As we look back to 2025, the world of interior design is embracing a renewed sense of optimism, self-expression, and a deep connection to the natural world. Wallpaper, more than ever, is at the forefront of this movement, offering a powerful and personal way to transform our living spaces. Forget the bland, beige walls of the past; the future is about creating homes that are as unique and vibrant as the people who live in them.
At Empire Wallpaper, we are passionate about helping you find the perfect wallpaper to tell your story. Here are the top trends for 2025 that will inspire you to rethink your walls and create a home that is truly your own.
1. The Rise of Biophilic Design: Bringing the Outdoors In
In our increasingly digital world, there is a growing desire to reconnect with nature. Biophilic design, which seeks to incorporate natural elements into our built environments, is more than just a trend; it is a movement rooted in scientific research demonstrating the psychological and physiological benefits of nature exposure. In 2025, we will see this manifest in wallpapers that celebrate the beauty of the natural world in all its forms.
Think lush botanical prints featuring oversized tropical leaves, serene forest landscapes that create the illusion of depth and space, and delicate floral patterns that bring a sense of calm and tranquility to any room. These designs not only create a stunning visual impact but also have been shown to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve our overall well-being. The biophilic wallpaper trend encompasses everything from scientifically accurate botanical illustrations reminiscent of Victorian natural history plates to impressionistic watercolor interpretations of gardens and meadows.
The color palettes associated with biophilic design tend toward natural earth tones—forest greens, warm terracottas, soft sage, and sandy beiges—that ground a space and create a sense of organic harmony. However, contemporary biophilic wallpapers also explore more unexpected colorways, such as tropical patterns rendered in vibrant teals and corals that capture the exuberance of rainforest ecosystems. Textural elements are equally important in biophilic design, with many wallpapers incorporating grasscloth, cork, or other natural materials that add tactile dimension and reinforce the connection to the natural world.
2. The New Maximalism: More is More, and More is Beautiful
Minimalism has had its moment. In 2025, we are embracing the bold, the beautiful, and the brilliantly eclectic. The new maximalism is not about clutter or chaos; it is about curating a space that is rich with personality, color, and pattern. Wallpaper is the perfect tool for achieving this look, allowing you to create a backdrop that is as expressive and individual as you are. Maximalist interiors reflect a confidence in personal taste and a rejection of the notion that restraint is inherently more sophisticated than abundance.
The new maximalism draws inspiration from diverse sources—Victorian parlors, Moroccan riads, Indian palaces, and contemporary art galleries—creating layered, collected interiors that tell stories and reveal the passions of their inhabitants. Don’t be afraid to mix and match patterns at different scales, embrace vibrant color palettes that might have seemed too bold in previous decades, and play with the juxtaposition of historical and contemporary elements. The key to successful maximalism is to find a common thread, whether it’s a recurring color, a thematic element, or an emotional tone, that ties the room together and prevents it from feeling chaotic.
Maximalist wallpapers often feature dense, all-over patterns with multiple colors and intricate details that reward close examination. Chinoiserie designs with exotic birds and flowering branches, elaborate damasks with metallic accents, and eclectic collage-style patterns that combine disparate elements into cohesive compositions are all hallmarks of this trend. The maximalist approach to wallpaper encourages treating walls as canvases for artistic expression rather than neutral backgrounds for furniture and accessories. In dining rooms, powder rooms, and home offices—spaces where dramatic impact is desired—maximalist wallpapers create unforgettable environments that stimulate conversation and creativity.
3. Modern Art Deco: A Nod to Nostalgia with a Contemporary Twist
The glamour and sophistication of the Art Deco era are making a major comeback, but with a fresh, modern sensibility that speaks to contemporary tastes. Think bold geometric patterns featuring sunburst motifs, chevron designs, and stylized fan shapes, elegant metallic accents in gold, brass, and copper, and luxurious color palettes featuring jewel tones like emerald, sapphire, and ruby, all rendered with a contemporary graphic sensibility.
Modern Art Deco is the perfect way to add a touch of drama and elegance to any room. It is a style that is both timeless and of the moment, a celebration of the past with a firm eye on the future. The original Art Deco movement of the 1920s and 1930s represented a synthesis of modernist aesthetics with luxurious materials and craftsmanship, celebrating technological progress while maintaining a commitment to beauty and ornamentation. Contemporary interpretations of Art Deco maintain this balance, using modern printing techniques and materials to create wallpapers that capture the spirit of the era while meeting current performance and sustainability standards.
The geometric precision of Art Deco patterns makes them particularly effective in contemporary interiors with clean lines and architectural features. A modern Art Deco wallpaper can complement mid-century modern furniture, creating a cohesive vintage-inspired aesthetic, or provide striking contrast in an otherwise minimalist space. The metallic elements characteristic of Art Deco wallpapers add a reflective quality that enhances lighting and creates visual interest as one moves through a space. In entryways, living rooms, and bedrooms, modern Art Deco wallpapers establish a sophisticated, cosmopolitan atmosphere that evokes the glamour of grand hotels and luxury ocean liners.
4. Panoramic Murals: Creating Immersive Worlds
Why just decorate a wall when you can create a whole new world? Panoramic murals are transforming the way we think about wallpaper, offering an immersive and transportive experience that blurs the boundaries between interior and exterior, reality and imagination. From breathtaking landscapes that open up small spaces to abstract works of art that serve as focal points, these large-scale designs can turn any room into a destination.
Whether you want to create a serene retreat with a misty mountain landscape, a vibrant cityscape that captures urban energy, or a whimsical wonderland featuring fantastical elements, a panoramic mural can help you achieve your vision. It is a bold and dramatic statement that is sure to be a conversation starter. Panoramic murals have a rich history in decorative arts, with hand-painted scenic wallpapers being prized possessions in 18th and 19th-century European homes. Contemporary digital printing technology has made these dramatic wall treatments more accessible while expanding the range of possible imagery to include photography, digital art, and custom designs.
The scale and impact of panoramic murals make them particularly effective in spaces where creating a memorable experience is paramount. In hospitality design, murals are used to establish a sense of place and tell brand stories. In residential interiors, they can transform a bedroom into a peaceful forest retreat, a dining room into a Parisian street scene, or a home office into an inspiring library. The key to successfully incorporating a panoramic mural is to treat it as the dominant design element in the space, keeping other furnishings and accessories relatively simple to avoid visual competition. The mural should be installed on a wall with minimal interruptions from doors, windows, or built-in features to preserve its immersive quality.
5. The Allure of Texture: Adding Depth and Warmth
In 2025, we are moving beyond the purely visual and embracing the tactile dimension of interior design. Textured wallpapers, from natural grasscloths and sisals to luxurious velvets and silks, are a key trend for adding depth, warmth, and a sense of coziness to a room. These wallpapers not only look beautiful but also feel incredible to the touch, creating a multi-sensory experience that is both comforting and sophisticated.
Grasscloth wallcoverings, woven from natural fibers like jute, sisal, and seagrass, bring an organic, handcrafted quality to interiors. Each panel is slightly different due to the natural variations in the fibers, creating a subtle irregularity that adds character and authenticity. The texture of grasscloth catches light in interesting ways, creating depth and visual interest even in neutral color palettes. These natural wallcoverings are particularly effective in spaces seeking a calm, zen-like atmosphere, such as bedrooms, meditation rooms, and spa-inspired bathrooms.
Silk and velvet wallcoverings represent the luxury end of the textured wallpaper spectrum. Silk wallpapers have a subtle sheen and smooth texture that creates an elegant, refined atmosphere. They are particularly beautiful in formal living rooms, dining rooms, and master bedrooms where a sense of luxury is desired. Velvet wallcoverings, whether actual fabric or realistic simulations, add dramatic depth and richness. The pile of velvet creates shadows and highlights that change as lighting conditions shift throughout the day, making walls appear almost alive.
Embossed and three-dimensional wallpapers create texture through raised patterns rather than material composition. These can range from subtle linen textures that add depth without drawing attention to bold geometric or floral patterns that create dramatic shadow play. Embossed wallpapers are particularly effective when painted in monochromatic color schemes, allowing the texture to be the star. In bedrooms, living rooms, and studies, textured wallpapers create cozy, enveloping environments that invite relaxation and contemplation.
Applying These Trends to Your Space
Understanding trends is valuable, but the key to successful interior design is adapting them to your specific context. Biophilic design works beautifully in bedrooms and living rooms where relaxation is the primary goal, as well as in bathrooms where the combination of natural patterns and moisture-resistant materials creates spa-like retreats. The calming influence of botanical patterns makes them particularly appropriate for spaces dedicated to rest and rejuvenation.
The new maximalism finds its ideal expression in dining rooms, where dramatic wallpaper creates a festive atmosphere for entertaining, powder rooms, where bold design choices can be made without overwhelming a larger space, and home offices, where stimulating patterns can energize creativity and productivity. These are spaces where people spend limited time, making them perfect candidates for more adventurous design choices that might feel overwhelming in rooms where one spends many hours.
Modern Art Deco patterns work exceptionally well in living rooms and bedrooms where sophisticated elegance is desired, and in entryways where they create a strong first impression. The geometric precision and metallic accents of Art Deco wallpapers complement contemporary furnishings while adding a layer of historical reference and glamour.
Panoramic murals can be incorporated into feature walls in any room, but they are particularly effective in spaces with minimal architectural interest that would benefit from a dramatic focal point. A panoramic mural can transform a bland apartment wall into a window onto another world, making small spaces feel larger and generic spaces feel special.
Textured wallpapers are versatile enough to work in almost any space, but they are particularly valuable in bedrooms, living rooms, and studies where creating a sense of warmth and comfort is important. The tactile quality of textured wallpapers makes spaces feel more finished and considered, elevating even simple furnishings.
Discover Your Perfect Wallpaper at Empire Wallpaper
The world of wallpaper is full of exciting possibilities, and at Empire Wallpaper, we are here to help you explore them all. With an extensive collection of designs from the world’s leading brands—including Cole & Son, Sanderson, and York Wallcoverings—and a team of expert consultants to guide you, we are your ultimate destination for wallpaper in Montreal.
Our showroom features room vignettes that demonstrate how different wallpaper styles work in real-world settings, helping you visualize the transformative potential of these trends in your own home. We offer personalized design consultations where our experienced staff can help you navigate the vast array of options and identify patterns, colors, and textures that align with your aesthetic preferences and practical requirements.
Visit our showroom today and let us help you find the perfect wallpaper to transform your home in 2025 and beyond. Whether you’re drawn to the natural serenity of biophilic design, the exuberant personality of maximalism, the timeless glamour of Art Deco, the immersive drama of panoramic murals, or the tactile luxury of textured wallcoverings, we have the expertise and inventory to bring your vision to life.