Wallpaper for Walls: What South African Homes Are Choosing This Year
Wallpaper for Walls: What South African Homes Are Choosing This Year
South African homes are embracing wallpaper for more than just decoration. This year, wallpaper for walls in South Africa is about solving design problems, adding personality, and creating visual calm. The right wallpaper isn’t just a background – it becomes part of the story.
From custom wallpaper that reflects your lifestyle to timeless designer wallpaper that adds quiet confidence to a room, homeowners and interior designers are turning to styles that do more than just look good. They choose wallpaper that works hard. It hides imperfections, sets moods, and makes everyday living feel more intentional.
Below, we cover the top wallpaper trends in South Africa this year, what’s never gone out of style, and how you can use these ideas in your own home.
Why Wallpaper for Walls in South Africa Is Back – And Better Than Ever
In years past, paint was the first solution for tired walls. But it doesn’t offer much personality. Wallpaper, on the other hand, creates an experience. It can soften harsh architecture, zone open-plan spaces, or give a rental some much-needed style without permanent changes.
And with today's custom wallpaper options and easy installation techniques, South African homeowners are no longer settling for imported patterns or bland repeats. You can now choose a print that speaks directly to your style – or even one that speaks about where you live.
What Makes Wallpaper the Smart Choice?
Here are the top 5 problems our wallpaper solves:
- Bland interiors: Wallpaper adds immediate interest. Even one feature wall can create a focal point.
- Poor light or echoey rooms: Textured or matte wallpapers absorb light and soften acoustics.
- Outdated architecture: A strong mural or stripe can modernize even the most dated walls.
- Rental limitations: Peel-and-stick or removable wallpaper brings impact without renovation.
- Wall imperfections: Unlike paint, wallpaper can mask uneven textures or cracks.
These functional benefits, paired with exclusive prints, explain why so many South Africans are replacing paint with pattern.
What Wallpaper Never Goes Out of Style?
If you’re wondering whether wallpaper is a fad, here’s what consistently performs in homes across styles and decades. These five types are always in demand:
1. Floral Patterns
Soft, wild, romantic or abstract – florals continue to rule because they bring nature indoors. In South Africa, protea-inspired designs add local identity. See our Protea Wallpaper Collection for options that celebrate the Fynbos heritage.
2. Stripes
Stripes elongate walls, add movement, and fit both modern and traditional rooms. Choose a soft vertical stripe for height or bold horizontal for drama. In kids’ rooms, candy stripes are cheerful and timeless.
3. Damask
Damask has never left. It offers structure and elegance. Choose modern tonal shades to avoid the heavy look of past versions. Our damask-inspired options are printed on high-quality substrates for durability.
4. Geometric Patterns
Think beyond chevron. Geometric wallpaper brings rhythm and clarity. In South African homes, this style is often used in studies, foyers, and Airbnb bedrooms to add a crisp, high-end feel.
5. Textured Wallpapers
Grasscloth, faux brick, linen prints, and subtle concrete textures make rooms feel layered and lived-in. Use them to add warmth or quiet luxury. Our textured-look prints are lightweight and won’t trap moisture.
Wallpaper Trends in South Africa for 2025
These are the most requested designer wallpaper styles and themes this year:
Natural Tones Linen Texture Wallpaper Designs
1. Local Inspiration: Hermanus, Fynbos, and Wildlife Murals
People want to feel connected to where they live. That’s why custom wallpaper with South African wildlife, coastal scenes, or Fynbos vegetation is on the rise. These designs give visitors a real sense of place – especially in holiday homes and Airbnbs. View the Mural Category to see our boldest nature-themed prints.
2. Soft Watercolour Finishes
Homeowners are favouring soft, blurred lines and hand-painted aesthetics. Watercolour-style florals and coastal scenes feel light, artistic, and personal.
3. Statement Ceilings
Ceilings are becoming the fifth wall. A patterned ceiling in a guest bathroom or child’s room creates unexpected impact without cluttering floor space.
4. Kids’ Room Murals That Grow With Them
Forget overly themed wallpaper. Parents are choosing wallpaper that adds personality without becoming outdated. Think animal line drawings, soft clouds, and gentle pastels. These designs work for toddlers, tweens, and beyond.
Jungle nap time wallpaper mural
5. Monochrome Patterns in Textured Print
Tone-on-tone patterns in beige, sand, charcoal or olive are preferred for people who want design without distraction. Ideal for bedrooms, studies, and anywhere that needs rest.
Choosing Custom Wallpaper vs. Off-the-Shelf Rolls
Here’s what to consider when comparing custom vs mass-produced options:
| Custom Wallpaper | Off-the-Shelf Wallpaper |
|---|---|
| Printed to fit your wall perfectly | Often leads to pattern mismatches |
| Unique, exclusive designs | Repeats seen in many homes |
| You choose colour, scale, and style | Limited to stock designs |
| Can include personal or local themes | Generic patterns only |
| Better customer support | DIY and online-only support |
Lily Grace Design specialises in custom wallpaper printed to order. Whether it’s a mural of your coastal home, a floral that picks up your existing linen colours, or a kids' design with your child's name incorporated – we’ll create something nobody else has.
How Interior Designers Are Using Wallpaper to Solve Client Problems
We’ve interviewed several South African interior designers working in Cape Town, Pretoria and Hermanus. Here’s how they’re using wallpaper to address client briefs:
- Zoning open-plan spaces: Wallpaper creates boundaries in kitchens, dining areas and lounges without the need for partitioning.
- Creating emotional calm: In bedrooms and therapy rooms, natural or washed wallpaper softens the space visually.
- Giving Airbnbs character: Instead of costly art, one wall of designer wallpaper becomes the photo-worthy backdrop for Instagram. Our coastal prints and protea ranges are Airbnb favourites.
Want to work with us as a designer or wholesaler? We offer special rates and design support. Contact info@lilygracedesign.co.za to request a sample kit or digital catalogue.
Our Top Recommendations by Room
Living Room:
Try a bold mural or textured print behind the sofa. Use florals to warm up large windows or plain flooring.
Main Bedroom:
Choose soft botanicals, linen-look wallpaper, or gentle brushstroke murals. Avoid jarring patterns.
Guest Bedrooms or Airbnbs:
Focus on location-specific wallpaper, like proteas, whales, or coastal scenery. Choose something that helps your guests remember the experience.
Bathrooms and Powder Rooms:
Use small-scale geometric patterns, moody florals, or murals with a vertical layout to elongate the space.
Children’s Bedrooms:
Try hand-drawn animals, rainbows, ballerinas or pastel landscapes. All available in our Wallpaper Collections and designed to feel charming, not cartoonish.
Maintenance and Durability
Our wallpaper is printed on quality, tear-resistant paper that wipes clean. We offer two finishes:
- Standard matte: For bedrooms, lounges, and rental-friendly applications
- Water-resistant coated: For bathrooms, kitchens, and high-traffic walls
Installation is straightforward with wallpaper paste, or we can recommend trusted installers near you.
Why Choose Wallpaper from Lily Grace Design?
We aren’t a wallpaper warehouse. We’re a design studio based in Hermanus that makes custom wallpaper for people who want art on their walls – not just pattern.
Here’s what makes us different:
- Every design is exclusive and South African made
- We work with interior designers, Airbnb hosts and families directly
- Small runs and low minimums welcome
- Colour adjustments, scale changes and custom mural requests are always welcome
- No extra cost for being original
We also offer matching scatter cushions, fleece throws, and coffee mugs in the same prints – perfect for gifting or styling your entire home in harmony.
Final Thoughts: Should You Go for Wallpaper?
If you're still deciding, ask yourself:
- Do you have a blank wall that needs meaning?
- Do you want your home to feel personal, not generic?
- Do you need a quick update without a full renovation?
If yes, then wallpaper might be your easiest win this year.
Wood Panel Pattern Wallpaper Designs
Let’s Help You Choose
Our team will walk you through wallpaper ideas for your home or project. You’ll get mockups, samples, and guidance – whether it’s your first time or your tenth.
Browse our Wallpaper Collections and the Mural Category to see what’s possible.
Want something truly one-of-a-kind?
Email us at info@lilygracedesign.co.za or call 073 710 5224 to create your custom wallpaper.
More about Lily Grace Design
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