Crafting commerce: Leveraging this typically domestic design tool could spell big business for your clients

14 Aug 2025

Our world has changed dramatically in a short span of time, especially for clients that run commercial businesses. For many sectors, the increased digitisation of our everyday lives has made things more complicated and competitive, and when it comes to our client’s physical spaces, there has never been a greater need to stand-out. While colour and design trends may play a more pronounced role for certain project typologies, other businesses need just the opposite: an anti-trend approach that prioritises customisation in pursuit of a unique experience.

Along with custom paint colours and bespoke fittings and furnishings, architects and designers seeking out client-specific solutions have begun embracing a once overlooked option for crafting unique spatial identities: wallpaper. From boutique hotels and corporate workspaces to destination retail shops and restaurants, wallpaper is becoming hugely popular outside its traditional realm of residential applications. Not only is wallpaper a fantastic tool for infusing texture and character into commercial environments, it can be instrumental in grabbing attention, evoking emotion and – ultimately – driving sales.

Below, we share some of favourite recent releases from the Resene Wallpaper Collection, where to use them and what Resene paint and wood stain colours to pair them with to bring unforgettable flair to your next commercial project.

Eateries with enduring impact

For restaurateurs, investing in an impactful design is never solely about aesthetics, it’s a strategic move to stand out in a competitive culinary landscape where ambience is as influential as the menu. Given the importance of social media today, where a single post can influence dining decisions, an eye-catching wallpaper design offers more than aesthetic appeal – it becomes part of a restaurant’s brand identity. A memorable design like Resene V & A Wallpaper Collection 2412-182-01 sets the tone for a unique dining experience and serve as instant backdrops for content, encouraging patrons to capture and share their experience online. Paired with timber flooring stained in Resene Colorwood Nutmeg, tables painted in Resene Jurassic and decorative accents in Resene Alert Tan, Resene Red Oxide and Resene Eternity, you can set the scene for a commercial dining space that’s certain to make a lasting impression.

Resene V & A Wallpaper Collection 2412-182-01.

Beckon in more buyers

As online shopping continues to dominate, brick-and-mortar retail shops need to offer elevated, immersive experiences to get customers in the door. An eye-catching wallpaper design can instantly set the tone, conveying a brand’s personality the moment a potential buyer steps inside. Whether it’s a bold graphic design, a tactile textured finish or a motif tied to the product story, the right choice will help tell you client’s story and encourages customer engagement and loyalty by making the space feel curated, intentional and unique in a way that online platforms can’t.

Since many retail shops are in rental spaces, there can be restrictions on what aspects of the space can or can’t be altered, Resene Botanica Wallpaper Collection 33961 is a genius option for making a big visual impact of a complex timber slat installation without the headaches. Try it with flooring, shelving and accents painted in a simple achromatic palette of Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy, Resene Half Fossil, Resene Quarter Akaroa and Resene White Pointer to allow products more visual space to standout.

Resene Botanica Wallpaper Collection 33961.

Send a strong message

For commercial office clients who host meetings for potential customer, a memorable boardroom design plays an important psychological part in building their business. These spaces speak to their business’ perceptions of competency, trustworthiness and creativity – and a bold statement wallpaper can be instrumental in communicating the right message. When you’re trying to convey a message of strength and success, Resene Aquila Wallpaper Collection DGILA103 speaks volumes. Opt for furnishings in equally strong shapes in classic colours like Resene Colorwood Bark, Resene Colorwood Natural and Resene Nero, a ceiling and curtains in Resene Sea Fog and flooring in Resene Eighth Canterbury Clay for a space that conveys confidence.

Resene Aquila Wallpaper Collection DGILA103.

Home away from home

In a luxury boutique hotel, where every detail is curated to evoke comfort, character and distinction, carefully chosen wallpaper designs offer a timeless tool for creating a rich, layered ambience. Far from feeling old-fashioned, dramatic designs can evoke the warmth and familiarity of home while elevating it with a refined, boutique sensibility. Unlike the impersonal minimalism of many large-scale hotels, a bold yet classic wallpaper design like Resene V & A Wallpaper Collection 2412-179-04 adds depth, intimacy and storytelling to private rooms, helping to foster a sense of belonging and escape at once. Team it with Resene Cobalt on adjacent walls and architraves, Resene Snow Drift on skirting boards and trims and Resene Mariner and Resene Galliano on statement furniture and accessories to leave guests with a lasting impression of a place that feels both deeply personal and uniquely luxurious.

Resene V & A Wallpaper Collection 2412-179-04.

Professional meets approachable

Now that the positive impacts of colour psychology have become more widely recognised, many medical, dental and optometry businesses have become less reliant on designing spaces with clinical colours like white and grey. Greens, pinks, blues and warmer neutrals – like the hues featured in Resene Aquila Wallpaper Collection DGILA205 – make waiting and attending rooms much more soothing for anxious patients, which in turn can make them more likely to become repeat customers. Support this repeating pattern’s serene colours by combining it with timber flooring stained in Resene Colorwood Riverstone, furniture in Resene Colorwood Bushtrack and Resene Half Villa White, and use a contrasting earthy colour like Resene Sante Fe as an accent or to bring attention to important wayfinding elements.

Resene Aquila Wallpaper Collection DGILA205.

Artsy for all ages

In businesses that welcome both adults and children, it can be beneficial to ensure customers young and old feel comfortable – and with the right wallpaper selection, these spaces can still maintain a chic and professional look. For example, consultation rooms in therapy clinics or spaces where family law or mediation is practiced, an artistic wallpaper design can help set everyone at ease. While these may not be the types of businesses that are frequently shared on social media or need to attract the attention of passersby, they are often referral based – so building an outstanding environment that sets itself apart from cold and clinical space can also play a part in commercial viability. Balance the whimsical nature of Resene V & A Wallpaper Collection 2412-183-01 with timeless yet comfortable furniture pieces and an understated palette of Resene Cioccolato, Resene Jet Stream and Resene Ironsand with select touches of Resene Midnight Moss and Resene Green Pea for a friendly space that fosters positive and productive conversations.

Resene V & A Wallpaper Collection 2412-183-01.

No matter what type of project you’re designing, you’ll find a bold, beautiful or unexpected design in the Resene Wallpaper Collection that’s sure to suit it. Check out a selection of the latest releases on the Resene website or stop by your local Resene ColorShop to peruse the physical sample books and discover the full range of offerings. If you can’t find right mural or wallpaper to suit your client’s needs or your project calls for something truly unique, create your own wallpaper using Resene WallPrint.

For more information on how to hang wallpaper and the different types, visit Resene’s How to wallpaper blog.

Published: 14 Aug 2025