Contemporary Art

Let's face it: Good quality wall décor can be pretty expensive. If someone is going to invest in a painting or a print, they better be sure they like it enough to live with it over the long term. There are customers who can't commit to that. And shoppers on a budget may opt for bare walls before taking the plunge. For them, there is an affordable, temporary solution: Wall stickers and decals are the latest option in decorating the walls.

“They're an easy and affordable way to add something special. They're not as tedious as painting a room to add a little design touch,” explains Kerry Hassler of decorative sticker manufacturer dVider, Brooklyn, NY. They are easy to use — and easy to remove; you can take them down and put up a new motif to create a new look with minimal fuss.

And more vendors have been popping up over the past few years offering a multitude of styles in sticker fashions. There are a lot of choices design-wise: traditional, nature-themed, mod, contemporary, children's and holiday. Shoppers can mix and match motifs to create their own unique look that makes a personal statement. When they get tired of it, they can take them down and start again.

“I think it's going to be an alternative to wallpaper and [decorative] painting. I don't see it going away,” says dVider's Hassler.

“I think the category is here to stay,” agrees Tyler Johnston, vice president of sales, Danielson Designs, Trinidad, CO. The company's Walligraphy Collection includes a selection of words and phrases made from exterior grade vinyl — the same quality material that a professional signmaker would use.

While dVider's stickers cannot be reused, those of a number of other companies are reusable; the decals are coated with a low tack adhesive that enables them to be used again.

Wall decals are especially popular in kids' rooms. Parents can put these up and take them down on a whim, or add on to change the decor as the child matures. They're also great for renters who want to add interest and color to the walls without damaging them; for them, it reduces the worry of losing their security deposit. And they also appeal to the customer who likes to add seasonal interest to their decor. And the best part is, they'll have to come back to your store for more.

Some manufacturers have turned to artists and designers to create designs for them. This can be a selling point for you. After all, everyone wants to own a piece of art; artist-designed pieces make the product seem a little more special.

Blik has teamed up with various designers, including Mel Lim, Dutch industrial designer Jan Habraken and Matthew Haggett, among others, to bring shoppers an original piece of art at an affordable price. It also worked with 10 student artists from the Working Class Studio division of the Savannah College of Art and Design to create a series of surface graphics. The designs are young, fresh and hip. DVider also works with artists to produce a line of limited-edition wall stickers. The designs, created by local Brooklyn artists, are available exclusively on the company's web site.

Also gaining a lot of momentum within the wall decal category are inspirational words and messages that customers can apply to make their living space even more personal. “As an artist, I found painting with the words I loved proved to be a difficult task. Yet without my favorite quotes and words, paintings, murals and surroundings seemed to be missing something. My home didn't reflect the messages I wanted to share or the blessings I want to be reminded of, so I set out to find a way,” said Ronda Pagnam, creator/president, The Wall Talk Company, Grand Valley, ON, Canada, which has words and quotes in five categories: Blessings, Big Talk, Lipstick, Baby Talk and Original Wall Talk.

Tyler Johnston says that Danielson Designs' Walligraphy Collection is a reflection of the times. The line features words and sayings that he believes people turn to when times are tough. “The way things are right now [in the world] people think about those things,” he said.

The line grew from the company's popular plaques that also feature inspirational messages. Owner Annie Danielson first saw this trend developing in Europe about five years ago and jumped on it. She combined the two concepts and Walligraphy was born. “Our plaques had been growing at a rapid rate and this was another way to express sentiments,” explained Johnston.

In whatever way a customer wants to express herself through wall art, wall stickers and decals just made it a little easier. After all, everyone's moods and styles change; this option helps them change their homes to match with less trouble whenever they feel the need for something new.