repetition.

‘’We hand-draw or hand-paint our designed landscapes, then photograph, scan and print them in our workshop in Bordeaux. This technique enables us to reach a very high quality’’,