William Morris Wallpaper

Twenty of them are the originals — Strawberry Thief, Pimpernel, Willow Bough and the rest of our William Morris collection are reproduced from his out-of-copyright patterns in colourways chosen for modern rooms. Everything else in the catalogue is our own design work in the same tradition: flat colour, strong outlines, patterns built from plants and birds.

Morris drew plants the way they actually grow, then flattened them into repeating pattern. There's no shading and no perspective — just firm outlines, a stem that winds through the whole repeat, and muted, earthy colour: olive, madder red, indigo. Once you've noticed the winding stem you can spot his work across a room.

Yes — small rooms are where dense pattern earns its keep. A powder room or entryway wrapped in Willow Bough reads as deliberate rather than busy. Pale grounds keep a tight space feeling open; dark ones make it feel intentional and snug. If you're torn, order a sample and tape it to the wall for a few days.

Start with the light. Dim or north-facing rooms suit the dark grounds, which hold their colour in low light; bright rooms can carry the pale ones. Then think about scale — a large repeat like Acanthus wants a full wall to breathe, while smaller patterns work almost anywhere. Samples are free, and a pattern on your wall answers questions a screen can't.