Wallpaper - Parallel Currents

Our Parallel Currents wallpaper, designed by Kate Jarvik Birch, captures the fluid motion of two koi fish gliding through deep water alongside floating lily pads. What we particularly like about this design is the balance between bold, painted-looking strokes and the vivid contrast of fiery orange, crimson, and deep navy tones set against cool teal and olive green. The composition creates a sense of rhythmic movement that brings life to an interior wall. Our mural wallpapers are made-to-measure to fit your room dimensions and printed on PVC-free paper with a subtle surface structure.

In the room

Because of the sweeping movement and scale of the koi, we see this wall mural working especially well on a wide, uninterrupted accent wall in a living room, dining room, or bedroom. Placing it behind a low-backed sofa or a bed frame allows the painted water currents and lily pads to remain fully visible across the upper and middle sections of the wall. In a hallway or entryway, the dynamic diagonal composition guides the eye naturally through the space, making the area feel grounded and visually rich.

Styling it

To let the expressive brushwork and rich pond palette lead the space, we would pair this wallpaper with simple, tailored furnishings. Clean silhouettes in mid-tone wood or painted matte black finishes echo the darker shadows in the water without competing with the motif. Soft, unpatterned upholstery in cream or muted moss allows the vibrant orange and teal tones of the wallpaper to stand out as the primary visual focus.

Colour combinations

The design itself is built on a rich palette of deep navy, aquatic teal, and olive green, punctuated by bright koi tones of vermilion, tangerine, and warm white. When selecting colours for adjacent walls, trim, or larger furniture, we suggest looking to deep slate blue or soft off-white to create a balanced surround. For a bolder, complementary accent in cushions or ceramics, muted terracotta or warm ochre connects naturally with the warm tones of the fish.

About our wallpaper

At Wallism, our wallpapers are made-to-measure based on the specific dimensions of your wall, which helps reduce unnecessary excess paper. We produce all of our wall murals on PVC-free paper featuring a subtle physical structure, and each design is made to be straightforward to hang in your home.