We moved from Brighton to the countryside three years ago after we outgrew our house during lockdown. The ‘new’ house is Georgian (aka has a lot of issues) and renovation is still very much in progress now, although we’ve thankfully been able to move on from practical upkeep jobs to more aesthetically pleasing projects. It has a tiny top floor with two small rooms that we’re currently using for storage, but, before Christmas, Kitty and Alfie decided to sell some of their old toys to raise funds to tranform one of them into a den/snug/teen hangout, so we’ve been looking for ideas and inspiration in magazines and online. This is how I discovered Photowall, a Swedish company launched in 2006, who specialise in wallpaper, murals and prints. If any of you follow my interiors Insta @thepoundhouseproject, you’ll know that I definitely have a thing for wallpaper – not least because it’s a great disguise for all manner of ancient wonky wall problems! Birds, botanicals, bears – you name it, it’s probably on my walls.
Photowall print your wallpaper to your individual room measurements, then number the strips so you know which order to hang them on the wall. Being tucked under the eaves, the attic room has some awkwardly shaped walls, so the thought of a solution specifically made for the space, rather than spending hours cutting, is super appealing. Being teen and tween siblings, Alfie and Kitty struggled to agree on a design (no surprises there), so I reckon I’ve probably looked at most of Photowall‘s over 20,000 wallpaper options, therefore I thought I’d showcase a few of my faves here. During our search, I came across a lot of appealing designs for young children’s rooms, including this beautiful Town wallpaper, above, designed by fab Swedish illustrator and BG fave Ingela P Arrhenius. Ideal for a nursery or playroom, I love all the details of the shop signs and windows and the animal characters are simply adorable. It’s £35 per m2 and you’ll find a range of other vibrant papers by Arrhenius on the site.
It doesn’t matter what your little one is into – there’s something stylish to appeal to every interest. Got a budding Attenborough at home? They might enjoy Jungle Friends, from Photowall’s own Kids collection, with its elephant, giraffe, zebra and pals, at £35 per m2. Trainspotting youngsters will love the aptly named Train (£29 per m2), above, by Swedish designer Zara Westerberg, featuring a colourful repeating pattern of engine and carriages meandering through the countryside. Or is your child more of a Steve Zissou type? Try the Under the Sea design, top, which comes in Blue, Green or Black colourways, from the Maison x Aureum collection – it would also be perfect for a bathroom (£39 per m2).
For older kids, there’s a plethora of educational wallcoverings, from colourful maps highlighting regional animals, cities, landmarks and natural wonders, to the periodic table and blueprints – this solar system mural by Canadian artist Jazzberry Blue is particularly fab and would work for a wide age range (£29 per m2). Alfie and Kitty are still discussing their options, but a wave print is in the running, along with this clouds and swallows design. To be honest, I’d be happy with either.
Of course, we can’t let the kids have all the fun – you’ll find plenty of wallpapers and murals to give any room in your house a glow up. I’m rather partial to green in all its forms, so the lush foliage of Tropical Botany (£29 per m2) really appealed to me. I was also blown away by the sheer number of bird designs on the site – there’s everything from the more common cranes and flamingoes to toucans and blackbirds. My favourite has to be Petra Arnesson’s monochrome Birds pattern, £29 per m2. If that all feels like too much choice and you’re struggling to choose a design, check out Ideal Home‘s guide to 2024’s wallpaper trends for inspiration. And, if you’ve never hung wallpaper before, I can recommend their DIY guide to wallpapering, which we used with great success last year.
There are also options if you live in a rental property, or just don’t feel able to commit to wallpaper at the moment, as Photowall offers most of its designs in the form of canvases and prints as well. Alfie has taken a liking to this All That Jazz poster, which has a real midcentury vibe. I’m a fan of this series of birds and sun artworks by Kubistika, aka Berlin-based designer Boris Draschoff – a great way to add colour and interest to a dull corner. In fact, I think I have just the spot…
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