Best nautical wallpapers

Like a picture.

Sometimes, a yacht is painted on wallpaper with intricate detail, and other times, it's captured with just a single brushstroke. Depending on the interior, you can choose one or the other. Art Nouveau, Art Deco, mid-century modern, eclecticism—there’s an option to match any style.

Bradbury & Bradbury, Arts & Crafts II

The American brand Bradbury & Bradbury revives historic wallpapers or creates designs inspired by vintage interiors. A border featuring a boat sailing toward a castle on an island is a perfect match for a space designed in the Art Nouveau style.

Ralph Lauren, Volume XIV

As is typical of Ralph Lauren, the Volume XIV collection embodies the "old money New England" aesthetic. It features damask patterns, hunting scenes, and birds perched on branches—all conservative and traditional. Yet, amidst this restrained luxury, you’ll find light blue and white wallpapers with depictions of a Riviera town and yachts. These designs evoke the works of Henri Matisse or Raoul Dufy, who adored the French Riviera. Perfect for Art Deco or modernist interiors.

Sanderson, Vintage II

This wallpaper feels as if an artist sketched a regatta. Sanderson recommends it for interiors inspired by the 1950s. Matching fabrics with the same design are also available.

Hermès, La Maison Les Papiers Peints Vol. 3

Here, the brushstroke captures the speed of a boat. As with everything Hermès, the craftsmanship is exquisite, and the result is undeniably luxurious.

Little Greene, 20th Century Wallpapers

Little Greene, a brand with roots dating back to the 18th century, now focuses on reviving English heritage interiors. While their specialty is paint, their wallpaper collections are equally commendable. Whether you’re looking for the dining room colors of a Victorian manor or the pink hues of The Dorchester, Little Greene is the go-to. Their "Zingara" yacht wallpaper is a design by the now-defunct English brand John Line and Sons, originally created in the 1960s. The colors have been faithfully restored to their original shades.

Blueprints

Imagine immersing yourself in yacht design, covering your walls with blueprints, and tucking the edges neatly under moldings and trim. Wallpapers with precise sailboat drawings—sometimes in multiple projections with annotations—are not uncommon. They’re a natural choice for a study but could also work well in a teenage boy’s room, especially if he’s fascinated by the sea or adventure. Children don’t always like "cartoonish" designs; the more realistic the sailboat looks, the more captivating it becomes. You might consider not covering the entire wall from floor to ceiling but combining these wallpapers with complementary designs. Solid colors resembling sailcloth textures, wave patterns, fish motifs, or nautical maps could all work beautifully.

Blueprint-style wallpapers tend to look similar, so here are a few brands and collections to explore: Aura, Dauville; KT-Exclusive, Yacht Club (pictured); Linwood, Ephemera.

Childhood Dreams

Just as serious men wear Hermès ties with playful animal motifs, there’s no reason why a high-end designer interior can’t be lightened up with whimsical children’s wallpapers. No, we’re not talking about pink ponies, but rather sailboats styled as naïve art or illustrations from a children’s book.

Wall&decò, Contemporary Wallpapers 2012

The Italian brand Wall&decò collaborates with both emerging and renowned designers to create annual collections. They have a particular fondness for optical illusions. While their wallpapers are often hyper-realistic, the 2012 collection embraced a naïve style. Milanese designer Alessandro Gottardo (Shout) created the "Horizon" mural, featuring a boy in a newspaper hat gazing at the sea and a yacht. In addition to the colorful version, there’s also a sepia-toned option.

Sanderson, Port Isaac

This new collection by the esteemed English brand is inspired by the historic fishing village of Port Isaac on the Cornish coast. Naturally, yachts play a prominent role in the designs. The slightly faded illustrations resemble those in an old children’s book about travel—something like "Tomorrow, the Ocean," published in 1951. Another Sanderson collection, Abracazoo, includes wallpapers for younger children, featuring world maps, sharks, and pirate ships.

Harlequin, All About Me

Blue boats on a cream background resemble Delft tiles. While designers typically favor sailboats for their romantic appeal, Harlequin leans into English humor and irony, printing both a yacht and a small motorboat on their "Sail Away" wallpaper. Matching fabrics are also available.

Wallquest, Pajama Party

This cheerful children’s collection by the American brand Wallquest includes rocket blueprints, astronauts, mermaids, and, for the nautical theme, a playful depiction of marlin fishing.