Of glue, lust & luxury – The (true) history of wallpaper

Of glue, lust & luxury – The (true) history of wallpaper

Let's be honest: If walls could talk, they would probably say:
“Don’t paint me – glue me!”

Because as much as we appreciate white walls (for five minutes), in the end, almost every room longs for more: more atmosphere, more personality, more character. And that's where wallpaper comes in: stylish, versatile, traditional, and surprisingly trendy.

But where does this adhesive cultural beauty actually come from? Who had the idea of ​​covering walls instead of painting them? And why is wallpaper more in demand today than ever? Welcome to a little journey through time – through rooms, centuries, and wallpaper dreams.

Chapter 1: When walls were still bare

Before wallpaper, wall decoration was... well, let's say functional . People plastered, painted, or hung animal skins and rugs – it was cozy, but not exactly stylish.

The first precursors to wallpaper appeared in ancient China over 2,000 years ago . There, hand-painted strips of rice paper were glued to the walls. (Spoiler alert: This idea caught on.)

Chapter 2: From King to Continent

In the 16th century, the whole thing came to Europe. Anyone of any standing—the nobility, the church, wealthy merchants—had wall hangings printed or painted.
The British were at the forefront. They made wallpaper a status symbol , especially in castles. And as always, when something is chic and expensive, everyone soon wanted it.

Around 1700, the big breakthrough came: printed wallpapers became fashionable. Printed by hand on paper, later with wooden stamps – patterns, patterns, patterns! Baroque, Rococo, flowers, ornaments – the more elaborate, the better.

Chapter 3: Wallpaper becomes mass-marketable

The Industrial Revolution in the 19th century brought new printing techniques – and wallpaper finally entered middle-class households. No villa was complete without non-woven wallpaper, no living room without a border. There were even wallpapers for spring cleaning: washable and scrub-resistant. It was almost magical.

And while in the 1950s, the "parlor" was lovingly wallpapered, in the 1970s , wallpaper really went wild: retro patterns, psychedelic colors, geometric frenzy . It was loud, it was wild, it was... well, a matter of taste.

Chapter 4: Retreat & Comeback

Then came the large white wall. Minimalism, Scandi style, urban look – walls became "clean," and wallpaper was considered old-fashioned.

But—and this is the beauty of true style icons—they make comebacks. And how! Today, wallpaper is more fashionable than ever , thanks to:

- Self-adhesive wallpapers that are super easy to apply (bye, paste battle!)

- Digital printing that brings every fantasy to the wall – from the jungle to the moon

- Designs that are sometimes noble, sometimes artistic, sometimes playful

- Sustainable materials and innovations such as acoustic or 3D wallpapers

But why wallpaper?

Quite simply: because it can do more than just paint .

- It structures spaces
- She tells stories
- It brings depth, emotion, style
- And it turns “room” into “home”

Wallpaper is like fashion – you can see yourself reflected in your walls every day. Whether you're in the mood for floral romance, an urban loft feel, or a tropical expedition – the wallpaper is already there and waiting.

And will this remain a trend? Absolutely.

In a time when personality, sustainability and individuality are of paramount importance, wallpaper is the perfect expression of this.

She's not just back – she was never really gone.
She has just grown up , become braver, more versatile – and smarter.

Conclusion: Wallpaper is culture, art & character – directly on your wall

From Chinese rice paper to British drawing rooms to today's digital wall art, wallpaper reflects our times , our dreams, our style.

So why paint walls when you can turn them into an experience ?