About Damask Wallpaper
Damask is a reversible, tone-on-tone pattern of ornate, symmetrical motifs — scrolling foliage, floral medallions, and baroque flourishes — named for the city of Damascus, where the weaving technique originated. On wallpaper, damask keeps that formal, heritage character: a repeating, mirror-symmetrical design that reads as luxurious and timeless rather than trendy. It's closely related to baroque and rococo, which share the same ornate spirit, and to brocade, another richly patterned woven cloth. The result is pattern that feels architectural and grand, which is why damask has signaled elegance for centuries.
Damask sits at the ornate end of heritage design, alongside vintage wallpaper, French toile, and chinoiserie. If you love symmetrical, botanical pattern, our William Morris–style collection offers a related arts-and-crafts take.
Best of Damask Wallpaper Patterns
"Damask" covers a family of related wallpaper patterns. Knowing the variations helps you choose the right level of formality and drama:
- Classic damask — the traditional single-motif repeat in tone-on-tone color; the most formal and timeless.
- Floral damask — damask structure built from blooms and bouquets, softer and more romantic.
- Baroque & rococo — denser, more elaborate scrollwork with maximalist grandeur; rococo is the lighter, more playful cousin.
- Modern damask — the classic motif rescaled, simplified, or recolored for a contemporary, less formal feel.
- Distressed & antique vintage — a worn, faded, or aged finish that softens the formality and suits farmhouse and eclectic rooms.
Our collection spans this whole range, in colors from dramatic black damask and red & burgundy to emerald & sage green and soft neutrals with gold accents. For the darkest, most dramatic looks, see our moody gothic designs.
How to Decorate with Damask Wallpaper
Damask is bold, so most rooms only need it on one wall or in one enclosed space to make an impact. It's a natural fit for a formal dining room, a dramatic bedroom feature wall behind the bed, a grand entryway or foyer, or a jewel-box powder room. What goes with damask? Keep furnishings relatively simple so the pattern stays the star — solid upholstery, classic woods, and metallic accents (gold, brass, or silver) that echo the pattern's sheen all work beautifully. A tone-on-tone damask reads as subtle texture, while a high-contrast one becomes a full statement.
On material, our Smooth Vinyl and Canvas removable peel & stick damask is renter-friendly and damage-free on properly painted, fully cured walls, while our commercial-grade Type II suits permanent installs and hospitality spaces. A faux grasscloth version adds woven texture. Every design is printed to order in the USA with non-toxic inks.
