Chasing Paper’s Latest Wallpaper Collab Is a Pattern Lover’s Paradise

Chasing Paper’s latest collaboration — a bold, graphic pattern-forward collection with designer and artist Shadé Akanbi — launched today across both their temporary and traditional wallpaper offerings. Drawing influences from her Nigerian-American upbringing in the Bay Area of California as well as her extensive pre-pandemic travels, the Brooklyn-based Akanbi translated her signature ethnic-inspired, colorful designs into modern wall coverings perfect for every room of the home.

Akanbi, who holds a Studio Arts degree from Spelman College and an Accessories Design degree from Fashion Institute of Technology and has designed handbags, accessories, footwear, and more, was actually in the middle of refreshing her office nook and realized she wanted to add wallpaper. So she reached out to Chasing Paper to inquire about collaborating.

From there, the two brands started working on this assortment. For the collection, Akanbi created five designs total: the Cleo Stripe, the Kente Vintage Weave, and the Paint Dob Camo, all of which are more abstract in form, and then two natural motifs, Petit Twigs, and Warri Palms. Each of the designs comes in at least one colorway, with some available in up to five different colors.

As far as aesthetics go, while the line skews bold and colorful on the whole, you can really double down on that look with the pattern-on-pattern appearance of the rainbow-bright Cleo (which, when installed, looks like a patchwork quilt of stripes, as seen at the top of this page) or the Kente Vintage Weave, which you can see just above and also has a checkered look at a distance. For something a little more neutral, stick to the Petit Twigs in the maize and mauve colorway or the Warri Palms in the soothing sage and blush colorway shown below. The latter is an especially fun, new take on the palm frond trend (and looks a little more punchy in graphic black-and-white, if you want a more classic look).

For the Shadé Akanbi collection and otherwise, Chasing Paper’s traditional wallpaper starts at $90 per panel and is available in two sizes. Removable, peel-and-stick wallpaper starts at $40 per panel and is available in three sizes.