Wallpaper - Underwater Life IX Greige

Designed by Daphne Brissonnet, our Underwater Life IX Greige wallpaper mural presents a grand blue whale illustrated in the style of an intricate nineteenth-century etching. Crisp white line work outlines the creature's sweeping form, filled with decorative cross-hatching, seafoam flourishes, and stylized water patterns that give the motif an archival, scientific quality. The composition includes flowing script lettering and botanical-style water spout details set against a textured, muted taupe-greige background. Made-to-measure on PVC-free paper with a subtle surface structure, our wall murals are straightforward to hang and make a distinctive statement across a main wall.

In the room

Because of the sweeping horizontal scale and central placement of the whale motif, we see this design working particularly well on an uninterrupted feature wall where the full silhouette can be seen from tail to spout. In a living room or a dedicated home study, placing the mural behind a low-backed sofa, a desk, or a reading bench allows the fine white line work to remain prominent without being hidden by tall furniture.

The subdued greige backdrop also lends itself nicely to a quiet bedroom or a home library. The soft neutral tone keeps the large-scale illustration from overwhelming the room, creating an artistic, contemplative backdrop that sits comfortably in both bright daylight and lower evening lamplight.

Styling it

To complement the archival character of the etching, we suggest pairing the wallpaper with classic, well-crafted furnishings that share its timeless feel.

• Pair the design with warm wood furniture, such as antique oak, walnut, or stained timber bookcases, which balance the cooler white line work with natural warmth.
• Choose natural woven upholstery in muted cream, unbleached linen, or soft grey to keep the surrounding furniture quiet and let the wall mural take centre stage.
• Introduce dark bronze or aged brass accents through reading lamps, picture frames, or cabinet handles to subtly echo the vintage scientific plate aesthetic.

Colour combinations

The palette of our wallpaper relies on a two-tone harmony between the warm, earthy taupe-greige background and the crisp off-white linework of the illustration.

When choosing colours for surrounding walls, woodwork, or adjacent cabinetry, warm neutrals such as soft stone, chalky off-white, or muted beige create a cohesive, wrap-around feel. For a slightly bolder contrast that draws out the archival mood, deep charcoal, muted navy, or dark olive tones on neighbouring joinery or doors frame the wallpaper beautifully.

About our wallpaper

At Wallism, our wallpapers are made-to-measure according to your supplied wall dimensions, which helps reduce unnecessary excess wallpaper during decorating. We produce our wall murals on PVC-free paper that features a subtle physical structure in the paper itself, designed to be straightforward to hang in any home.