Commercial Wallcoverings for Interior Designers | Breakfast & Browse at Gensler
- sales597462
- Aug 12
- 4 min read
Choosing the right commercial wallcovering is about more than aesthetics. Interior designers, architects and specifiers need materials that support the character of a space while meeting practical demands around durability, maintenance and responsible specification. These themes were at the heart of Seltex’s Breakfast & Browse event at Gensler.
Hosted at Gensler’s London studio, the event brought together Gensler’s commercial interior design team for a relaxed morning of product discovery and conversation. Guests could see Seltex collections up close, compare colours and textures, exchange ideas, and discuss what today’s workplace, hospitality, healthcare, and residential projects require of wallcoverings.
For our team, the morning was also a valuable opportunity to listen. The conversations offered a clear picture of the priorities influencing current specifications, from visual impact and tactile interest to technical guidance, product longevity and greater transparency around materials and manufacture.
Commercial Wallcoverings for Hospitality, Workplace and Healthcare Projects
Guests explored the colours, textures and finishes across Seltex’s latest commercial wallcovering collections. Viewing materials in person reveals qualities that photography cannot always capture: the way a surface responds to changing light, the depth of a woven effect and the subtle variations that give an interior warmth and character.
Every environment presents a different combination of creative and practical considerations. Workplace wallcoverings may need to help create welcoming, distinctive settings that support a brand identity. Hotel and restaurant wallcoverings must balance atmosphere with the demands of busy guest areas. In healthcare interiors, specifiers may place particular emphasis on cleanability, durability and the suitability of a product for its intended setting. Residential developments bring their own requirements for comfort, consistency and lasting appeal.
The most effective choice, therefore, begins with the project brief rather than with colour or pattern alone. Designers need to consider where the wallcovering will be installed, the level of traffic it will experience, how it will be maintained and which technical or compliance information the project requires. Product-specific documentation should always be checked before a final specification is made.
What Interior Designers Look for in Commercial Wallcoverings
Conversations throughout Breakfast & Browse highlighted five recurring priorities: durability and ease of maintenance in high-traffic environments; colour, texture and tactile finishes that add depth; clearer information about materials, manufacturing and responsible sourcing; physical samples that allow accurate comparison; and reliable guidance from initial concept through to final specification.
Taken together, these priorities show that product selection is no longer simply about choosing a pattern or colour. Designers are looking for wallcoverings that answer the full brief, visually, functionally and responsibly, and for suppliers who can provide the information needed to support confident decisions.
Specification Support for High-Traffic Commercial Interiors
A successful commercial wallcovering specification depends on asking the right questions early. Durability, cleanability, fire-performance requirements, substrate preparation, installation method and future maintenance may all need to be considered, depending on the product and project. Leaving these questions until installation can create avoidable uncertainty, so early dialogue between the designer, supplier and installer is valuable.
Seltex supports this process with product guidance and access to relevant hanging tips and technical data sheets. Requirements vary by product and application, so specifiers should review the appropriate documentation and discuss any project-specific needs with the team before confirming a selection.
Physical sampling remains an important part of that process. A sample helps the project team assess colour, finish and texture in the intended lighting and alongside other materials. It can also make conversations with clients, contractors and installers more precise, reducing the gap between an image on screen and the finished interior.
Bespoke and Digital Wallcoverings for Distinctive Interiors
Alongside established contract wallcovering collections, guests discussed opportunities for bespoke and digital wallcoverings tailored to a project’s identity. A customised design can respond to a brand story, a particular colour palette or the scale and proportions of a specific space, giving designers greater creative freedom while keeping practical requirements in view.
Bespoke work benefits from early planning. The design concept, substrate, dimensions, sampling and production programme all need to be coordinated so that the finished wallcovering supports both the creative vision and the wider project schedule. Close collaboration from concept to completion helps turn an individual idea into a considered interior surface.
Sustainable Commercial Wallcoverings and Responsible Specification
Sustainability was an important part of the discussion at Gensler. Rather than relying on a single claim, products should be considered across their full journey: where materials come from, how they are manufactured, how long they are expected to remain in use and what information is available to support an informed decision.
Longevity is central to that conversation. A durable wallcovering that maintains its appearance and functionality can help reduce replacement cycles, particularly in demanding commercial environments. Seltex continues to review its processes, improve transparency and share clearer information through its sustainability resources, helping specifiers compare options in the context of each project.
Responsible specification is ultimately about making balanced, evidence-led choices. Material composition, performance, maintenance, expected service life and end-of-life considerations can all contribute to the decision. The appropriate balance will vary from one setting to another, which is why clear product information and project-specific guidance matter.
Connecting with the Commercial Interior Design Community
The most rewarding part of Breakfast & Browse was the opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new people and hear directly from professionals shaping commercial interiors. Informal events like this create space for practical conversations, honest questions and new ideas, strengthening collaboration across the design and specification community.
Thank you to everyone who joined Seltex at Gensler and contributed to such an enjoyable and insightful morning. The discussions reinforced the value of combining design inspiration with material knowledge, technical information and responsive specification support.
