Wall paper

Decals and other wall accents are all well and good for someone who wants to accessorize the rooms in their home, but for others, there is nothing better than the all-over design offered by wallpaper. DeGournay Wallpapers are all hand-painted, offering a level of both personalization and sophistication that is unmatched by other papers. In addition to the high-quality work, the designs are highly original, and while plainer, repeating patterns are available, DeGournay really shines through their scenescapes.

There is no reason why your living room walls should get more attention than your outdoor ones, especially as wall-decor trends tend to favor decals instead of full-wall designs these days. Susan Bradly has designed a line of Outdoor Wallpaper that rectifies this disparity.

I'm not sure that I would necessarily want to go for seasonal wallpaper in my own home, no matter how much holiday spirit I had or how good it would look. The commitment is just too big, even if you are only applying the paper to one wall. But the "Night Before Christmas" Wall Décor seems like the perfect decoration, since it looks permanent but is easy to apply and remove. The two-tone silver and copper text is set in adhesive vinyl that can be applied to any blank wall. Best of all, the ultra-thin vinly has a matte finish, so the text actually looks like it is painted directly on the wall. The entire design measures 61" x 50" and the text is prepositioned, so there is no need to worry about getting anything properly aligned. Price: $1,499.

Forget about trying to cover entire walls with wallpaper or paneling. It is much more fashionable to use wall tattoos or something similar to accent the room without taking it over. The Black Blossom Wallpaper Panel works in the same way, as it only covers a small portion of the room, acting more as artwork than just a wall covering. The blossom design is hand-stitched onto vintage wallpaper and is accented with screen printed images to lend coloring and additional depth. The panels measure 22" x 118" and are mounted on a rod, rather than applied directly to the wall. Price: £1,160.00 ($2,210).

It has been a while since we have seen a new wall flat that we really like, but the Braille Wall Flat from Inhabit is hard to resist. The raised dots on the surface really do look like Braille, although not being familiar with that particular way of writing, I can't say for certain whether it says anything or is just a pretty design. Feel free to comment below if you are familiar with it.

Adhesive tabs are used to attach the flats to the walls and the pattern is very easy to line up to create a seamless look. They are made of molded bamboo pulp paper, and because bamboo is one of the fastest self-replenishing plants in the world, the flats are very eco-friendly. On top of that, they are paintable, so if the slightly off-white base color doesn't match what you had in mind for the room, it is easy to change without loosing the design. The flats are $84 for a box of 10 18"x18" panels.

There is no end to what we can use to decorate the walls and a wall tattoo is just another word for a slightly different take on some of the other designs that we have seen over the past few months. The appeal is that wall tattoos look like stenciled-on paintings, but require no paint. They can be used on mirrored, painted or papered surfaces and come in four gorgeous designs: Hibiscus, Chrysanthemum (in burgundy and white), Blossom and Butterflies. The size varies from design to design, but each is fairly large and would make a fine accent to a room on its own. Price: £39 each.

[via cribcandy]

If paint or wall panels are too ordinary for you, wallpaper just might be the way to go. You can't select just any old wallpaper, of course, but Masques wallpaper, from designer Aurelie Mathigot is above and beyond almost any other design you'll find. The paper uses a combination of digital photography and embroidery, sequins and other hand-sewn details to create a look that is complex and truly remarkable. Like the Books Wallpaper that Deidre pointed out last week this paper is also available from The Collection and sells for €296 ($377) per unit (3m x 55cm).

Helvetica is a mathematician's dream and an English major's nightmare. This pattern is a little less conventional, a little bolder than the Carnaby Panels from the same manufacturer, but these wall panels are fantastic. They could work in an office or a child's room, and would even make an interesting accent wall in a very contemporary home. Depending on the color (matte white, pictured), the 96"x46" panels are about $1000 each.

The Cityscape Hangers were charming, but small. The Cityscape Wallpaper collection, on the other hand, turns an ordinary room into a show worthy one, creating a uniquely contemporary wall design without the repetitious patterns that wallpapers typically feature. Printed on high-quality paper, the print is made from a custom drawing. The skyline would make a sunning accent wall, and using the paper all-over would definitely create a metropolitan atmosphere in a large, open loft. There are six different colors available in the collection, with the "City Mirage" pictured here. Price: £143.00 per roll.

Looking at different wallpapers is even more fun than actually wallpapering your home, even though you don't get the satisfaction of seeing your home with a beautiful new look. But not only does it actually require less physical work, but you can (mentally) decorate your home with more designs than you could conceivably use in good taste, not to mention that you'll be able to pick out the ideal pattern with no regrets when you are ready to redecorate. For those looking to have an escapist feeling, this Woods Wallpaper is one of the most interesting papers we've seen. The repeating imagery, when wrapped around a room, will actually make it look as though you're in a forest. Price: £35 per roll (to the US).

[via BLTD]