Wallpaper - The Open Sea

Our The Open Sea wallpaper captures the expressive power of a storm over open water, based on artwork by William Henry Holmes. Deep oceanic blues and stormy greys meet frothing crests in white and subtle taupe, creating a sweeping maritime composition with a fluid, watercolour-inspired character. The painterly brushstrokes give the water genuine visual movement, while the layered, overcast sky grounds the design with quiet atmospheric depth. Produced made-to-measure on PVC-free paper with a subtle surface structure, this design is straightforward to hang and brings a considered artistic presence to an interior.

In the room

We find this design works exceptionally well as a feature wall where the horizontal expanse of the seascape can unfold without disruption. In a living room behind a low-backed sofa or along the main wall of a dining room, the large scale of the rolling waves creates a strong focal point that draws the eye across the space. For a study or home office, placing the mural on the wall opposite a desk provides a calming, atmospheric backdrop during the working day.

Because of the dark, moodier tones in the upper sky and deep waters, we like pairing this mural wallpaper with rooms that receive good natural daylight, where the delicate tonal shifts between blue, green, and taupe can be fully appreciated. In more intimate areas like a bedroom or a hallway staircase, the visual movement of the water adds depth and character without feeling rigid or repetitive.

Styling it

When styling around a dramatic seascape like this, we prefer to let the artwork lead and keep surrounding furniture relatively quiet and grounded.

• Choose furniture with clean, low profiles in warm timber tones such as walnut or rich oak to balance the cooler marine palette of the wallpaper.
• Introduce tactile natural fabrics like unbleached linen or textured wool in soft off-white and charcoal to echo the cresting waves and stormy sky.
• Use understated matte black or antique bronze hardware and lighting fixtures that complement the darker tonal values without competing with the painterly strokes.

Colour combinations

The palette of our wallpaper is anchored by deep sea blues, muted slate, dark grey, and foam white, with underlying earthy taupe and brown undertones running through the clouds and water.

When choosing paint colours for adjoining walls, skirting, and ceilings, we recommend pulling from these softer background tones. A warm taupe or muted greyish off-white creates a soft, natural transition that frames the mural beautifully. If you prefer a bolder, more enveloping atmosphere, a rich navy or charcoal on surrounding woodwork complements the depth of the sea and enhances the dramatic character of the artwork.

About our wallpaper

At Wallism, we produce made-to-measure wall murals tailored precisely to your wall dimensions. Printing each order to size helps reduce unnecessary excess wallpaper compared with buying standard fixed-size rolls.

Our wallpapers are completely PVC-free and printed on paper featuring a subtle physical surface structure. Designed to be straightforward to hang, our murals offer an accessible way to introduce distinctive, large-scale design into both owner-occupied and rented homes.