Is Wallpaper Over? This Alternative Makes a Convincing Case

You’ll want to try this, trust us.

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Photography by Jane Merritt

Okay, so. Maybe proclaiming wallpaper dead is a little melodramatic—especially when there are so many great new collections out this year—but while it may not be entirely over, it has lost its monopoly on wall coverings. More and more, we’ve been seeing a new form of art taking over the walls in our favorite interiors: murals.

Whether minimalist or in-your-face, boldly colorful or strictly monochrome, a well-done mural is the best way to completely customize your space. The freedom from not being limited by a collection makes for a world of endless possibilities. Murals aren’t for commitmentphobes, being that they’re significantly harder to get rid of than temporary wallpaper, but if you’re looking for an artistic way to personalize your home (and have an artsy friend you trust to carry out your vision), you should try them.

Read on to discover some of the murals we’ve saved to our inspo boards.

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The self-described “maximalist in a 900-square-foot home” Mila from design blog Jest Cafe knows a thing or two about packing a bold punch in a small space. She does so here with great success, via a multicolored abstract-print mural she actually DIY’ed herself. Feeling ambitious? Check out the how-to on Mila’s blog here. It’s not actually as daunting as it seems.

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We’re so obsessed with artist Meg Biram’s creation. Modern and playful, this fresh design is pretty much the only thing needed to jazz up an otherwise boring (and hard-to-style) area. DC-based design fans can check it out in person at the newly opened Alx Community, a coworking space in Old Town Alexandria.

Photography by Laure Joliet

Our favorite thing about this mural is that it makes use of one of the most traditionally overlooked parts of any house: the stairwell. According to photographer Annabel Mehran, whose LA home this mural belongs to, the secret garden painting was already there when she bought the house and was actually the impetus for the purchase. The attention to detail is amazing, from the intricately detailed leaves to the ceiling that’s painted to draw the eye upward.

Get extra creative and have your mural interact with your decor. An “I’ll Be Your Mirror” graphic is a fun way to make use of the empty wall space, while a plant print is so simple it almost looks like a decal.

Speaking of simple, this technicolor wave design is a great way to bring color inside in a small way—and it comes courtesy of Domino’s very own Social Media Editor, Alyssa Clough. Try your hand at the rainbow decor trend and DIY this design at home.

Photography by Jane Merritt

The sweetest addition to Brittany Jepsen’s nursery is a whimsical painting that the blogger says feels less formal than wallpaper. With each design carefully spaced out on the pale blue background, they feel that much more intentional and special.

Not sure about doing a dramatic mural? Take a page out of this guest room at New York’s Freehand Hotel, and keep your main walls a crisp while to allow your accent wall to really pop. Though with a design as bold as this one, we’re not sure it was ever in danger of fading into the backdrop.

Photography by Lisa Romerein

Designer Raili Clasen recruited local artist Matt Allen to add interest to her super tall wall, thereby making use of every square inch of her eclectic Newport Beach home. Beyond being a really cool artistic touch, the monochromatic design also serves as a poignant daily reminder.

See more ways to dress up your walls:

The Super Easy Rental Hack You Haven’t Thought of YetTwo-Toned Bathrooms Are Having a Moment5 Ways to Get More Creative With Wall Paint

Elly Leavitt

Writer and Editor

Elly enjoys covering anything from travel to funky design (tubular furniture, anyone?) to the latest cultural trend. Her dream apartment would exist on the Upper West Side and include a plethora of mismatched antique chairs, ceramic vessels, and floor-to-ceiling bookcases—essential to her goal of becoming a poor man’s Nora Ephron. You can probably find her in line at Trader Joe’s. You will never find her at SoulCycle.