Retro wallpaper

Retro wallpaper brings mid century, 1970s and art deco prints to a quiet Aussie wall. The range covers vintage wallpaper styles for every era. You'll find bold florals, soft botanicals and rich damask repeats. Art deco wallpaper fans and 70s shapes round out the mix. Each retro pattern fits lounge rooms, hallways and dining nooks.

Every print is custom-made to your wall size and priced per square metre.Pick self adhesive peel and stick for renters and quick refreshes

Retro Wallpaper for Aussie Homes

Retro wallpaper earns its spot by giving a room one clear look. A mid century print sits well behind a teak sideboard. A 70s floral warms a lounge that has stayed off-white for years. Art deco fans make a hallway feel grand again. The style fits Federation cottages, weatherboard homes, Queenslanders and new-build apartments. It works in small rumpus rooms and open-plan lounges alike.

Pick the mood first. Then pick the print.

Choosing by era, not just by print

Federation and Edwardian cottages suit art deco or earlier prints. A post-war Sydney or Melbourne home takes mid century patterns. A 70s brick veneer or coastal shack takes soft florals and earth tones.

Vintage Wallpaper Styles in This Range

Vintage wallpaper falls into five clear styles. The first is bold graphic, strong colour, hard geometry. The second is muted nostalgia  browns, ochres and creams. The third is soft floral  painterly, easy on the eye. The fourth is damask  ornate repeats in deep tones. The fifth is art deco  fans, sunbursts and metallic touches.

Pick one style. Stay in that lane for the whole wall.

Damask, paisley and nostalgic prints

Damask wallpaper suits formal lounges with darker timber. Paisley wallpaper warms cottage bedrooms. Both pair well with brass fittings and velvet.

Mid Century Wallpaper and Furniture Pairing

Mid century wallpaper sits well with teak and Blackwood pieces from the 60s and 70s. You can still find these at Aussie vintage markets. Tapered legs and brass fittings answer the print without copying it.

Keep the rest of the room simple. Let the wall lead. A plain white sideboard against a bold pattern reads as designed, not costume.

Working with modern flat-pack

An aesthetic wallpaper in a retro key also works with neutral flat-pack furniture. The clash is the point.

70s Wallpaper for Coastal Aussie Homes

70s wallpaper lifts coastal shacks, weatherboard cottages and 70s brick veneers. Soft florals, paisley patterns and earthy tones sit with the relaxed mood. Pair them with old pine dressers and mismatched painted chairs.

The look is loose. The feeling is friendly. The wall does the heavy lifting.

Soft 1970s florals for relaxed spaces

Pick muted browns and ochres for a quiet feel. Pick brighter blooms when you want the wall to be the talking point.

Art Deco Wallpaper for Period Homes

Art deco wallpaper fits Federation and Edwardian homes well. The era sits within a generation of these builds. Fans, sunbursts and bold curves echo the original detailing.

Pair with darker timbers, polished brass and velvet. Damask wallpaper works in the same scheme.

Federation fireplace walls as a frame

A Federation fireplace flanked by built-in cabinets frames a deco print well. The cabinets act as side margins.

Choosing a Retro Pattern for Each Room

A retro design  usually wants one feature wall or accent wall, not four. Retro wallpaper loses impact when it wraps the whole room.

The accent wall that works best is the one you see first. That might be behind the main lounge seat. It might be behind the dining table. It might be the end wall of a long hallway.

Open-plan walls and feature placement

In an open-plan lounge-dining, put the print on the lounge-side wall. The pattern defines the seating zone. The dining area stays quieter.

Vintage Inspired Wallpaper Install Tips

Vintage inspired wallpaper rewards a careful install. Pattern repeats make any drift between panels obvious. Paste-the-wall non-woven is the usual pick for geometrics. Line the first panel against a plumbed line, not the skirting. Older Aussie homes rarely have square walls.

Self adhesive removable wallpaper, also called peel and stick, suits rentals and quick refreshes. Both formats of wallpaper for walls hold up in warm Aussie rooms when the paint is sound and cured.

For care, a barely-damp cloth with mild soap works for everyday marks. Keep prints off kitchen splashbacks and bathroom walls. Steam and grease can lift the seams. In humid Brisbane summers, a ceiling fan or air-con run during the wettest weeks helps.

Renter friendly removable picks

Removable peel and stick is the safe bet in a rental. Check your tenancy first. Take a before photo. Keep one panel offcut for patch-ups.

Retro Mural and Retro Wall Design Ideas

A retro mural turns a single wall into the focal point of the room. An art deco scene, a 70s landscape or a vintage botanical all work at this scale. Place the mural where it has space to breathe — usually a wall with no doors or windows.

Good retro wall design treats the print as a retro background. Pull two colours from the wallpaper. Repeat them in cushions, throws or art. Keep the floor neutral. Let one piece of furniture speak the loudest.

Vintage murals for accent walls

Vintage murals work best on the largest blank wall. They can sit behind a bed, a lounge, or at the end of a hallway.

Retro Style for Aussies

Retro and vintage prints ideas give an Aussie room a clear point of view. Paint alone rarely reaches this. Prints work hardest on one feature or accent wall. Pair them with the right era of furniture.

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FAQs

Which materials is best for wallpaper?

Wallpapers are made from standard paper, canvas paper, premium paper, peel and stick materials for durability and style.

How Do I Measure My Wall for a Wall Mural?

Measure the wall's width and height, adding 2–4 inches for trimming. Check for obstacles like windows or doors and note their dimensions. Double-check measurements before ordering!

How Do I Order Custom Size Wallpaper or Wall Mural?

Pick a design, enter wall dimensions, choose material, and place your order. Contact support for help!

What color sofa suits a 70s earthy retro wallpaper?

A rust, mustard or olive velvet sofa is the cleanest match for a 70s earthy print. These tones sit inside the same warm family as the wall, so nothing clashes. A chocolate brown leather sofa also works if the print already has orange in it. Keep cushions plain cream or cream with one thin stripe to let the wall lead.

Does a mid-century retro mural go with oak flooring?

Yes, oak is one of the best floors for a mid-century look. The warm grain lifts atomic shapes and clean-line prints without fighting them. Walnut floors work even harder, especially with teak furniture. If your floor is gray laminate, pick a mid-century print with softer neutrals rather than one with strong color blocks.

Which wall should I choose in a small living room?

The fireplace wall is the classic choice. It is already the focal point, and a single print there does not overwhelm a small living room. If there is no fireplace, use the wall behind the sofa. Keep the three other walls in a plain warm neutral. One patterned wall, three calm walls, every time.

Will a bold retro print work in a north-facing living room?

Yes, as long as you pick a warm palette. North-facing rooms get cooler light, so a 70s earthy print in rust, mustard and brown adds the warmth the room is missing. Avoid cool grays or stark black-and-white 60s mod prints in a north-facing room unless you have strong lamp lighting to lift it at night.

Is peel-and-stick safe for a rented apartment?

Yes. Peel-and-stick prints are designed to come off cleanly without pulling paint or drywall with them. They are the safest pick for a rented apartment in New York, Chicago, Austin or Los Angeles where you need to return the walls as you found them. Always test a small corner first on older latex paint.

How do I clean a retro print near a kitchen or bathroom?

Wipe gently with a soft, damp microfiber cloth. Never use abrasive cleaners or bleach sprays. For a kitchen wall, pair the print with a tile or glass backsplash behind the range, not the paper itself. In a bathroom, avoid placing the print directly above the tub without a glass screen to block the steam.

Is paste-the-wall or peel-and-stick better for a feature wall?

For a long-term living room feature wall, paste-the-wall gives a slightly flatter finish and lasts many years. For a rented home or a room you like to refresh often, peel-and-stick is the easier pick. Both look the same once up. The real question is how long you want the print to stay.

Does this suit a Victorian-era or older home?

Very well. A 60s mod print suits the tall ceilings of a Victorian front room, and a 70s earthy floral warms up an older hallway beautifully. Skim coat the wall or add a smoothing primer first if the plaster is bumpy. Pair with original wood floors, a stripped door and a single mid-century armchair for a proper period-meets-retro feel.

Which retro style suits a 1960s ranch or mid-century home?

Mid-century is the natural fit for a 1960s ranch. The clean lines and atomic shapes were designed for exactly that era of architecture. Pair with teak, a warm Scandi palette and oak flooring. A 60s mod print also works if your living room has big windows and tall baseboards.