Wallpaper Is Making a Comeback — And This Time, It’s Different

The year was 1997.

My family had just purchased a home on three acres outside of Redding.

A 2,200-square-foot house filled wall-to-wall with oak cabinets, wallpaper borders in every room, textured walls, and ceilings painted in every shade of off-white imaginable.

It was a different era.

Kids rode bikes until sunset. Parents simply said, “Be home before dark.”

Mullets and mustaches somehow ruled the world, and nearly every home had at least one room covered in wallpaper.

Then, almost overnight, wallpaper disappeared.

For the last 15 years in the painting industry, most of my experience with wallpaper has involved removing it — not installing it. As painters, we often associate wallpaper with massive prep projects, damaged drywall, peeling seams, steamers, adhesive removal, skim coating, and expensive restoration work.

When I thought of wallpaper, I thought of:

• Entire-home wallpaper removal projects

• $15,000–$25,000 restoration estimates

• Damaged sheetrock repairs

• Hours of floating walls smooth

• Clients desperate to modernize outdated spaces

So naturally, when wallpaper started trending again, I was skeptical.

But over the last few years, I’ve noticed something happening throughout the South Bay and across modern interior design trends:

Wallpaper came back — completely reinvented.

And honestly? It’s impressive.

Today’s wallpaper is no longer just floral borders and busy patterns from the 90s. Modern wallpaper has evolved into a high-end design feature capable of transforming an ordinary room into a custom luxury space.

It’s no longer just about color or pattern.

Wallpaper now adds:

• Texture

• Depth

• Dimension

• Warmth

• Contrast

• Acoustic softness

• Character that paint alone sometimes cannot achieve

From grasscloth textures and linen finishes to oversized murals, geometric designs, limewash-inspired prints, metallic accents, minimalist patterns, and modern organic styles — wallpaper has become an entirely new category of interior design.

Some of the most popular wallpaper styles we’re seeing right now include:

• Natural grasscloth textures

• Neutral organic patterns

• Moody dark accent walls

• Large-scale murals

• Japandi-inspired minimalism

• Vintage European textures

• Soft earth-tone linen finishes

• Modern coastal patterns perfect for South Bay homes

And unlike the wallpaper of previous generations, many modern products are now designed with easier future removal in mind, especially higher-end peelable and vinyl-backed materials.

Things South Bay Homeowners Should Consider Before Installing Wallpaper

1. Humidity Matters

Living near the coast means dealing with moisture and humidity year-round.

Certain wallpaper materials can react poorly in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, or coastal homes if the wrong product is selected. In many South Bay homes, vinyl wallpapers or moisture-resistant materials are often the better long-term solution.

A professional installer can help recommend:

• Vinyl wallpaper

• Non-woven materials

• Moisture-resistant adhesives

• Washable finishes for high-traffic areas

Choosing the correct material matters just as much as choosing the design itself.

2. Wall Texture Is Extremely Important

One of the biggest things homeowners don’t realize is this:

Wallpaper magnifies wall imperfections.

Many homes throughout the South Bay were built with orange peel or heavy spray texture on the walls. Unlike smooth Level 5 drywall finishes commonly seen in newer luxury homes, textured walls usually require additional prep before wallpaper installation.

Depending on the wallpaper selected, walls may need:

• Skim coating

• Floating smooth

• Sanding

• Priming

• Texture reduction

This is especially important when using:

• Thin wallpaper materials

• Metallic finishes

• Minimalist patterns

• Murals

• Light colors

• Smooth or reflective textures

Heavier textured wallpaper can sometimes help disguise wall texture, but in many cases, proper prep work is what separates an average result from a truly high-end finish.

3. Start Small

If you’ve never used wallpaper before, I usually recommend starting with a smaller feature area first.

Some great options include:

• A bathroom accent wall

• A powder room

• A dining room feature wall

• A nursery or children’s mural

• Ceiling wallpaper applications

• Decorative borders

• Entryway statement walls

These smaller projects allow homeowners to experience wallpaper without overwhelming the space.

And trust me — a well-designed wallpaper accent wall can completely change the feel of a room.

4. Cheap Wallpaper Usually Becomes Expensive Later

This is one area where quality truly matters.

Lower-end wallpaper products often:

• Tear easily

• Shrink over time

• Separate at seams

• Bubble from moisture

• Fade faster

• Become extremely difficult to remove later

Higher-quality wallpaper not only looks better, but often installs cleaner, lasts longer, and removes with far less damage years down the road.

Professional installation also plays a massive role in the final outcome. Proper alignment, seam consistency, pattern matching, adhesive selection, and wall preparation all determine whether wallpaper looks custom — or looks like a DIY project.

A New Appreciation for Wallpaper

Honestly, I never expected to say this after spending so many years removing it from homes.

But I’ve grown to genuinely appreciate wallpaper as an art form within interior design.

When done correctly, wallpaper adds a completely different dimension to a home that paint alone sometimes cannot achieve.

It creates personality. Warmth. Texture. Emotion.

And in many ways, it feels like another timeless design trend from our childhood era finding its way back into modern homes — just reinvented for a new generation.

At South Bay Supreme Painting⁠, we now offer professional wallpaper installation along with custom wall preparation, texture smoothing, accent walls, murals, and design guidance to help homeowners create spaces that feel unique, modern, and personal.

If you’re considering wallpaper for your home, we’d love to help.

Schedule a free estimate and consultation, and we can walk you through:

• Design ideas

• Material options

• Texture recommendations

• Wall preparation needs

• Installation expectations

• Long-term maintenance considerations

• Realistic budgeting for your project

Whether you’re looking for a subtle accent wall or a bold custom statement piece, we’d be honored to help bring your vision to life.

Because great design doesn’t just change walls.