Designing for Joy with Whimsical Walls

What brings us joy this month is curating whimsical wallpapers that make you stop and look, because they completely change the energy of a room. A wall that doesn’t take itself too seriously, is an unexpected colour, or has an expressive pattern or design is what we consider an expertly acquired taste.

Here, we often talk about creating calm, grounding environments for serenity and to recharge, but we also realise that wellbeing-led design isn’t just about serenity. Our homes should also make us feel curious, inspired and, of course, bring moments of joy. This is why we’ve curated whimsical wall designs — to offer the opportunity to bring those bright emotions into the everyday.

We started thinking about walls as more than a backdrop. A window into another world. An enchanted garden, an imaginary landscape, or an abstract artwork. Wallpaper and murals are particularly powerful because they can envelop a room rather than simply decorate it, creating a sense of escape without leaving home or, perhaps, coming home to an extension of your own identity. The result may be eclectic, but it is precisely this individuality that makes a home feel lived in.

We love how texture can create another layer of whimsy. Woven wall coverings, textured plaster, decorative moulding and unexpected materials invite us to experience a wall through both sight and touch. As natural light moves throughout the day, these surfaces can change subtly, giving the room a sense of movement.

The beauty of a whimsical wall is that it doesn’t need to transform an entire home. A powder room, child’s bedroom, reading nook, hallway or even the back of a door can become an opportunity to experiment. We believe that it’s possible to design for the full spectrum of human emotion. There should be spaces that help us slow down, spaces that help us focus, and spaces that simply make us smile.

So, perhaps your walls don’t always need to be calm. Perhaps they can be a little curious, unexpected and wonderfully you.