Lifestyle & Design

How to Use Damask Wallpaper

11 Feb 2020

Damask wallpaper was originally used in place of tapestries and / or made to match upholstery fabric. Therefore the designs were created to imitate these woven patterns. Damask fabric and its value came from the silk that was used to produce it. The weaving technique created a silk ground and a matte pattern. This was first done in one colour, tone on tone.

Thanks to new production techniques there has been a growing demand ever since Victorian damask wallpaper boomed in popularity. Its enduring success continues today; here's how to use damask wallpaper in your home.

Where to Use Damask Wallpaper

Damask wallpaper has been around so long and reinvented so many times that it suits properties from every period. The result is a lot of different types of damask wallpaper.

When choosing what damask wallpaper to use, first consider the home. When was the building built? What style is the property? What type of interior design has been chosen elsewhere?

This can make the choice between traditional and contemporary damask wallpaper very simple. The design can be selected to complement what already exists.

The choice can be narrowed down further depending on which room is being decorated. This includes the size of the space, the shape, how much light the room gets, and existing furniture.

These factors inform decisions like whether to use light shades or dark and the size of the pattern. Plus, which colours are best suited, which textures, and even what to match with them in future.

Knowing the different styles of damask wallpaper can help to hone in on options. An abundance of variations exist for every home and knowing the options will narrow the choices.

Here's some of the most popular damask wallpaper designs and how to use them.

Cream Damask WallpaperCream Damask Wallpaper

What Are the Different Styles of Damask Wallpaper?

There are many variations of damask wallpaper due to its long history and demand. This includes the available colours, the materials, and the content. Smaller rooms are suited to a more subtle damask wallpaper with lighter shades and smaller patterns. Larger rooms, however, can pull-off bright, bold and show-stopping damask wallpapers.

Grey Damask Wallpaper

The first thing people consider when wallpaper shopping is the colour. Traditional damask wallpaper is only one colour in two different shades. This multitonal style is still very much sought after.

Grey has emerged as the most popular shade that people look for in damask wallpaper. This is likely because, like the style itself, it's versatile.

The right shade of grey and style of damask wallpaper can easily be used in both a Georgian home and a contemporary interior. Subtle tone on tone grey also prevents the pattern from being overpowering. Whereas, greater contrast on a grey damask wallpaper is more modern and suited to a feature wall.

The same goes for fabrics and furnishings. Bigger designs work wonderfully with bigger, boldern, and more modern furnishings. Whereas, a petite print looks at home alongside flowing drapes, elegant occasional chairs, and antiques.

Grey Damask WallpaperGrey Damask Wallpaper

Bold Damask Wallpaper

Traditional fabric designs and wallpapers are being re-imagined in bold hues that make an even greater statement. They are the ideal choice to hit on the trend of maximalism. Maximalism is based on the philosophy that more is definitely more. This includes the use of multiple vivid colours.

Contemporary damask wallpaper is perfect for this. It is, by design, a pattern that allows for multiple shades or colours. Additionally, it can be textured to ramp up a room's contrasting elements.

Historical wallpaper reproduced the silk and matte effect of damask fabric. A modern iteration is the Giselle Damask Wallpaper. It has a silky metallic rose gold ground making a nod to a very "now" colour. Yet, the trailing damask design has hints of the height of its fashion, the Victorian era.

Likewise the Brocatello Damask Wallpaper was inspired by a 19th century brocade fabric. It uses reflective inks for an extra dimension. It then has the appearance of a textured ground to mimic the original fabric.

The bold colours, vivid patterns, and modern compositions amplify the interior design of any room.

Yellow Damask WallpaperYellow Damask Wallpaper

Metallic Damask Wallpaper

When adding a second colour to damask fabric first occurred it instantly became a trend. Adding gold to the weaving, in particular, was an extra mark of luxury.

The mix of metallic tones and damask has come back around as it's now a popular choice on damask wallpaper. There are subtle glints, metallic patterns, and full-on metallic backgrounds.

The choice of the metallic and the finish are what influences the impact of metallic damask wallpaper. Like all added elements, a hint of metallic is more of a classic style. Whilst, full on, glossy, shimmering metallic damask wallpaper is modern.

Kashgar Wallpaper, for example, has a two-tone gold leaf effect. This can be faint on first appearance when paired with a pale colour. It is, however, available in some much brighter shades.

Similarly, an antique gold ground can have a quieter impact on a room due to the subtlety of the tone. The Boscobel Oak Wallpaper design is a perfect example.

Metallic Damask WallpaperMetallic Damask Wallpaper

Textured Damask Wallpaper

Current production methods and the use of colour means that damask designs can be both modern and timeless in one rendition.

On the other hand, you have the Petrouchka Flock Wallpaper in brilliant accents. It creates a velvet effect in the fashion first introduced in 18th century France.

This flocked damask wallpaper is brought into the 21st century by the use of vibrant indigo. It's traditional and lavish; it has a splash of whimsy and yet it's assertive.

Textured damask wallpaper has more elements and is more complex making it a bigger focal point in a room. Matching with a neutral scheme can hand it center stage. Alternatively, playing to its tones can make it the maestro. 

Flock Damask WallpaperFlock Damask Wallpaper

Damask Pattern Wallpaper

The damask pattern originated around the Silk Road. Therefore, many damask designs take inspiration from the Far East. It then re-emerged in Italy in the 14th century.

As Britain was a leader in the production of wallpaper, however, many of those designs can be traced there. It was during the Renaissance, however, that stylised acanthus leaves became a popular design. Something which continues in its prevalence on damask wallpaper.

This varied backstory has contributed to the wide selection of damask patterns on offer. The range of damask patterns is one more reason why it fits so well in to so many homes. Not to mention, why it suits so many tastes.

Pink Damask WallpaperPink Damask Wallpaper

Three Ways to Feature Damask Wallpaper

Idea One: Floral Damask Wallpaper

An older house or more understated interior is the ideal partner for this traditional style of floral feature wall. It's also the simplest to get right as its timeless quality sits comfortably in many different rooms of the house.

Once a damask wallpaper has been chosen, it is time to pick a matching paint. Winning combinations are achieved by using a matching or darker shade of the same colour on the skirting-boards or architrave. This provides the ideal framing and a stylish touch to your feature wall. The focus is then kept on the wall, allowing the movement of the damask to welcome guests through and into your home.

Neutral Damask WallpaperNeutral Damask Wallpaper
Floral Damask WallpaperFloral Damask Wallpaper

Idea Two: Contemporary Damask Wallpaper

A contemporary styling alternative for damask wallpaper is to use a paint and furnishings in a complementing colour. The tones of the wallpaper can then be used in the soft furnishings and home accessories.

This interior design idea is suited to modern houses and apartments. It allows a space to be matching but with greater depth and texture. Choosing muted colours prevents this feature wall from being too overpowering as it can then be paired with more textures and patterns as we see in the bedroom below. However, if you are looking for a showstopping design, metallic and flocked damask designs will certainly add a wow to your walls!

Contemporary Damask WallpaperContemporary Damask Wallpaper
Metallic Damask WallpaperMetallic Damask Wallpaper

Idea Three: Grey Damask Wallpaper

When in doubt, go with grey damask wallpaper as it straddles both traditional and contemporary. Not to mention, it's easy to create consistency across a scheme. As in previous examples, matching grey with grey in a room provides a more traditional look.

Yet, the pattern is what makes the difference here. A damask wallpaper provides a lot of interest and intrigue whilst also being easily coordinated with colours and furnishings. And the key to achieving the balance is light. Using a large amount of grey is best in a room that is exposed to more natural light as it lifts the space, rather than shadowing it. Under any other conditions, it's best to use grey sparingly as a feature wall or accent. As grey fits well with so many other colours, this doesn't limit your options in the slightest.

Grey Damask Wallpaper IdeasGrey Damask Wallpaper Ideas
Modern Grey Damask WallpaperModern Grey Damask Wallpaper

Shop Our Range of Damask Wallpapers

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