One of the most stunning wall coverings is produce by De Gourney. This luxury wallcoverings firm owes its development to the founder – one Claud Cecil Gurney who was enchanted by the art forms of the Far East and who developed a love of Chinoiserie. The trailing blossoms dotted with oriental birds of all descriptions are a high art form and worth the cost as they are stunning and exotic. Peacocks and humming birds fly and perch among the branches of this fabulous setting created in panels.

For a more edgy take on the look, try the designs of Timorous Beasties. Their Fruit Looters wallpaper depicts a bower of flowers in vertical sections. Nesting amongst these plants are colourful birds. Yellow feathered creatures and others with bright blue plumage peck at the fruit in the scene.

A traditional wallpaper and fabric with a bird image is the old stalwart by William Morris, the strawberry thief.

This bold image endures and is still a great choice particularly in the red colourway where the speckled breasts of the song thrush really stand out against the scarlet background.

Lastly looking for fun we can go to Obsborne and Little who have teamed up with Quentin Blake to produce the perky and delightful Cockatoo wallpaper. These bright little birds are sitting on jungle leaves. Their multi coloured plumage and beaks are fun and just perfect for any child’s bedroom.

Strictly for the birds these images are not, just as in nature the beauty and variety of avian design cannot fail to satisfy.

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A good solution is to break up a solid colour by introducing texture to the walls. The Victorians used Lincrusta (a linseed based thick wallpaper) to cover their walls. I think you would probably associate it with the interior of a pub or a dark Birmingham Peaky Blinder room.

I would urge you to look again at the variety of wonderful patterns in Lincrusta which can be used in any space. The old reputation is more to do with choice of colour – often brown or dark red. Nowadays it is available in pale pastels such as Mylands Osterley or Farrow and Ball Calluna.

This then can hang in any room in the house and add texture and depth.

You can also give a modern space a touch of heritage by using it on a feature wall in a bathroom. Thus can be complimented by using a roll topped free standing bath – keeping the traditional theme but in a luxurious contemporary bathing space.

In a hallway, Lincrusta can balance the upper and lower areas. Using it downstairs but not upstairs but painting both areas in the same colour will create a unified room but there will be a subtle difference between the two floors.

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