Laura Ashley Green Wallpaper

Finding Serenity in Every Shade of Green: A Personal Guide to Transforming Your Space

When I first decided to redecorate my living room last spring, I found myself drawn to the calming influence of green. Not just any green, mind you, but the sophisticated palette offered by Laura Ashley’s wallpaper collection. What began as a simple search soon blossomed into a fascinating journey through verdant patterns, historical designs, and practical considerations that I’m excited to share with you today.

Finding the perfect green wallpaper isn’t just about color—it’s about discovering a pattern that speaks to your soul and transforms your space into a sanctuary. My own journey through Laura Ashley’s green wallpaper collection taught me more than I ever expected about interior design, practical applications, and even a bit about myself.

The Allure of Laura Ashley Green: Why I Fell in Love

There’s something undeniably timeless about Laura Ashley designs. Founded in the 1950s, the brand has maintained its reputation for quintessentially British patterns that somehow manage to feel both nostalgic and fresh. When I began exploring their green wallpaper options, I was immediately struck by the diversity of shades available.

From soft sage and mint to deep emerald and forest greens, Laura Ashley offers a spectrum that can complement virtually any interior style. What drew me in most was how these greens seemed to capture nature’s palette with remarkable authenticity. The sage options reminded me of Mediterranean herbs growing in my grandmother’s garden, while the deeper forest greens evoked memories of hiking through ancient woodlands.

I found myself spending hours scrolling through online catalogs, requesting samples, and visiting showrooms to see how different shades interacted with my existing furniture. The hunt became almost meditative—a welcome respite from my usually hectic schedule.

Where to Find Your Perfect Green Pattern

My search began online, naturally. Laura Ashley maintains an extensive website where you can browse their current collections, but I quickly discovered that their green wallpapers are also available through various retailers. Department stores like John Lewis carry select collections, while specialty wallpaper shops often stock a wider range. I found Wallpaper Direct particularly useful for their extensive Laura Ashley section and detailed filter options.

For those who prefer to see and touch before buying (a wise approach with wallpaper), I visited several physical showrooms. Nothing quite compares to seeing how light plays across different finishes and how patterns scale in real life. Many home improvement stores carry Laura Ashley, though their selection may be limited to current bestsellers.

I eventually found my perfect match at a specialty interior design shop that carried not just the wallpapers but complementary fabrics and accessories. The ability to see potential coordination opportunities in person proved invaluable.

For bargain hunters (and I count myself among you), don’t overlook outlets and seasonal sales. Laura Ashley regularly updates their collections, meaning previous designs often become available at reduced prices. I scored one of my favorite patterns—a delicate trailing vine in seafoam green—at 40% off during an end-of-season clearance.

The Magnificent Spectrum: Shades of Green in Laura Ashley’s Portfolio

The range of greens available in Laura Ashley’s collection deserves special attention. Far from a monolithic color, their green palette encompasses dozens of distinct shades, each with its own character and potential applications.

On the lighter end, there are fresh mint and sage options that create an airy, spacious feel. I found these particularly effective in smaller rooms where darker colors might feel oppressive. My guest bathroom was transformed with a light sage pattern featuring delicate white flowers—visitors consistently comment on how much larger the space feels.

Mid-range greens include gorgeous olive tones, celadon, and what Laura Ashley calls “hedgerow”—a beautifully balanced green that seems to change subtly with the light throughout the day. These versatile shades work beautifully in living areas and bedrooms, creating a sense of balance and tranquility.

For those seeking drama, the deeper end of the spectrum offers forest greens, emeralds, and even some nearly-teal options with remarkable depth. I was initially hesitant about using these darker shades, but after creating a feature wall in my dining room with a rich forest green damask pattern, I’m completely converted. The sophisticated intensity creates a perfect backdrop for dinner parties, making the room feel both intimate and elegant.

What impressed me most was how these various greens interact with different lighting conditions. Morning light brings out the yellow undertones in sage patterns, while evening lamps enhance the blue notes in deeper greens. This changeability adds a living quality to walls that flat paint simply can’t match.

Patterns and Designs: From Traditional to Contemporary

Laura Ashley’s green wallpaper collection spans an impressive range of design styles. Their heritage as a quintessentially British brand shines through in their floral patterns, which range from delicate cottage-garden motifs to bold botanical statements.

I was particularly drawn to their heritage floral designs in green. These patterns often feature intricate details of native British flora—foxgloves, roses, ivy—rendered with botanical precision against varied green backgrounds. For my reading nook, I selected a pattern with trailing ivy and small woodland flowers against a soft sage background, creating a sense of being enveloped in a gentle garden.

For those with more contemporary tastes, geometric and abstract patterns abound. I was surprised to discover how modern some of Laura Ashley’s green offerings feel—from subtle textured patterns that create depth without obvious repetition to bold geometric designs that wouldn’t look out of place in a design magazine spread.

Their striped options deserve special mention. Far from simple lines, Laura Ashley’s striped patterns in green often incorporate subtle texture variations or small motifs within the stripes themselves. These create visual interest while maintaining the clean, structured appearance that makes stripes so perennially popular.

For the truly adventurous, their tropical and botanical patterns make powerful statements. I installed one such design—featuring large-scale palm fronds in varying shades of green against a cream background—in my home office. The effect is simultaneously energizing and soothing, perfect for a creative workspace.

Practical Considerations: What I Learned the Hard Way

Beyond aesthetics, there are practical aspects of wallpaper selection that I wish someone had explained to me before I began my green wallpaper journey. Let me save you some trouble by sharing what I learned.

Roll Dimensions and Coverage

Laura Ashley wallpaper typically comes in standard UK rolls measuring 52cm wide by 10 meters long (approximately 20.5 inches by 32.8 feet). This gives approximately 5.2 square meters (56 square feet) of coverage per roll. However—and this is crucial—the actual coverage depends on the pattern repeat.

Patterns with large repeats require more paper to match properly across seams. I learned this the hard way when my carefully calculated order for my living room came up short because I hadn’t accounted for the 64cm repeat in the pattern I’d chosen. Always use a wallpaper calculator that factors in pattern repeat, and order at least one extra roll as insurance.

Installation Methods: Paste-the-Wall vs. Traditional

Most contemporary Laura Ashley wallpapers use the convenient “paste-the-wall” technology, which I found significantly easier to work with than traditional papers. Rather than applying paste to the paper itself, you simply apply it to the wall and position the dry paper against it. This makes handling the paper much simpler and reduces the risk of paste spots or over-soaking.

For my bathroom renovation, I specifically sought out their vinyl-coated options, which offer superior moisture resistance. While no wallpaper is completely waterproof, these specialized papers have served perfectly in my moderately humid bathroom for over two years with no signs of peeling or mildew.

If you’re considering a DIY installation (as I bravely—or foolishly—attempted), I recommend starting with a paste-the-wall paper in a room with simple, straight walls. My kitchen, with its multiple cabinets, windows, and doors, proved challenging even for my professional decorator friend who eventually rescued my project.

Price Points and Value Considerations

Laura Ashley green wallpapers span a range of price points, typically starting around £35-£40 per roll for simpler designs and reaching £80-£90 for premium patterns with special finishes or techniques. During my search, I noticed that certain features command premium prices:

• Metallic accents or highlights
• Embossed or textured finishes
• Hand-blocked appearance
• Exclusive designer collaborations

While initially hesitant about investing in higher-priced options, I’ve found that the quality difference is noticeable in daily living. The papers retain their color better, clean more easily, and generally exhibit superior durability. For high-traffic areas like hallways or family rooms, this durability justifies the additional expense.

Budget-conscious decorators should explore last-season collections or outlet options, where significant discounts often apply. I found several discontinued green patterns at nearly 60% off retail price, allowing me to use a premium paper in my entryway at a fraction of the original cost.

Creating Feature Walls with Green Wallpaper

One of the most impactful design strategies I discovered was using Laura Ashley green wallpaper for feature walls. This approach allows you to incorporate bold patterns or deeper colors without overwhelming a space.

In my living room, three walls are painted in a soft neutral tone, while the chimney breast showcases a stunning forest green damask pattern. This creates a natural focal point that draws the eye and anchors the room’s design. The pattern’s rich green tone is picked up in accent pillows and a throw blanket, creating cohesion throughout the space.

For my home office, I took a different approach, using a bold botanical print on the wall behind my desk. This creates an energizing backdrop for work while keeping the rest of the room calm and distraction-free. The large-scale pattern works perfectly as a feature because it has space to shine without competing with itself across multiple walls.

When selecting a pattern for a feature wall, I found that larger-scale designs often work better than small, busy patterns. The wall becomes a statement piece rather than just a different color from the rest of the room. This approach also makes more economic sense, as you’ll need fewer rolls to complete the project.

Caring for Your Green Wallpaper Investment

After investing both time and money in my perfect green wallpaper, I was determined to keep it looking pristine. Through trial and error (and one unfortunate incident with a red wine splash), I’ve developed a care routine that preserves the beauty of these papers.

For regular maintenance, a simple dusting with a soft microfiber cloth or a vacuum with a brush attachment keeps the surface clean without risking moisture damage. For washable varieties (which most modern Laura Ashley papers are), spots can be gently blotted with a barely damp cloth and mild soap if needed.

I’ve found that the matte finishes, while beautiful, tend to show marks more readily than papers with a slight sheen. In my dining room, I specifically chose a paper with a subtle satin finish that has proven remarkably resistant to the occasional splash or smudge.

Sun exposure presents another concern, particularly for green papers. To prevent fading, I’ve installed light-filtering window treatments in rooms where direct sunlight would otherwise hit the wallpapered surfaces. This simple precaution has kept the colors vibrant even after several years.

Eco-Friendly Options in the Green Collection

As someone increasingly concerned with environmental impact, I was pleased to discover that many Laura Ashley green wallpapers now feature eco-friendly attributes. Their newer collections often highlight sustainable sourcing of paper pulp from managed forests, and many patterns use water-based inks with lower environmental impact.

Several options in their green collection carry FSC certification, indicating responsible forest management practices. While researching, I learned that the company has been working to reduce the use of vinyl and plastic coatings where possible, though these materials remain necessary for certain applications like bathroom-suitable papers.

For my most recent project—a small reading nook—I specifically sought out one of their papers made with recycled content. The slight texture variation actually adds character to the sage green background, and I appreciate knowing that my design choice aligned with my values.

It’s worth noting that traditional wallpaper, when properly installed and maintained, typically has a longer useful life than paint, which requires more frequent reapplication. This longevity factor contributes to a potentially smaller environmental footprint over time.

Coordinating Your Green Wallpaper with Other Elements

One of Laura Ashley’s strengths is their coordinated approach to home décor. Many of their green wallpaper patterns have companion fabrics, bedding, and even tableware that share design elements or complementary colors.

In my guest bedroom, I paired a subtle green trailing vine wallpaper with curtains made from a coordinating fabric that features the same pattern at a larger scale. The effect is cohesive without being matchy-matchy, creating a harmonious space that feels thoughtfully designed.

For those who prefer a more eclectic approach, Laura Ashley’s green papers provide an excellent foundation for mixing periods and styles. In my living room, the traditional damask pattern in forest green creates a sophisticated backdrop for both antique wood furniture and more contemporary metal and glass pieces.

Color coordination deserves special attention when working with green wallpaper. I’ve found that:

• Creams and soft whites create a fresh, timeless combination with any green
• Gold and brass accents add warmth and luxury, especially with deeper greens
• Blues in the teal family create a peacock-inspired palette that feels both rich and relaxing
• Certain berry tones (especially blackberry and mulberry) create stunning contrast with mid-tone greens

The Emotional Impact of Green in Interior Design

Beyond practical and aesthetic considerations, I’ve become fascinated by the psychological effects of surrounding myself with green wallpaper. Color psychology suggests that green promotes feelings of harmony, growth, and balance—precisely what I hoped to cultivate in my home environment.

After living with various green wallpapers for several years now, I can attest to their calming influence. My sage green guest room genuinely seems to help visitors relax and sleep well, while the more vibrant green botanical print in my office keeps me feeling energized and focused during work hours.

Friends have commented that my home feels “naturally peaceful” since the green wallpaper installations. While some of this surely comes from the overall design cohesion, I believe the predominance of green—nature’s most abundant color—plays a significant role in creating this sense of tranquility.

Installation Insights: DIY vs. Professional

My journey with Laura Ashley green wallpaper included both DIY attempts and professional installations, giving me perspective on both approaches. For first-time wallpaperers, I recommend starting with:

1. A small space with simple, rectangular walls
2. A pattern with minimal repeat requirements
3. Paste-the-wall paper for easier handling
4. A subtle pattern that will forgive minor misalignments

My first DIY project—applying a small-pattern sage green paper to my home office—went surprisingly well following these guidelines. The paste-the-wall technology made the process much less messy than I’d feared, and the forgiving nature of the small repeat pattern helped disguise my novice technique.

However, when it came to my living room’s feature wall with a large-repeat damask pattern, I wisely called in professional help. The precision required for matching the pattern across a large wall, especially around architectural features, justified the expense of professional installation.

If you’re determined to DIY, invest in quality tools: a sharp utility knife with plenty of replacement blades, a proper smoothing brush, a plumb line, and precise measuring tools. The difference between adequate and excellent installation often comes down to preparation and having the right equipment.

Finding Your Green Wallpaper on Sale

For the budget-conscious decorator (aren’t we all?), finding Laura Ashley green wallpaper at discounted prices became something of a treasure hunt for me. Beyond the obvious seasonal sales, I discovered several reliable sources for deals:

• Outlet stores, which often carry discontinued patterns at 30-50% off
• End-of-roll sales at specialty wallpaper shops
• Online retailers running flash sales (signing up for notifications pays off)
• Designer sample sales, where showroom rolls may be available at steep discounts

I found my dining room’s gorgeous emerald pattern during a warehouse clearance event—the design was being discontinued, and remaining stock was priced at 60% below retail. These opportunities require flexibility; you may need to adjust your vision based on what’s available rather than holding out for a specific pattern.

Another strategy that served me well was purchasing during end-of-financial-year sales in March, when many retailers offer significant discounts to clear inventory before their new fiscal year begins.

Removing Laura Ashley Wallpaper: Planning for Future Changes

While I’ve been thrilled with my green wallpaper choices, I’m practical enough to know that tastes and trends evolve. With this in mind, I specifically asked about removal processes before making my final selections.

Most modern Laura Ashley papers, including their green collections, are designed for relatively easy removal. The paste-the-wall varieties, in particular, tend to strip off in complete pieces rather than shredding. For my rental property renovation, I specifically chose papers labeled as “strippable” to minimize future headaches.

In one bathroom, I opted for their peel-and-stick option in a lovely mint green pattern with white accents. While slightly more expensive initially, this paper promises truly effortless removal when the time comes for a change—an important consideration for spaces that tend to be redecorated more frequently.

If you’re wallpapering with eventual removal in mind, consider choosing papers without vinyl coatings for easier eco-friendly disposal when the time comes. These papers typically break down more readily in landfill conditions.

Finding Your Personal Green Style

After living with various Laura Ashley green wallpapers throughout my home, I’ve developed a deeper appreciation for how personal wallpaper selection truly is. What works beautifully in one space might feel entirely wrong in another, even within the same home.

My journey taught me to trust my instincts while remaining open to unexpected possibilities. The seafoam green paper I initially dismissed as too pale became a perfect choice for my north-facing study, bringing light and air to a potentially dark space.

I encourage you to collect samples of any green pattern that speaks to you, even if it seems outside your usual style preferences. Live with these samples in your space for at least a few days, observing how they look in different lighting conditions and how they make you feel.

Remember that wallpaper is ultimately about creating a space that resonates with your personal aesthetic and supports your emotional well-being. The perfect green wallpaper is the one that makes you feel at home every time you enter the room.

Conclusion: The Transformative Power of Green Wallpaper

My Laura Ashley green wallpaper journey has transformed not just my home’s appearance but my entire approach to interior design. What began as a simple search for an attractive wall covering became an exploration of color psychology, pattern theory, and the subtle art of creating spaces that nurture well-being.

The various greens now adorning my walls—from delicate sage to rich emerald—create a natural flow through my home that visitors often comment on before I’ve even mentioned my wallpaper project. There’s something fundamentally harmonious about green that bridges different design styles and creates cohesion even among diverse elements.

If you’re considering Laura Ashley green wallpaper for your own space, I encourage you to approach the process with both practical knowledge and creative openness. Take time to understand the technical aspects of wallpaper selection and installation while remaining receptive to the emotional impact of different patterns and shades.

The perfect green wallpaper does more than cover a wall—it creates an atmosphere, influences mood, and transforms ordinary rooms into personal sanctuaries. My own home has become a verdant retreat from the outside world, a place where nature’s most balanced color creates spaces for both energetic activity and peaceful relaxation.

Whether you choose a bold botanical statement or a subtle textured sage, Laura Ashley’s green wallpaper collection offers possibilities for every taste and interior style. The journey to finding your perfect pattern may take time, but the transformative results will reward your patience for years to come.