Wallpapers from the 1920s and 1930s

1920s wallpaper

Many of the wallpaper trends of the turn of the century remained a bit into the 1920s. At the beginning of the decade, dark wallpaper was still fashionable. Dull tones of brown and brown-grey predominated, but were sometimes lightened with brighter, geometric patterns with lines, circles or small stylized fantasy flowers. Stripes and regular ornamentation were also popular in the 1920s.
At the World Exhibition in Paris in 1925, the Art Deco style had its breakthrough. In terms of form, it is characterized by subtle geometric shapes, strong contrasts and an exclusive aesthetic – a glamorous breath of faith in the future after the difficult years of the First World War. Art déco means decorative arts in French, and Art déco wallpapers were adorned with elegant patterns, often with arched arches and other geometric shapes and often with details in shimmering gold or silver.

1930s wallpaper

Over time, the style slipped more and more into the bright, sober ideal of functionalism with cleaner lines and smoother surfaces. In connection with the Stockholm exhibition in 1930, funkism took off in earnest and the style that later came to be known as Swedish Modern became increasingly common in trend-sensitive homes.
The funk wallpaper of the 1930s was brighter with calmer pattern images. The purpose of the wallpaper was considered to be to create a calm fund for furniture, art and other decor, it would not take on too much. At this time, the so-called porridge wallpapers or wall wallpapers became incredibly popular: bright wallpapers with pattern images that brought to mind plastered walls - and from a distance looked almost solid.
During the 1930s, more and more influences from the Orient also returned. Among functionalism's brighter, geometric pattern images, there are therefore also slightly more exotic wallpapers with elements of, for example, bamboo. Embossed relief patterns were also common.
A big difference from previous eras was that light materials such as birch and steel pipes became more popular, and that all rooms in the 1930s home could have the same type of wallpaper.