Wallpaper is one of the fastest ways to change how a room looks and feels. In a weekend, a tired bedroom, a plain hallway or a forgettable dining room can have colour, texture and a story. Paint can't do that on its own.
We've just added the Olive et Oriel wallpaper collection to Cocolea, and the same questions keep coming up in our Port Melbourne showroom. Here are the answers, plus the wallpaper trends we're seeing for 2026 and why they're working.
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Why wallpaper changes a room more than anything else
Most rooms feel flat for one of three reasons: no texture, no focal point or no personality. Wallpaper fixes all three at once, because it covers the biggest surface in the room.
- It adds depth. Grasscloth, sisal and abaca catch the light and soften echoey rooms, so the space feels warmer and more finished.
- It creates a focal point. A mural behind the bed or the dining table gives the eye somewhere to land, and the furniture suddenly makes sense.
- It changes the proportions. Vertical stripes make a ceiling feel higher. A panoramic scene makes a small room feel deeper. A dark, moody print makes a large room feel intimate.
- It brings in a story. A botanical scene, a coastal palm or a vintage tapestry says something about who lives there. That's what makes a room feel personal, not just decorated.
- It lasts. Good-quality wallpaper looks good for years and handles everyday knocks better than a flat painted wall.
Wallpaper trends for 2026, and why they're working
The big shift is away from the single, loud feature wall and towards wallpaper that makes a whole room feel calm, textured and personal. These are the trends we're seeing most.
| Trend | What it looks like | Why it's popular | Try it with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural texture | Grasscloth, sisal, abaca and paperweave in warm neutrals | Adds quiet luxury and warmth without pattern; pairs with the organic, Japandi and modern-classic interiors people are building now | Luxe Beige Grasscloth, Caramel Gold Abaca |
| Panoramic murals | Scenic landscapes and trees that wrap a room | Creates an immersive, gallery-like room and makes small spaces feel deeper | Vintage Oak Tree, Vintage Tapestry |
| Biophilic and botanical | Soft foliage, eucalyptus, palms and garden scenes | People want calm, nature-led homes; greenery on the walls does that all year round | Soft Eucalyptus, Abstract Botanical |
| Warm, earthy neutrals | Caramel, mocha, sand and stone | Warmer than the grey and white of recent years, and easy to live with | Beach Stone, Cream Sisal on Soft Gold |
| Golden and metallic accents | Subtle gold, champagne and silver threads | A glow that changes with the light; glamour without being loud | Ivory Metallic Abaca, Charcoal & Silver Paperweave |
| Colour drenching | Wallpaper on all four walls, sometimes the ceiling too | Wraps the room so it feels cocooning and considered, rather than one wall shouting | Songbird Garden, Noir Botanica |
| Stripes and Hamptons classics | Fine, hand-drawn and linen-textured stripes | Timeless, adds height, and works in coastal and traditional homes | Hamptons Luxe Stripe, Linen Double Stripe |
| Heritage and storytelling prints | Tapestry, toile-inspired and vintage scenes | Gives new homes character and a sense of history | Vintage Tapestry Mural, Al Fresco |
| Coastal escapes | Clouds, palms and soft sea tones | A relaxed, holiday feeling at home; perfect for Australian bedrooms and living rooms | Coastal Clouds, Vintage Coastal Palm |
Why texture leads in 2026: natural grasscloth and sisal are woven by hand, so no two drops are identical. That small variation is exactly what makes a room feel crafted and calm, and it's why designers keep reaching for them in living rooms, bedrooms and dining rooms.
Wallpaper FAQs: what people ask most
Is wallpaper back in style?
Yes, and it never really left. Today's wallpapers are easier to hang, easier to remove and far better printed than the papers many of us remember. Textured naturals and murals are the most requested styles right now.
How much wallpaper do I need?
Measure the width of each wall from corner to corner, and the height from floor to ceiling at the tallest point. Don't subtract doors or windows; the off-cuts are your safety margin. Every Olive et Oriel product page at Cocolea has a calculator: enter your wall sizes in centimetres or metres and it tells you exactly how many m² or rolls to order, and adds them to your cart.
- Murals and printed wallpaper are printed to the size of your wall in numbered panels, so you buy by the square metre.
- Grasscloth, sisal and abaca are sold by the roll. We recommend one spare roll because natural fibres vary from batch to batch.
What's the difference between a mural and wallpaper?
A repeating wallpaper uses the same pattern across the wall. A mural is one large image, printed to your exact wall size and split into panels, so the scene flows from one side to the other without repeating.
What is "paste the wall" wallpaper?
You roll paste onto the wall rather than the paper, then hang the dry panels. It's cleaner and faster than traditional pasting, and you can slide panels into place to line them up. It's the most popular option for murals.
Is peel-and-stick wallpaper any good?
It's ideal for renters and small, smooth areas like a nook, a bedhead wall or the back of shelves. For a large wall or a permanent finish, paste-the-wall or traditional wallpaper looks more seamless and lasts longer.
Is grasscloth practical?
Yes, in the right room. Grasscloth is beautiful in living rooms, bedrooms, studies and dining rooms. Avoid wet areas and spots where it will be touched or splashed often, like behind a kitchen sink. Natural fibres also show small colour variations and visible seams. That's part of their character, not a fault. For high-traffic or commercial spaces, a faux grasscloth vinyl like our Faux Grasscloth in Taupe gives the same look and can be wiped clean.
Can I put wallpaper in a bathroom or kitchen?
Yes, with good ventilation and the right product. Choose a washable or vinyl wallcovering, keep it away from direct splashes, and use an exhaust fan. Powder rooms are a great place to be bold, because there's no shower steam.
Does wallpaper make a room look smaller?
Not if you choose well. Light, airy scenes and soft stripes can make a room feel larger. Dark or large-scale patterns make a room feel cosier, which is often exactly what a small study, powder room or dining room needs.
Feature wall or the whole room?
A feature wall is a great start: behind the bed, the sofa or the dining table. For 2026, wrapping the whole room, or adding the ceiling, is the more designed look, especially with textured naturals and soft botanicals.
Can I wallpaper over paint or textured walls?
Over sound, smooth, painted walls, yes. The wall should be clean, dry and primed. Textured, glossy or damaged walls need sanding, patching and a primer first, or the texture will show through.
Can I hang wallpaper myself?
Peel-and-stick and paste-the-wall murals are DIY-friendly if you're patient and have a level, a sharp blade and a smoothing tool. We recommend a professional installer for grasscloth, sisal and other natural fibres, large walls, ceilings and stairwells. We can recommend trusted installers.
How long does wallpaper last?
Good-quality wallpaper, properly hung, can look good for 10–15 years or more in a living area. Murals and textured naturals tend to be kept the longest, because they become part of the room's character.
How do I clean wallpaper?
Dust with a soft brush or a vacuum on low. Gently wipe vinyl and washable papers with a damp cloth. For grasscloth, dust only; blot any marks lightly and never scrub.
Is wallpaper removable?
Peel-and-stick lifts off cleanly. Most modern paste-the-wall papers are designed to strip in dry panels without soaking, which makes the next change much easier.
Can I order a sample?
Yes, and we recommend it. Colour and texture change with your light, so look at the sample on the wall in the morning and evening. Samples are free during our welcome offer.
Can I create my own custom wallpaper?
Yes. Upload your own photo, artwork or pattern to our custom wallpaper and wall murals page, choose your material and enter your wall size. We send you a proof before anything is printed.
Do you offer commercial wallcoverings?
Yes. We supply commercial vinyl wallcoverings for hospitality, retail and offices, with fire-rating documentation provided before production. Ask us for a project quote.
How to choose the right wallpaper for your room
- Start with the mood. Calm and restful (soft botanicals, naturals), fresh and coastal (clouds, palms, stripes) or rich and dramatic (dark florals, gold, metallics).
- Look at the light. Rooms with cooler, south-facing light suit warm tones; sunny north-facing rooms can take cooler colours and darker grounds.
- Think about scale. Large murals need a wall you can step back from; smaller patterns suit narrow halls and powder rooms.
- Pull a colour from the room. Match a tone in your sofa, rug or timber, so the wallpaper ties everything together.
- Order samples and live with them for a few days before you decide.
Book a free wallpaper design consultation
Not sure which design suits your room, how much to order or who should hang it? Our designers will help you choose the right wallpaper, check your measurements, and talk through installation and trusted installer recommendations, along with any other questions you have.
Book your free consultation, call us on 1800 855 665, or visit our showroom at 400 Plummer Street, Port Melbourne, to see samples in person. Then explore the full wallpaper and wall covers collection.
Warmest Regards,
Dorina Cocolea