Don’t Be Scared Of Wallpaper

We all know the fear of commitment that choosing a wallpaper can stir in us. You like those dramatic, dark stripes today, but will you curse yourself on the next gloomy afternoon, when your house feels like an oppressive cavern from Alice In Wonderland? Sulis is here to make the terrifying task of wallpapering your home, that little bit less ominous.

We think that any wallpapering decision should definitely factor in the furniture, fabrics and most importantly, the art you have in your home. Vibrant, intricately patterned florals are all the rage, but can easily swallow up a delicate watercolour or soft pastel artwork.

Here are a few of our favourite wallpapers from some of the chicest pattern and textile designers out there, paired with artworks from our own collection, to help you visualise the possibilities for you own home.

A vertical stripe is a universal classic in wallpaper design, but can be a headache in large areas. We have broken up this cracking red stripe from Ottoline, with a neatly arranged selection of antique miniatures from our archive. Follow Ottoline on Instagram: @ottolinedevries

Tess Newhall has some of the most characterful and wholesome wallpapers around; this design “Folk Flower” in yellow and terracotta, is one of our favourites. Folk Flower is a charming potato printed floral, with the textured feel of a hand blocked design. We have chosen warm toned, vintage oak frames, paired with crisp mounts to highlight graphic Mid Century watercolours and ink drawings, adding an honest homeliness to Tess’s folk print. Follow Tess on Instagram: @tessnewallstudio

“Blackthorn” is one the designs from the Cornubia collection, the latest offering from Morris & Co’s collaboration with architect and designer, Ben Pentreath. This is a reworking of a design by J.H. Dearle in 1892 using a fresh white ground with pops of pink and sky blues. The closeness of the pattern makes this a tricky ground for delicate, softer artworks. The bold ink line work of our represented artist, Isabelle Mulvany, sing out from a crisp white mount and elegant, thin black frames. Follow Ben and Morris & Co on Instagram: @benpentreath @wmorrisandco

Blue and gilt are best friends and when paired together in this bathroom, papered in Molly Mahon’s Spot & Star in “denim,” they create a timeless elegance, elevating the rustic block printed style. No toothpaste splashes please! Follow Molly on Instagram: @mollymahonblockprinting

Ellen Merchant is new on the Sulis radar and we can’t get enough of her beautifully scrolling florals. Ellen hand carves her designs for the printing press, which adds an utterly charming texture and character to her papers. Pair with burr wood or bird’s eye maple frames to compliment the warm undertones and add gravity to the delicate pattern. Follow Ellen on Instagram: @ellenmerchant

Sometimes, you just need to give in to a particularly confident wallpaper. This corker from Mind The Gap has it all: stripes, repeat pattern, seashells and coral. We have chosen artworks that mirror the colourscheme and the sea theme with simple black frames and white mounts to separate them from the the paper. Follow Mind The Gap on Instagram: @mindtgap

We are totally smitten with anything that comes out of Polly Fern’s studio, and this wallpaper is no exception. Filled with whimsical imagery and the prettiest palette, we couldn’t help but layer up the whimsy with folky, 19th Century watercolours in oval frames. We opted for black frames, rather than the more traditional gilt, to give the look a little more gravity. Follow Polly on Instagram: @pollyfern

Click images to view wallpapers on their designer’s websites. All images belong to their respective owners.