Cottage Interiors – Patterned Wallpaper Edition
Suggestions for every budget
When I first moved into my “new” old house, I had layers and layers of wallpaper to remove. It took months to get the walls back to bare lime plaster, only to discover why they were likely wallpapered in the first place: cracks, holes, and decades of DIY patch-ups.
Still, it was fascinating to uncover the decades of different home decor trends hidden underneath each layer. In the hallway, I even found some of the original wallpaper from over 100 years ago. It was probably once quite beautiful, but by the time I got to it, it was brown and brittle from years of sitting under glue and other layers.
At first, all that wallpaper removal put me off the idea of using it in my own decorating. But that didn’t last long.
Why I Changed My Mind
The first two rooms I decorated are totally wallpaper-free. At the time, I couldn’t face the idea of putting it back on after I’d spent so long taking it off. But the more I got into decorating, the more I started to love patterns, and wallpaper is one of the easiest ways to incorporate them into a room. Another huge bonus is that wallpaper is pretty forgiving… when your walls are a bit of a mess.
Once I started exploring the idea and browsing online, I realised how many gorgeous prints are out there. Wanting to combine cottage interiors with elements of the house’s history, I decided it just made sense. Once that decision was made, I wanted to wallpaper everything. And I still do. (Watch out, kitchen and bathroom.)
Beautiful Wallpaper Brands Worth Exploring (Whatever Your Budget)
Before I settled on wallpapers from Lucie Annabelle and Jane Clayton, I spent hours browsing designs – from luxurious hand-painted murals to surprisingly affordable prints that still felt special. If you’re searching for cottage-inspired, floral, or artistic wallpaper, these brands are worth a look:
Decorating your forever home?
Take a look at these ultra- luxury & design-led options…
hand-crafted and highly bespoke products, with prices to match.
de Gournay is a family-run business, founded in 1986, with the daughters of the original founder still very actively involved. Their uber luxury wallpapers are primarily hand-painted in their Shanghai studio, with each panel taking up to 150 hours to produce. They offer bespoke designs that can be embellished with an embroidery finish, adding additional layers of depth and intricacy to something already very special.
Luxury digital design agency, Fromental, is on a mission to make the world’s most beautiful wallpapers. As part of achieving this ambitious goal, they offer stunning wallcoverings inspired by both modern and traditional pattern and design. Ultra-luxurious silk and embroidered wallcoverings enable you to create a space that’s truly unique.
Seeking premium quality, but not quite the price-tag?
Check out these options for premium design, but more accessible prices than hand-painted custom work.
Cole & Son started its journey in 1875, when the son of a Cambridgeshire merchant began carving a name out for himself amongst a vibrant hub of more than 190 block printing companies active during the 18th and 19th centuries. Fast forward to today, and Cole & Sons continues with a commitment and passion for design excellence, with it’s inhouse artists still producing innovative and beautiful wallpapers. Their collections reflect a long and distinguished history in artistic design and quality craftsmanship
If you’re looking for bold, maximalist design, check out House of Hackney who deliver exactly this, with an eco-conscious twist. They make their “made-to-order” wallpaper using Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, purposely grown materials and print them with environmentally safe inks. Their wallpaper is specifically designed for easy application, and is paste-the-wall – which is the best choice for DIY-ers.
Sanderson is a fabulous choice for heritage prints that would look perfect in a period property. Since 1860, Sanderson has specialised in quintessential British design, developing a reputation for its iconic florals. A classic British brand known as a staple for old homes. Not cheap, but priced accessibly within the premium market.
Looking for something budget-friendly?
Check out these more affordable, but still beautiful, options.
Wallpaper Direct is great for samples – with three for free, and others just £1 each. They offer mid-range designer collections, often including Cole & Son, Morris & Co, etc… often have discounts available.
I Love Wallpaper offer quick delivery, and a huge range of wallpapers, murals, and textured wallcoverings. Their designs are trend-led, and offered at a great price point.
World of Wallpaper has huge range with something for every taste. Their ‘Arts & Crafts’ collection features many Morrison-inspired prints – always a safe choice for period-home decor.
What I Learned from DIY Wallpapering (As a Total Beginner)
Order samples first
Are they worth the patience? 100% absolutely. Seeing them in the room makes a huge difference. Colours shift depending on the light, and what looks great online doesn’t always work in your room (speaking from experience).
Use lining paper if your walls aren’t in good shape
Mine definitely were. I used the thickest grade lining paper I could find (2500) to help disguise the uneven plaster. It also made the wallpapering process way easier. I pasted the lining paper first and let it soak for a few minutes, then added another layer of paste before sticking it on the wall. I also brushed paste directly onto the walls before hanging it. When I skipped that step, I ended up with air bubbles.
I hung the lining paper horizontally and my wallpaper vertically. I left a small gap between the joints so it had space to expand while drying, and avoided any overlapping seams, which would show through once the wallpaper went on.
Paste-the-wall paper is DIY Friendly
Both of the brands I used were “paste the wall” which meant I didn’t have to with wet wallpaper flopping everywhere. It was much more manageable, especially over lining paper.
Buy pre-mixed wallpaper paste
I tried to be cost-efficient by buying my wallpaper paste in a powdered form, and mixing it at home myself. I found it difficult to get the consistency right, and kept making too much for the amount of paper I was hanging, so in the end I decided to buy pre-mixed. It was so much less hassle, which for someone who didn’t have any experience, justified the extra cost for me. You can buy adhesive specifically formulated for Lucie Annabel’s wallpaper, but I just used the “No-Nonsense” and “Anagalypta” branded pre-mixed wallpaper paste, and both did exactly what they say on the tin.
Always line up your pattern before you cut
Sounds obvious, but when you’re in the middle of it, it’s easy to forget. I left a bit of extra length at the top of each strip so I could cut a clean edge once it was on the wall. You often need more paper than you think when matching patterns, but it’s worth it to avoid mismatched seams.
Use a new cutting blade for every cut
A new blade each time enables a seamless sharp edge with every cut, saving you a lot of time, errors, and hassle. Look for a “snap off blade knife” when buying your equipment.
Dado rails are a great way to break things up
Because I went for quite bold patterns, I decided to wallpaper only the sections above or below the dado rails. This let me still use paint colours in the room and meant the patterns didn’t completely take over. It’s a nice balance if you want to go bold but not feel like you’re living inside a pattern book.
The 3 Wallpapers I Chose (And Why I Love Them)
Tulip Garden – Lucie Annabelle
I used this on the staircase, which is narrow, steep, and quite dark. It was one of the worst areas in terms of wall condition, and I didn’t have the budget for fresh lime plaster. This wallpaper has a busy enough pattern that it hides a lot of sins. It also felt like a gentle nod to the original floral wallpaper I found buried under the layers.
It’s not cheap, but the quality is amazing. It didn’t rip easily, and it handled the awkward corners well. I paired it with Sulking Room Pink by Farrow & Ball, and added some panelling too, just to lean into the detail.
Willow Boughs – Clarke & Clarke (via Jane Clayton & Co.)
I used this in my bedroom. The design is inspired by a classic William Morris print, which again ties into the Victorian/Edwardian vibe of the house. There are lots of similar patterns out there, but I liked the colour combination options available for this one by Clarke & Clark. The paper itself was strong but flexible, and really easy to work with.
I paired it with Parma Gray and Blackened by Farrow & Ball. The light blue tones work beautifully in the bedroom – it feels calm, fresh, and light. It’s a different feel to some of the darker/moody shades I’ve used elsewhere in the house, and it makes me happy to wake up in it.
Mighty Oak – Lucie Annabelle
This one’s in a living space that connects to another room painted in Bancha by Farrow & Ball, which is a dark green, so I needed something that wouldn’t clash but still added character. I picked String for the paint – it’s a very natural colour, that ties in with the garden feel of the acorn and oak leaf pattern. Farrow & Ball describe it on their website as “A pale, earthy colour reminiscent of the untreated twine used by gardeners and parcel senders worldwide”.
This was definitely the hardest room to wallpaper, mostly because I chose to do above the dado, and the ceiling lines are all over the place. But again, the wallpaper quality really helped. It held up well and gave me time to adjust each piece as I went.
Final Thoughts
Wallpaper can feel intimidating, especially if you’re working with imperfect walls or doing it solo. But honestly, if you use good-quality paper and take your time, it’s completely doable – even in a wonky period cottage.
I’m really glad I gave it a go, and I’d definitely recommend trying it if you’re looking to add some pattern and softness to a space.
Curious about other paint colours I used with these wallpapers? I’ve written a post all about the bold Farrow & Ball shades I’ve used in my home and how I made them work in a small cottage – linked here.
Have you tried wallpapering an older home? I’d love to hear what worked (or didn’t!) for you.
