If your building's materials can’t deliver, never fear. Want the look of a New York-style loft? No problem. A weathered European villa? Resene wallpaper has it covered.

This trend started with striking faux timber and brick effects but has since gone on to more sophisticated and subtle renderings, replicating effects like colourwashed concrete walls, granite, crumpled paper, flaking paint and steel panels. The wallpapers are so hyper-real, you need to touch them to discover that they're not what they seem. You can see why they've earned the term 'conversational' designs.

Unless the design is subtle, faux effects are often best reserved for feature walls.

top tip  When considering a faux paper, take the location and context into account. The design needs to look like it belongs.