The History of Wallpaper

The Origins

Wallpaper is making a strong comeback in Australia! Stay ahead of the trend and express your unique style. But let's delve deeper—where did wallpaper originate?

Wallpaper was first invented in China during the Qin Dynasty, around the 1630s. Initially made from rice paper, it was primarily used for insulation. Later, wallpaper evolved to be made from linen fiber, a material that made it easier to paint and print designs on. Early wallpaper designs often featured scenes of genealogy, nature, and deities.

With the expansion of trade routes, wallpaper spread to Europe. In the mid-1600s, wallpaper gained widespread popularity as a cost-effective alternative to tapestries, which were traditionally used to conceal wall imperfections and provide insulation. Some of the earliest wallpaper prints in the West were called domino prints, created using woodblocks and hand-colored. These prints typically depicted devotional, political, or geometric motifs. Eventually, the trend circled back to its Asian roots with the rise of chinoiserie—prints depicting oriental flowers, birds, and landscapes. Chinoiserie became extremely popular, and Chinese workshops produced these wallpapers specifically to meet European demand.

1700’s - 1900’s

In the 1700s, wallpaper became popular and highly expensive in New England, crafted from luxurious materials such as leather, silk, wool, and velvet. With the advent of the Industrial Revolution came a series of mass production printing techniques, making wallpaper more accessible. When selecting wallpaper designs, you might notice some named after “William Morris.” William Morris was an English designer, known for his textile work and poetry. He created various wallpaper patterns inspired by nature. In the late 1800s, it was discovered that his wallpaper company’s dyes contained high levels of arsenic, leading to poisoning. Under pressure, the company eventually switched to arsenic-free dyes. During the early 1900s, wallpaper's popularity grew in post-war America, where repapering a home became a common ritual during moves.

2000’s - Now

However, in the 20th century, wallpaper experienced a significant decline in popularity due to the rise of Modernist style and a preference for clean, painted walls. Although luxury brands have attempted to revive high-end wallpapers, this once global trend has yet to fully make a comeback.

In the 21st century, wallpaper is experiencing a resurgence in popularity. Increasingly, it is being featured in luxury buildings, hotels, restaurants, and upscale homes. In 2025, key wallpaper trends include bold and vibrant patterns inspired by nature, floral designs with a contemporary twist, minimalist Scandinavian styles, and textured wallpapers—a particularly strong trend in Australian homes. When selecting wallpaper, look out for these styles to recognise their growing presence in interior design.