Wallpaper - Parallel Currents

Our Parallel Currents wallpaper mural by Kate Jarvik Birch captures two koi fish gliding through deep blue and inky water beside floating green lily pads. Painted in a rich, illustrative gouache style, the composition balances vivid splashes of vibrant orange, coral, and scarlet against dark, shadowed ripples and cool teal water tones. What we particularly like is the fluid sense of movement in the fins and water contours, which gives the design an expressive, artistic presence on the wall. Made to measure for your exact space, our mural wallpapers are PVC-free and printed on paper with a subtle surface structure.

In the room

We see this design working beautifully as a focal point across a main feature wall in a living room, dining room, or behind a bed in a bedroom. Because the koi motifs are large and dynamic, the artwork benefits from a relatively open, uninterrupted wall area where the curving silhouettes and water currents can be appreciated in full. In a spacious hallway or open-plan living area, the bold contrast between deep inky blues and warm orange tones anchors the room without feeling cluttered. In spaces with generous natural light, the subtle shifts between the teal water and the green lily pads become especially distinct.

Styling it

To let the dynamic artwork take centre stage, we would pair this wall mural with clean-lined, grounded furniture. Low-profile seating or a minimalist dining table works well to keep the sightlines open across the composition.

Darker wood finishes, such as walnut or smoked ash, echo the deep tones in the background water, while brass or warm bronze accents pick up on the glowing golden-orange highlights of the koi. For soft furnishings, matte textures in deep charcoal, rich navy, or natural unbleached tones allow the expressive colours of the wallpaper to stand out clearly.

Colour combinations

The design itself is built on an expressive palette of deep navy, midnight black, cool teal, moss green, and radiant koi shades ranging from coral to vibrant orange and warm white.

When choosing surrounding colours, deep navy or soft off-white on adjacent walls creates a sophisticated balance with the artwork. If you prefer warmer accent tones for upholstery, cushions, or accessories, rust, terracotta, and soft ochre naturally reflect the colours in the fish, tying the entire interior together.

About our wallpaper

At Wallism, we produce our wallpapers made-to-measure according to your specific wall dimensions, which helps reduce unnecessary excess paper compared to standard rolls. Our wallpapers are PVC-free and feature a subtle physical structure in the paper surface. Designed to be straightforward to hang, our wall murals offer an effortless way to transform your home with distinctive, high-impact design.