Hanging Dark & Rich Wallpaper Colours

Deep hues, bold brights, and rich saturated colour ways can create some of the most atmospheric and dramatic interiors. Whether you’re working with inky florals, bold animal prints or richly layered patterns, dark and rich wallpapers have become a popular decor choice across interiors.

The white paper base: a standard industry approach

Our wallpapers are printed onto a high-quality white paper base. This is a deliberate production choice that allows the artwork to achieve maximum depth, clarity and the beautiful richness of colours across the full collection.

Our chosen substrate is widely used throughout the premium wallpaper industry and is trusted by many leading designers and manufacturers for designs in all colour ranges. Using a white paper base for darker wallpapers is a common approach by designers in general, as it provides excellent colour performance and consistency when combined with specialist digital printing techniques.

White seams? Understanding how darker tones behave at the join

With deeply saturated colourways, and depending on installation conditions, a very fine light edge can occasionally become visible at joins. This is a known characteristic that can occur with printed wallpapers where a white base sits beneath rich, dark pigment layers rather than an indication of a product defect.

Whilst visible white seams are not always the case - and are often subtle and only noticeable under certain lighting conditions or very close inspection - it is something to be aware of and to know how to handle when we are looking for the very best results on the wall.

Non-woven wallpapers are wonderfully easy to hang; As a paste-the-wall product, there is no need to apply paste directly to the wallpaper. Simply paste the wall and hang each strip in place. Avoid overstretching the wallpaper during installation, as this could cause it to contract back slightly as the adhesive dries. Also for the best results, we recommend using a high-quality ready-mixed wallpaper adhesive, such as Beeline, a trusted choice among professional decorators.

How to achieve the best possible finish

Professional decorators use a few simple techniques to ensure a seamless appearance when working with darker wallpapers:

• Edge tinting before hanging

A decorator’s crayon or specialist wallpaper edge colouring product can be used to lightly colour the edges of the wallpaper roll before installation, helping to disguise any potential light line at the join. This is applied along the edges prior to the wallpaper being unrolled.

• Colour-matched wall preparation

Painting the wall (or just the seam lines) in a closely matched colour before hanging the wallpaper helps to reduce the visibility of any fine white edge. For particularly dark or saturated designs, some decorators use a technique known as seam banding, where narrow painted strips are applied behind where the wallpaper joins will fall, creating a closer colour match beneath the seams.

• Prepare the wall properly

A well-prepared wall is essential for achieving the best possible finish. Walls should be clean, smooth, dry and suitably prepared before installation. For the most refined results, professional decorators may use a suitable wallpaper primer or sealer to create a consistent surface and ensure the adhesive performs effectively.

Where walls have imperfections or uneven surfaces, a quality lining paper can also be used to provide a smoother, more uniform base before hanging the wallpaper.

A properly prepared surface helps the wallpaper to sit smoothly against the wall, supports strong adhesion as the wallpaper dries and can help minimise the possibility of joins becoming more visible.

• Use a high-quality adhesive

A good-quality ready-mixed wallpaper adhesive is an important part of the installation process. We recommend using a trusted professional-grade ready-mixed adhesive suitable for non-woven wallpapers, such as Beeline. A quality adhesive provides a secure bond while allowing the wallpaper to be positioned accurately during hanging.

• Careful alignment and smoothing during installation

Ensuring accurate pattern matching and smooth butted joins will always support the most refined final finish. Avoid stretching the wallpaper when positioning, as this can cause the paper to contract slightly as the adhesive dries.

Careful smoothing during installation helps create good contact between the wallpaper and the wall. Particular attention should be paid to the joins, ensuring the edges are properly positioned and securely adhered. 

• Allow the wallpaper to dry naturally

Once installed, allow the wallpaper to dry naturally. Avoid rapid changes in temperature, such as direct heat from radiators, as uneven drying can affect how the wallpaper settles and may make joins more noticeable.

A considered, professional finish

These approaches are standard practice among decorators working with high-quality printed designer wallpapers, particularly in darker palettes. When applied with care, they allow richly coloured designs to be used confidently, delivering a dramatic, immersive result without compromising on finish.

Rich wallpapers remain one of the most effective ways to add depth, mood and personality to a space, and the use of a high-quality white paper base is a key part of achieving the vibrancy and artistic quality seen throughout the collection.

If you need any further advice, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us and we'll be happy to help.