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INSPIRATION
Pick the Perfect Print
Choosing the right wallpaper


House of Hackney wallpaper is designed for each and every room in the home: we see it as an opportunity to completely transform any space; imbuing it with beauty and your personality. When it’s time to pick your print, we encourage you to start with heart. Select the design that sparks an emotional response - if you are playing with a blank canvas you have the creative freedom to choose anything that appeals to you. So whether you opt for a blossoming English garden or a serene forest of bamboo, here’s everything to consider when following your wallpaper fantasy…
MEET YOUR MUSE
Be inspired by the ultimate House of Hackney muse - Mother Nature. The idea of ‘bringing the outdoors in’ to create your own personal sanctuary from the outside world is the perfect place to start when dreaming up your scheme.
IDENTIFY YOUR SPACE
Which room would you like to wallpaper? Consider the size and function of the space, as well as the desired mood you are looking to conjure. For example, while bold, psychedelic designs work well in the living room, prints that are a little more serene - think nature-inspired motifs in tranquil colour palettes - are best for the bedroom and bathroom.
BE INSPIRED
Gravitating towards a particular print style? Now immerse yourself in inspiration. See how others have interpreted your chosen design in their own homes. Simply visit our inspiration gallery to see our prints in action. From bedrooms filled with flourishing florals, to fantasy-filled hallways, each and every image is sure to ignite your imagination.
LET THERE BE LIGHT
It’s important to consider the light levels and orientation of your chosen room, as this will help determine your captivating colour palette. Top tip: Avoid introducing too many cooler hues into a north-facing room, opt for warmer tones to soften the light and elevate the ambience.
TURN BACK TIME
When coating a traditional home’s walls with wonder we encourage you to be inspired by its unique attributes. Immerse yourself in the rich past of your own personal sanctuary by referencing it in your chosen print. For example, our iconic William Morris inspired ‘ARTEMIS’ would bloom to new heights in an Arts & Crafts home.
HARMONIZE COLOUR HUES
If layering a number of prints throughout your scheme, remember it’s all about balance. Stick to a cohesive colour palette, introducing shades of paint that complement your chosen wallpaper design to ensure perfect harmony.
PULL IT TOGETHER
If your scheme is feeling a little fragmented, choose a print that will help pull it all together. Go wild and use an animal print as a neutral. Top tip: Integrate WILDCARD into your print palette; the ‘Butterscotch’ shade will work with almost any colour. The organic repeat in the print’s pattern will also complement everything from geometric stripes to painterly florals.
LAYER FANTASTICAL FLAIR
Though you’re at the start of your wallpaper journey, it’s important to consider those finishing touches. Master the art of layering. Style your wallpaper with paintings and photographs that project your personality, don’t be afraid to hang those statement pieces that really anchor the room.
FOLLOW YOUR FANTASY
Be bold and brave. Get creative, especially in those smaller, more hidden spaces where you can really experiment. Think inside the box, literally. Coat your cupboards, cover your closet, or even line your drawers to create charming accents of the unexpected.
BUT BE WARNED
Playing with our artful prints is a slippery slope. You may end up living in a print wonderland that you’ll never want to leave.


What does relaxation mean to you? For some, it’s about curling up on the living room couch at the end of a long day – for others, it might be taking to the dining room with a few close friends (and a bottle of wine) in tow. But a point on which we can all agree is that the bedroom is the one place in the house that was made purely for relaxing in. It’s a space that should soothe you and gently lull you towards a restful sleep. It’s where dreaming takes place and where you wake up to the view you want to see every morning. So, it follows that your bedroom should be cosy and calming, filled only with the things you love. But just as we all have our own take on what ‘chilling out’ is, everyone has a distinct idea of what ‘comfort’ looks and feels like to them.




So, while we’re not trying to convert you away from pale colours and pared-back neutrals if that’s your thing, we will tell you that dark wallpaper works like a dream in the bedroom, naturally evoking nightfall and cocooning you in its inky depths. But regardless of whether you go into the light or over to the dark side, “A tonal scheme is what makes a truly relaxing bedroom,” says our Decorating Consultant, Steve Corcoran. “Choose colours that coordinate with your chosen wallpaper or fabric when decorating the rest of the room. Even the ceiling should be a muted version of what you have in the space, rather than a stark white, so that everything combines to create a cohesive palette.”


The stuff of dreams
If you’re someone who finds peace and tranquillity in nature, surrounding yourself with a verdant motif like BAMBUSA or PALMERAL will feel just as serene. Alternatively, prints that are rich with intricate detail – think the psychedelic wonderland unfurling across FLORIKA or the prehistoric playground of DINOSAURIA – will delight a distracted mind, making for a mesmerising alternative to counting sheep into the small hours. Then by covering all four walls in your chosen design – complete with a plump of matching cushions on the bed – you will be completely enveloped in a world of your own making. As Steve says, “It will make the space feel more harmonious and avoid a single feature wall on its own feeling heavy – having them all papered actually pushes the walls back out.”
Top Tip
NIGHT LIGHTS
The perfect bedfellows? A luxurious lampshade paired with a statement-making stand.
Shop lighting




No bedroom is complete without blackout curtains and blinds to shut the world out, nor should any bedside table be without a striking lamp to illuminate a screeching alarm clock in the dark. Then it’s all about adding warmth and texture with crisp white bedsheets (the perfect foil to a deep palette, if you do go that way), a cosy blanket and a few luxurious cushions to cuddle up to. Sweet dreams…