Guides
Empire Guides & long-form editorial
Every guide, install reference, and editorial article — one hub, fully crawlable. Written by the Empire specification desk and contributing designers.
Featured guides
Designer report
Top Designer Wallpaper Brands 2026
The heritage houses and independent studios shaping wallcovering specification this year — with notes on scale, price, and where each brand fits.
12 min readStyle guide
Panoramic Wallpaper Style Guide
How to specify, scale, and hang panoramic murals so the artwork reads correctly on the wall it was designed for.
9 min readFeatured · Design theory
The Psychology of Patterns
Eight pattern families — floral, geometric, damask, scenic, abstract, botanical, animal, and heritage — and the psychology of matching each to the room it belongs in.
14 min readFeatured · Design theory
The Psychology of Colours
Blue, green, earth tones, dark drama, blush, forest green, warm white, and playful colour — how each family changes mood, perceived temperature, and room size.
15 min readInstallation references
Install
How to Install Wallpaper
Tools, wall prep, adhesive selection, first-drop plumb line, and the finishing details that separate a clean install from a rework.
10 min readInstall
Wallpaper Installation FAQ
The questions installers hear most often — priming painted drywall, sizing over new construction, working around outlets and corners.
6 min readEditorial library
53 articlesWallpaper
Grasscloth, properly: how to choose, light, and live with natural fiber walls
9 min read
Wallpaper
Wallpaper for bedrooms: scale, mood, and the case for a quieter pattern
8 min read
Wallpaper
Wallpaper vs paint: a fair, working comparison for renovators
11 min read
Trade
Specifying contract wallcoverings: performance vinyl, acoustic, and Type II vs Type III
13 min read
Installation
How to measure for wallpaper without ordering twice
9 min read
Installation
Wall preparation, properly: the step that determines installation quality
9 min read
Wallpaper
Grasscloth vs. performance vinyl: choosing texture you can live with
9 min read
Design
Choosing a wallpaper mural for a feature wall: scale, scene, and restraint
9 min read
Design
Building a room around the wallpaper: a designer-led sequence
9 min read
Wallpaper
Where grasscloth belongs — and where it doesn't
8 min read
Design
Styling grasscloth with paint and trim
8 min read
Window Treatments
Cellular shades, properly: insulation, cell size, and the single decision that matters most
7 min read
Window Treatments
Honeycomb shades and energy bills: what the R-value claims actually mean
6 min read
Window Treatments
Cellular roller shades: the case for the hybrid system
5 min read
Window Treatments
Soft roman shades: when fabric folds belong on the window
6 min read
Window Treatments
Modern roman shades: the structured fold for contemporary interiors
5 min read
Window Treatments
Sheer window shadings: privacy without losing the daylight
6 min read
Window Treatments
Vertical light, horizontal vanes: the geometry of a great sheer shade
5 min read
Window Treatments
Contoured fabric vanes: a softer alternative to traditional venetian blinds
5 min read
Window Treatments
Sheer vertical blinds: the right answer for patio doors and wide window walls
5 min read
Window Treatments
Aluminum blinds, reconsidered: where modern micro-slat finishes belong
6 min read
Window Treatments
Choosing wood blinds: species, finish, and the sustainability question
7 min read
Window Treatments
Plantation shutters: the long-lasting option that should outlive the renovation
7 min read
Window Treatments
Vertical sheer panels: a softer wall of light for tall openings
5 min read
Window Treatments
Motorised window treatments: when to wire it, when to leave it manual
7 min read
Window Treatments
Manual operating systems: cord, wand, cordless, and what each is best at
5 min read
Installation
Measuring for window treatments: inside-mount, outside-mount, and the spec the installer needs
6 min read
Paint
How to clean painted walls without stripping the finish
6 min read
Paint
Choosing interior paint colours: a process that actually narrows the choice
8 min read
Paint
Choosing an interior paint finish: where each sheen belongs
6 min read
Paint
How to paint interior walls: the order of operations that gives a professional finish
8 min read
Paint
How to paint a ceiling: the rules that prevent streaks and roller marks
6 min read
Paint
How to paint trim: the edges that decide whether the room looks finished
6 min read
Paint
How to prepare walls for painting: the prep that determines the final result
7 min read
Design
Ceiling colour: the fifth wall finally gets the attention it deserves
6 min read
Design
Kitchen cabinet colour: the long-lifecycle finish that should outlast the trend
7 min read
Design
Relaxing bedroom colours: the palette that supports actual sleep
6 min read
Design
Home office colour: the palette that supports concentration without going clinical
6 min read
Design
Small space colour: when going darker actually makes the room feel bigger
6 min read
Trade
How to hire a painting contractor: the questions that filter the bids
7 min read
Wallpaper
How to choose designer wallpaper for a statement room
9 min read
Wallpaper
Pattern, plotted: floral, botanical, geometric, and scenic wallpaper
10 min read
Wallpaper
Best wallpaper collections for dining rooms and powder rooms
9 min read
Wallpaper
Flocked wallpaper: adding texture and drama to your walls
8 min read
Wallpaper
Damask wallpaper: the epitome of elegance and sophistication
9 min read
Wallpaper
Chinoiserie wallpaper: history, style, and modern applications
9 min read
Wallpaper
Toile wallpaper: a working guide to a timeless narrative pattern
8 min read
Design
How to choose the right wallpaper mural for a feature wall
9 min read
Installation
How to repair damaged wallpaper: seamless fixes for common issues
8 min read
Wallpaper
Peel-and-stick wallpaper: the good, the bad, and the reality
9 min read
Installation
How to hang wallpaper: an essential guide for a flawless finish
11 min read
Installation
How to remove wallpaper: a step-by-step guide for renovators
10 min read
Installation
How to clean wallpaper: do's and don'ts for every type
8 min read