Cover versions

A couple of snazzy new books have lured me back to the idea of wallpaper – sorry, “surface coverings”. (With all the new vinyl finishes, stickers and animated projections out there, the word “paper” is passé.) This turnaround is a big deal. I have been suffering from statement-wall fatigue for nearly a year, and it flares up every time I see a lone wall of gigantic paisleys or florals.

The Cutting Edge of Wallpaper (Black Dog £24.95) and Wallpaper (Laurence King £19.95) are round-ups of everything new since overblown patterns hit the big time, and the message is clear: forget one-wall wonders – the whole room is your canvas. Many artists feature in both books, including Hanna Werning, whose woodland creatures look both modern and traditional; and, my current favourite, Christopher Pearson, whose Royal College of Art show featured an animated version of William Morris’s Willow Boughs, with rustling leaves and fluttering birds. In fusing decorative design and projection systems, he has kick-started a digital arts-and-crafts movement. The fainthearted might prefer papers such as the Aussie design collective Rinzen’s trees or the Magnificent Chatwin Brothers’ swallow print. The latter, inspired by bloke-in-the-pub tattoos, is a wicked antidote to the flocks of birds I have seen on walls everywhere. If you haven’t papered since Cole & Son’s Woods became the fashionista’s favourite, it’s time to raise your game; the box on the right should provide inspiration.

Hot wire

Lucy Merchant was an installation artist until she became more interested in the objects within her art pieces than in the installations themselves. Her conceptual approach has resulted in Mommy’s Chair, based on wonky children’s sketches. Each seat is unique, and a perfect solution for anyone in search of nonmatching dining-room furniture.

From £250 each; 07957 453047, www.lucymerchant.com

In print: the pick of the new-wave wallpapers

1 The fashion duo Bruno Basso and Christopher Brooke create patterns that look classic and Liberty-esque but, on closer inspection, contain tongue-in-cheek references, such as their Poodle Portrait parodies of fashion folk. All can be printed on wallpaper; to commission, call 020 7436 9449 or visit www.bassoandbrooke.net.

2 Lizzie Allen is a hip new designer whose work has a patriotic flavour. Changing Guards is an illustrative take on toy soldiers. Price on application; 07947 474928, www.lizzieallen.co.uk.

3 Fancy yourself as a designer? Take inspiration from the changing rooms in Matthew Williamson’s shop, which are splashed with photos of stars wearing his frocks. Make a collage of your own paparazzi-style photos of family, parties and holidays, then have it printed on a black background. This bespoke wallpaper costs £60 per square metre, from Ltd Limited; 0845 456 4033, www.ltdltd.com.

4 Easier on the eye – and the pocket – than a dead cow’s head is Damien Hirst’s limited-edition wallpaper. Choose between his pill and butterfly designs: either is eminently collectable. £1,000 per 10-metre roll; 020 7637 3994, www.othercriteria.com.

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