Have you decided to wallpaper your apartment, house or cottage from the turn of the century, but got lost in the jungle of colors and patterns? In order to make the choice a little easier, you could get inspired by wallpaper pattern from old times. Here we are going to figure out which styles were common around the turn of the century.

From the beginning, wallpaper was not mainly about aesthetics but more about insulating cold and dull walls. The beautiful pattern came automatically. Nowadays they do not have the same practical meaning but come in handy when you want to change and renew the look of a room. Or if you want to nurture and regain the origin of the house.

End of the 19th century

During the latter half of the 19th century, the decor was often inspired by styles from ancient times, and you often see elements of Gothic, Rococo, Renaissance, etc. in wallpaper patterns from this time. In the more prosperous homes, different styles were often chosen in different rooms. It was common to imitate other materials and perhaps choose wallpaper that looked like oak or wall in the hall, while the dining room was dressed in wallpapers that looked like golden leather or dark wallpaper after the Neo-Renaissance ideal.  In the lounge, you might have gone all in to rococo with textile imitation, and in the gentlemen's room oriental-style wallpaper. In the bedrooms, wild floral-patterned wallpaper was often chosen. The red thread, however, was the heavy dark color scale that created a cozy and homely feeling.

Early 1900s

Around the turn of the century, the homes gradually became lighter and airier for a bright and harmonious environment. Art Nouveau was the new style, with William Morris as a front figure. His pattern is characterized by elegant flower and plant patterns. Color combination with green, yellow and brick red on a light bottom and especially the tapestry with foliage, flowers or fruits are typical for this time. However, not everyone was ready for the new bright trend, so many homes were still decorated in the heavy conservative patterns.

1920 and Art Deco

The crispness and elegance that characterized the art deco style in Sweden later became known as the Swedish Grace. In the homes of those who adopted this new style, the rooms were dressed in wallpaper with geometric patterns, a combination of dashes, circles, staircase pattern and stylized flowers on a bottom of unbleached paper. The color scheme was gold and black to light gray or warm yellow bottom, alternatively in blue-gray and blue-green tones against a bottom in matte silver. The patterns received inspiration from the Orient with, for example, Japanese flowers.