A beautiful wallpaper can make a room feel considered long before the furniture arrives. Yet a luxury wallpaper brands review is not simply about choosing the most recognisable name or the boldest print. The right choice depends on how the paper is made, how the room is used, the condition of the walls and whether the design will still feel right after years of daily life.
For Australian homes, practical details matter just as much as visual impact. A hand-finished silk wallcovering may be extraordinary in a formal sitting room, but it is not the same proposition as a high-performance textured vinyl for a busy hallway, coastal home or commercial reception. The strongest luxury brands offer distinctive design, but each has its own material strengths, style language and installation requirements.
What separates luxury wallpaper from ordinary wallpaper?
Premium wallpaper is often recognised first through its design: layered colour, original artwork, richer scale and motifs that do not feel mass-produced. But the difference is also tactile. Natural fibres, linen grounds, grasscloth, embroidered finishes, specialist inks and dimensional surfaces give a wall depth that flat printed paper cannot easily replicate.
That craftsmanship brings trade-offs. Natural materials can show joins, tonal variation or irregular fibres. In many cases, these are intentional characteristics rather than faults. They create a wall finish with movement and individuality, but they also demand careful planning, accurate ordering and experienced installation.
Luxury collections also tend to provide more considered options for coordinated interiors. A wallpaper pattern may have a companion fabric, mural, plain texture or complementary colourway, helping a bedroom, dining area or boutique commercial space feel resolved rather than decorated one surface at a time.
Luxury wallpaper brands review: six names to consider
The best brand is rarely the one with the highest price. It is the one whose material, scale and character suit the room and the way you live or work within it.
Cole & Son
Cole & Son is known for expressive heritage-inspired prints, scenic designs and characterful collections that can become the focal point of a room. Its designs range from botanical and architectural patterns to playful children’s wallpapers, making it a strong choice for homeowners who want personality without a generic finish.
This is a particularly effective brand for powder rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms and entrance spaces where a patterned wall can carry the scheme. Large repeat patterns need proper measurement, however. A dramatic design may require additional material to allow for pattern matching, especially around doors, windows and angled ceilings. It pays to view a full-scale sample rather than judging only from a small swatch.
Arte
Arte is often selected for its refined texture and architectural finish. The brand is especially strong in embossed, woven-look and dimensional wallcoverings that create interest without relying on a busy printed pattern. These surfaces work beautifully in contemporary living areas, bedrooms, offices and hospitality settings where the wall needs to feel elevated yet restrained.
Texture is forgiving in some respects, as it can add warmth to a large blank wall, but it also highlights poor preparation. Any unevenness, dents or failed paint beneath the surface can affect the final result. A professional site assessment is valuable when installing textured or relief wallcoverings, particularly across large open-plan walls with changing light.
Élitis
Élitis has a distinctive, fashion-led approach, often using bold colour, unusual finishes and richly tactile materials. Think raffia effects, pleated textures, wide-format designs and wallcoverings with genuine visual presence. It suits clients who are prepared to make a confident design decision, whether that is a moody bedroom, statement bar area, luxe dressing room or reception space.
The appeal of Élitis is its ability to make a room feel tailored. The consideration is maintenance and placement. Some highly textured or natural-look finishes are best kept away from heavy splash zones, greasy cooking areas and locations where little hands or bags regularly brush the wall. For those areas, a performance-focused alternative may deliver the same mood with greater day-to-day resilience.
Phillip Jeffries
Phillip Jeffries is widely respected for natural fibre wallcoverings, including grasscloth, sisal, raffia and linen-like textures. These materials bring softness, warmth and quiet luxury to interiors, especially where paint would feel flat. They are a natural fit for bedrooms, studies, formal living rooms and private client spaces seeking an understated finish.
Natural wallcoverings should be chosen with realistic expectations. Variations in weave, shade and fibre are part of their charm, and visible seams may be expected depending on the product. They are not the right choice for every wall or every household, but when specified well and installed with care, they offer a depth that is difficult to replicate.
de Gournay
de Gournay represents the artisanal end of the market, known for hand-painted scenic papers and customisable decorative finishes. These are works of art as much as wallcoverings, often specified for formal dining rooms, principal bedrooms, boutique hotels and prestige residential projects.
A hand-painted paper requires thoughtful lead-time planning, precise site measurements and a wall condition that supports a flawless installation. It also deserves an appropriate setting. In a room with limited natural light or heavily patterned furnishings, a highly detailed scenic design can lose its impact. When the architecture and furnishings give it room to breathe, the result can be exceptional.
Zoffany
Zoffany offers a polished balance of classic references and contemporary colour. Its collections often include elegant botanical designs, painterly patterns, subtle metallic details and sophisticated plains. This makes it versatile for clients who want a premium finish that feels enduring rather than overly trend-driven.
Zoffany works well across both period homes and newer interiors, particularly where the aim is to connect wallpaper with curtains, upholstery or cushions. It is a sensible choice when a project calls for layered decoration rather than one dramatic feature wall. As with any finely detailed print, lighting should be considered early, as warm and cool light can significantly change the perceived colour.
Choose the material before falling in love with the pattern
The best luxury wallpaper selection process starts with the room, not the catalogue. A non-woven printed wallpaper may be ideal for a family bedroom because it offers high design impact with relatively straightforward handling. A vinyl wallcovering can be the more practical option for corridors, commercial spaces and high-contact areas. Natural fibres and hand-finished surfaces are better suited to low-wear rooms where their texture can be appreciated.
Bathrooms and kitchens need an even more careful assessment. Wallpaper can work successfully in these rooms, but ventilation, splash exposure, substrate condition and product specification all need to be right. A well-ventilated powder room is a very different environment from a shower-adjacent wall. No premium finish benefits from being asked to perform beyond its intended use.
Scale matters too. A mural or oversize botanical can transform a wall, but a compact room may need a design with enough breathing space around it. Conversely, a subtle texture may disappear in a large double-height area unless it has sufficient depth. Samples should be viewed vertically on the intended wall, at different times of day, alongside flooring, joinery and fabric selections.
Installation is part of the finished design
Luxury wallpaper is less forgiving than standard decorative paper. Pattern matching, directional hanging, trimming around detailed cornices and managing natural material variation all require technical judgement. The wall preparation beneath the wallpaper is equally important. Cracks, moisture issues, unstable paint and uneven plaster should be addressed before installation begins.
Ordering should allow for the repeat, waste factor and future repairs. Cutting too close to the required quantity can create problems if a later batch has a slight colour variation or a discontinued design becomes difficult to source. An experienced supplier can calculate quantities based on the actual site, rather than relying on simple wall-area estimates.
For clients who want the process managed from initial selection through to installation, Déco & Co. can coordinate product advice, site measurement and specialist installation as one considered service. That approach is particularly useful when the project includes murals, delicate natural fibres, commercial wallcoverings or several rooms with different technical needs.
A luxury wallpaper should do more than photograph well. Choose the brand that suits the architecture, the daily demands of the space and the level of finish you expect, then give it the preparation and installation it deserves. The wall will reward that care every time you walk into the room.