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Gwyneth Paltrow has revived this wall trend – you'll see it everywhere in 2022

Her home celebrates an ancient design staple – and interior experts can't get enough

Gwyneth Paltrow
(Image credit: Leon Bennett / Stringer)

Gwyneth Paltrow's home is the most talked-about property of the year (so far). The Iron Man actress has made waves in the industry after sharing her spa bathroom and $62,000 hammock with the world. However, while her living room swing has divided designers, there is one feature that is far more favored amongst those in the know... 

If you're going to steal one interior design trend from Gwyneth's house tour, let it be this: her handpainted wallpaper. 

This ornate statement is an investment, but you can still recreate Gwyneth's style with other wallpaper ideas with a similar effect. Here is everything you need to know about the trend (including an expert-approved alternative). 

Gwyneth Paltrow's painted wallpaper trend  

Blue and white mural by Fromental

(A different hand painted wallpaper)

(Image credit: Fromental by Nicole Fuller, Märchen in Krinkled White)

2021 may have set the seeds for the painted wallpaper trend to grow, but Gwyneth's home (as seen in this video) has brought this trend firmly into 2022. Our editor-in-chief Lucy Searle notes how we have already featured them here on H&G, and they're amongst our top design trend predictions for 2022. 

'Handpainted wallpaper is stunning in the flesh, and a wall mural can be used to create a statement space,' Lucy says. While this bespoke decor is expensive, she explains that it is worth the investment (if possible). 'That said, you can find lookalikes that are more accessible,' Lucy adds. 

However, Lucy is not alone in her admiration for Gwyneth's painted wallpaper trend. David Harris, the Design Director at Andrew Martin, also explains that this wallpaper trend will continue to accelerate this 2022 – adding that there is a painted wallpaper for every style of home. 

Fromental abstract mural

(Image credit: Fromental)

'Whatever your taste, there is something everyone, from traditional florals and trompe l'oeil to contemporary geometric and tropical patterns or animal motifs and architectural designs,' David says. 

The designer adds that you can showcase an ornate look by choosing wallpaper printed on embellished corks, grasscloths, and silks that have a similar aesthetic. 'The usage is also bolder and braver. If you have the confidence, there are endless possibilities,' David says. 

Are you inspired by Gwyneth Paltrow's living room wallpaper idea? Experts suggest this is more than just a fling – so you can invest in confidence.

Megan Slack
Head of Celebrity Style News

Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens, where she leads the celebrity/ news team. She has a history in interior design, travel, and news journalism, having lived and worked in New York, Paris, and, currently, London. Megan has bylines in Livingetc, The Telegraph, and IRK Magazine, and has interviewed the likes of Drew Barrymore, Ayesha Curry, Michelle Keegan, and Tan France, among others. She lives in a London apartment with her antique typewriter and an eclectic espresso cup collection, and dreams of a Kelly Wearstler-designed home.