How We Turn Fabric Designs into Beautiful Wall Coverings

Vanessa Arbuthnott

May 28, 2026

Want your favourite fabric design to make a bigger impression in your home? A wall covering is the perfect place to begin. The right wallpaper can shape the whole atmosphere of your room, adding colour, warmth, and character without needing to replace your furniture or decor. At Vanessa Arbuthnott Fabrics, our wall coverings have become a natural extension of our fabric collections. In today’s blog, we’re taking you behind-the-scenes to explore the journey from fabric to wallpaper, so you can see how our beautiful, durable wall coverings are brought to life.

How Vanessa’s designs are born

Every one of Vanessa’s designs begins by being hand drawn, taking inspiration from the flora and fauna just outside her window – using a brush, paint, potatoes, crayons, leaves and flowers gathered on countryside walks. It could be the delicate shape of cow parsley in a Cotswold hedgerow, or the gentle movement of birds and leaves across her garden. When Vanessa first designs a fabric, she thinks carefully about how it will live in a home. For example, she considers whether it will drape well on curtains, add charm to a chair, or fold beautifully on Roman blinds. This considered approach is what makes the move from fabric to wallpaper feel so natural. Vanessa has already given her designs a life, a palette, and a personality from that very early stage – the next step is to decide whether it can hold a wall with the same grace.

The journey from fabric to wallpaper

Many of Vanessa’s designs were first loved as fabrics, chosen for curtains, blinds, cushions, and upholstery because their colours sit so beautifully together. When our customers began asking to bring those same patterns onto their walls, Vanessa created a fantastic collection of wallpapers and wall coverings that make it easier to build a layered, timeless scheme from your favourite design. Some patterns lend themselves beautifully to traditional wallpaper, while others need the extra strength and texture of a fabric and paper mix. Designs such as Cow Parsley and For the Love of Rose have been printed on traditional wallpaper to form part of Vanessa’s designer wallpaper collection. Other designs, including Up the Garden Path, Pretty Maids, Gypsy Garland, Flora & Fauna, Shibori, Spotty Stripe, and Song Birds, are printed on our stronger fabric and paper mix to create washable wall coverings that bring both beauty and durability to your space.

Why choose Vanessa’s wallpapers and wall coverings?

Transform your room with colour and pattern

Our wall coverings are one of the quickest and easiest ways to transform your room. Unlike paint, which creates a flat block of colour, our custom wallpaper designs add movement, detail, and depth to your space. They help to soften hard edges, draw the eye through a room, and refresh your interior without needing to replace your furniture or decor.

Kinder to both you and the planet

The materials behind your wallpaper matter just as much as the design itself. All our wallpapers are made using water-based inks, which means they are non-toxic and very low in volatile organic compounds. We never use solvent inks or vinyl substrates, allowing you to bring beautiful wall coverings into your home in a more environmentally responsible way.

Ideal for busy homes

Our collection of wallpapers and wall coverings are made to be enjoyed for years to come, not changed with every passing trend. Our wallpapers are spongeable, while our fabric and paper mix wall coverings are washable – which makes them ideal for busy spaces, as they can be easily wiped down to keep them looking their best.

Quick and easy to apply

Our wall coverings are extremely straightforward to apply, too. Simply brush a good quality, light-grade ready mixed paste (like Halls Beeline or Solvite) onto your wall and apply the covering on top. There’s no need for a pasting table, so you can transform your room with surprisingly little fuss.

Designs to suit every space

Whether you’re looking to create a calm and restful bedroom scheme, add charm to your hallway, or bring a little more colour and character to your dining room, we guarantee you’ll find a design to suit your space in Vanessa’s wallpaper collection. Not sure exactly what you’re looking for? Check out our top tips for using patterned wallpaper in your home for ideas.

Need help choosing the right wall covering for your home?

Choosing a wall covering is an exciting process, but it can also feel like a daunting decision. The good news is that you don’t have to figure it all out on your own. As well as offering a fantastic collection of unique, nature-inspired wallpapers and wall coverings, our interior designer, Tania, offers free 30-minute design consultations to help you create the perfect scheme for your home. Whether you’re choosing wallpaper for one feature wall or planning a whole room around your favourite fabric, Tania can help you explore colours, patterns, and combinations with confidence. Book your slot today and let us help you choose the ideal wall covering for your space.

FAQs

What is the difference between Vanessa’s wallpapers and wall coverings?

Some of Vanessa’s designs are printed on traditional wallpaper, while others are printed on a fabric and paper wall covering mix. Our traditional wallpapers are spongeable, whereas our wall coverings are washable.

Which rooms are best suited to patterned wallpaper?

Patterned wallpaper can work in almost every room, depending on the feeling you want to create. Softer designs look lovely in your bedroom or living room, while bolder patterns bring personality and character to your hallway, cloakroom, or dining room.

How do I choose the right wallpaper design for my room?

When choosing a wallpaper design for your room, start by thinking about the feeling you want to create. Delicate botanical prints can bring calm and charm, while stripes, spots, and decorative designs add structure and movement.