The Wallcoverings Association is a non-profit trade group that represents the entire wallcoverings industry, with manufacturers, distributors, designers, and suppliers among its members. In a recent meeting to discuss trends and new products, Matthew Jones, executive director of the Wallcoverings Association, explained its mission. “We want to continue to promote the use of wallcovering products in the marketplace. When commercial or residential interior designers are selecting products, we want them to think about the beauty and functionality of wallcoverings,” he said.
Specifiers have more options than ever before, from wallpaper with vintage-style florals to decorate suites, to acoustic panels in the office. As we continue to use a variety of spaces for work, expect to see more crossover, utilizing wallcoverings that are suitable for any application. “I think this is actually a really great time for wallcovering. We’re seeing so much patterning in both residential and commercial environments, and on all different surfaces,” noted Marybeth Shaw, chief creative officer at Wolf-Gordon. Shaw and three other members talked about the newest offerings from their companies and what will be gracing our walls—and beyond—in the coming months.
Embossing and Innovative Effects
At Versa Designed Surfaces, the team blends impressive detailing with their proprietary printing technology to provide wallcoverings that mimic the look of surfaces weathered over time. “We have a relatively small but very talented studio of artists. A lot of artistic and design effort goes into the development of our products. Market trends are carefully and extensively researched in order to arrive at designs that suit the hospitality, healthcare, and corporate market sectors. Taking advantage of our innovative printing techniques, we strive for handcrafted effects and realistic craft finishes,” explained Joey Kelly, creative director at Versa Designed Surfaces.
Indeed, the company’s vinyl wallcoverings boast an array of modern rustic looks that call to mind driftwood dappled with dew or the patina of aged metal. “One thing that sets us apart is our expansive library of unique grains,” Kelly added. Lurra, a recent release from Versa, emulates an acid-etched metal surface. Rendered in multicolored, matte metallic inks, only the tips of the embossing are highlighted, which creates accentuated depth. “The double-tipped surface is an exclusive and innovative effect, original to the wallcovering industry,” Kelly noted.
Past is Present
Shaw noted that we are beginning to see a softening of lines, while colors are getting warmer, which gives people the feeling of comfort that they want in their home or office environment. “Scaled geometrics are still large but increasingly curvaceous. Interestingly, patterning has a lot of negative space around it, so it’s more airy and spatial. We’re seeing a warming up of the color palette, with browns and taupes, going into rusty reds and greens. We’ll also be seeing petal pink, lavender, and sky blue—all of these really beautiful pastels,” she said.
The Wolf-Gordon design team has been focused on nostalgia, and they’ve noticed increased interest in designs that recall bygone eras. “We have definitely seen an uptick in requests for patterning that does come from a traditional place. In response to that, we have introduced the Out of the Archive collection. It consists of ten different patterns inspired by archival prints going back to the 19th century. They range from florals and tropicals to block prints and damasks,” Shaw said. Printed digitally, color, scale, and substrate can be customized, and rotogravure printing is available for larger orders.
Luster
Pouring acrylic paint to create a random flow of color and pattern continues to be popular, and Amy LeFevre, design director at Len-Tex Wallcoverings, experimented with the technique herself. “I tried maybe ten pieces, and from that we scanned one of them and enlarged it,” she said. The result, Aislinn, is a swirl pattern available in nine colorways. “It is printed on mylar, so there’s a little bit of shine,” LeFevre noted.
She also explained that we are moving away from techno metallics with too much flash. The latest Len-Tex products have a subtle sheen, reflecting the desire for softer looks. When luster is paired with a handcrafted style, it has a more personal touch. One of the company’s newest wallcoverings, Akiko, was designed to imitate a fabric with flecks of metallic thread woven throughout. “We feel like we are creating a mood with this product. It’s all about the luster, so there are tiny flecks of mylar that peek through opaque ink, but the mylar has been treated so it’s kind of dusted or muted, to give it an overall glow,” LeFevre added.
Acoustic Solutions with Biophilic Design
“Across every market segment, we’re hearing that acoustic solutions are critically important, especially in office design,” said Dan Brandt, vice president of product and marketing at MDC Interior Solutions.
As glass, concrete floors, and open offices abound, workers are surrounded by noise, and they are finding it more difficult to concentrate than ever before. It’s no surprise then that 70% of workers in open spaces report that the biggest distraction is coworker conversations. Noise reduction is key, but so is bringing nature into the office to foster wellness—and boost employee productivity.
Studies have shown that biophilic design results in higher cognitive function, increased attendance, and better decision-making skills. “There’s significant data that says if we can bring natural elements into the space, we’ll see a sharp increase in performance. Anything we can do to bring the outside element indoors, be it with the color palette or the visuals, will prove effective. We are seeing the natural trend in the green palette certainly, down to the rust colorways, and soft earth tones,” Brandt noted. At the end of the month, MDC Interior Solutions will introduce Zintra Timber acoustic panels, to add organic style to any commercial space. “They have a very subtle vertical grain, and the natural tones can coordinate with a number of interior finishes,” he added.
