Metallic wallpaper

Metallic wallpaper works on a simple principle: the wall stops being a flat surface and starts responding to the light in the room. Gold, bronze, pewter and copper grounds shift through the day, and after dark, under lamplight, they do something no matte finish can.

Where metallic wallpaper earns its place

Powder rooms and dining rooms, first and foremost — small or evening-lit spaces where the shift from daylight to lamplight is part of the experience. A metallic ground behind open shelving or a bar cabinet gives depth without adding another color. In a bright open-plan living room the effect is weaker: constant flat daylight leaves little for the surface to do.

Ceilings deserve a mention. A metallic ceiling in a dining room throws candlelight back down into the room, and it is one of the few places where the effect is subtle rather than showy.

Choosing the right metal

Match the metal to your hardware rather than to your walls. Warm golds sit with unlacquered brass and walnut; pewter and silver belong with nickel, chrome and cooler grays; copper and bronze bridge the two and work especially well against deep greens and browns. On a busy pattern, a metallic ink used as an accent reads as jewelry; used as a full ground, it becomes the room's light source.

Sizes in feet and inches

Most rolls run 33 ft long (10.05 m) at widths from 20.5 to 27.5 in (52 to 70 cm), covering roughly 56 to 75 sq ft per roll. Metallic surfaces are less forgiving than matte ones: they show wall imperfections and any adhesive left on the face, so prepare the wall properly, keep a damp sponge close while hanging, and never over-brush the seams.

Where to look next

Metallic grounds pair naturally with black wallpaper and gold wallpaper, and appear throughout geometric wallpaper and architecture wallpaper. For metallic-backed naturals, see cork wallcovering and raffia wallpaper. Phillip Jeffries, Elitis and Dedar all work extensively in this range.

Ordering from the US

A screen cannot show reflectance, so a sample is the only honest test — hold it at an angle under your own lighting. Duties and taxes are included in the price shown; orders ship insured from the Netherlands.