Choosing whimsical wallpaper — soft, magical designs full of charm
Whimsical wallpaper brings a sense of wonder to a room. Soft, dreamy and a little magical, these are the designs that spark imagination and make a space feel joyful and characterful — clouds you could float away on, fairy forests, pastel rainbows and storybook scenes. It is a favourite for children's rooms, but the softer, more grown-up end works beautifully anywhere you want a calm, dreamy feel. Here are the whimsical styles to consider and where each works best.
Whimsical wallpaper styles
Dreamy clouds and skies are the softest, most soothing — pale, floaty clouds that feel calm and magical overhead or behind a bed.
Fairy and magical designs, like a watercolour fairy forest, bring gentle enchantment and a sense of storybook wonder.
Pastel rainbows are joyful and calming at once, soft colour that lifts a room without overwhelming it.
Storybook and fairytale scenes — castles, magical woods — are pure imagination for a child who loves a fairytale.
Playful florals and nature take blooms, butterflies and woodland creatures and give them a soft, charming, dreamy twist.
Celestial designs — soft moons, stars and night skies — bring a calm, magical feel that suits dreamers of any age.
Colours and mood
Whimsical designs live in soft, dreamy tones — pale blush and pink, gentle sky blue, soft lilac, and calming pastels. The whole idea is gentle and imaginative rather than bright and busy, so the softer and more blended the colours, the dreamier the effect. Muted, pastel palettes are also the most restful for a child's room and the most grown-up for a calmer space.
Why whimsical wallpaper works
Whimsical designs bring joy, imagination and a sense of calm all at once. For a child's room, they create a magical world to play and dream in; for a grown-up space, the softer, dreamier designs feel serene and uplifting. Choosing a soft, illustrated or watercolour style keeps the look charming rather than babyish, so it grows with a child and never tips into twee.
Whimsical wallpaper by room
Nurseries and children's rooms are the natural home — dreamy clouds, fairy forests and pastel rainbows are soothing and magical. Girls' rooms love a fairytale or floral whimsical design. Bedrooms can take a soft, dreamy cloud or celestial design for a calm, grown-up feel. Playrooms come alive with a joyful, imaginative scene.
Which material to choose
Every whimsical design is a made-to-measure mural on a choice of four materials — two paste-the-wall and two peel-and-stick. Peel-and-stick is ideal for a child's room, going up mess-free and peeling away cleanly, and our papers are FSC-approved and PVC-free, with PFAS-approved peel-and-stick. You choose your material, and see the price for your exact wall size, on each product page.