Wallpaper - Wishful Thinking

Our Wishful Thinking wallpaper, created by artist Kate Jarvik Birch, brings a delightfully surreal, illustrative narrative to the wall. The design features a figure in a vivid red dress with a delicate lace collar, whose head blooms into a fluffy dandelion seed head drifting into an open blue sky with soft white clouds. Painted with expressive brushstrokes and rich gouache-like texture, the composition captures a dreamy, whimsical moment against a rolling green meadow. Printed as a made-to-measure, PVC-free mural wallpaper with a subtle structure in the paper, it makes an unforgettable artistic statement in spaces that embrace creative storytelling.

In the room

Because of its strong narrative and focal point, we see this wall mural working particularly well as an accent wall in a living room, study, or bedroom. Positioning the mural behind a low-profile sofa, a reading bench, or a bed headboard allows the upper figure, the dandelion blossom, and the floating seeds to remain fully visible across the room. It also brings wonderful personality to a creative home office, a hallway landing, or an eclectic guest room where an imaginative, art-driven atmosphere sets the tone. Giving it an uninterrupted wall allows the painted landscape and open sky to breathe properly.

Styling it

To let the artwork remain the centrepiece of the room, we would surround it with relatively grounded, understated furnishings. Mid-century modern or simple contemporary wooden pieces in warm oak or muted painted finishes complement the illustrative vintage feel of the red dress and lace collar. Keep surrounding upholstery and soft furnishings in solid, tactile neutrals like unbleached linen or textured wool so they do not compete with the bold red and rich meadow tones. Minimalist decorative accents and soft, diffused room lighting will enhance the painterly brushwork without creating distracting glare.

Colour combinations

The design is anchored by an expressive palette of primary red, grassy greens, sunny sky blues, and cloud whites, with delicate hints of amber and soft grey in the dandelion seeds. For adjacent painted walls, woodwork, and skirting, soft off-whites, warm alabaster, or very pale sky tints offer a fresh, cohesive backdrop. If you prefer to draw out the deeper tones, an earthy moss green or a muted crimson accent in small decorative pieces can tie the entire room together naturally.

About our wallpaper

At Wallism, our wallpapers are made-to-measure to fit your specific wall dimensions, helping to reduce unnecessary excess compared to standard rolls. Produced using PVC-free materials, our wallpapers feature a subtle physical structure in the paper that brings depth to painted artwork. They are designed to be straightforward and easy to hang, offering flexible solutions whether you own your home or live in rented accommodation.