Quirk doesn't have to equal candy colors or hit-you-over-the-head visual humor — often it's the sly motif, the unexpected flash of irreverance in an otherwise staid color story or pattern repeat, that makes a wallpaper pattern design interesting...as well as something you can live with longer.

Here are 10 patterns that I saw while walking the floor of ICFF that fit this unusual yet attractive mold — they are low key upon first glance but have a depth, darkness or just plain unexpected twist upon contemplation.

Shown above:
1. Faded grandeur and delicate decay from Gina Pierce Design
2. Puppies, butterflies and skeletons from Elli Popp
3. Tye dye adds a bit of a funky edge to walls from Eskayel
4. A foggy forest from Trove
5. Traditional layout plus day of the dead imagery from Espacio by Sami Hayek

6. A tourist's nightmare of a London map from Gina Pierce Design
7. A damp, moody floral from Trove
8. Victoriana plus firearms from Elli Popp
9. Overall floral with a few snakes from Flavor Paper
10. More tye dye from Eskayel

Images: Janel Laban

Store Mentions

You might also like