The latest trend in wall decoration, stickers are the speedy, stylish and affordable way of injecting some graphic grace into your living space.

"They give the illusion of pattern without the effort of paste and brushes, " says Deirdre Murphy of Habitat which sells packs of eight different patterns at 22 each.

Perfect for a modern makeover, stickers allow you to unleash your creativity. "You don't have to be stuck to one specific look, you can mix and match different elements, " Murphy says.

"People want to play an active role in designing their interiors, " agrees Massimiliano Iorio of French company Domestic which has been stuck on the trend since last September with its range 'Vynil, An Alternative to Wallpaper.' "While we have got designers to work on different projects, the final use is down to the purchaser. They can play with different looks and find their own inspiration, " says Iorio.

The Paris-based label has just launched its new collection, and now offers 160 different looks from a number of design notables. Patterns range from quirky characters such as the best-selling Potato Queen I and Potato Queen II, to oversized blooms.

While the packs are not yet available in Ireland, they can be bought online at www. domestic. fr "They're very different, colourful and amazing.

They're also very easy to apply. The most complicated one takes about two-anda-half hours, " Iorio says.

Stencils may be a blast from the past but the latest motifs are drawing a whole new fanbase. Twee borders have been banished in favour of an edgier approach which works well with strong background shades. "This time around stencils are bigger abstract designs, used over part of a wall, like around a corner, " says Judy Smith, Crown colour consultant.

The advantage of stencils, Smith says, is that they provide a very solid finish. "You can paint over them or redo them at very little cost. You can also do them on large canvases which can be very easily changed." A Chinoiserie range was added in June to the offerings at www. stencil-library. com while 'In Your Own Words' allows you to have a favourite phrase or saying in a made-to-order stencil.

We've had feature painted walls, now think fab feature areas. "Like a strip of wall, the inside edge of a wall, a square going around a curve, or the inside rim of an archway, " Smith says. "It's using the colour in an interesting way."

Dark hues such as olives, blacks and charcoals are making a strong statement this autumn. "You don't have to have them all over a room, you can introduce them in smaller splashes, ' Smith recommends. Suede metallics are still modish. "Use suede next to a matte wall as a feature, " she suggests.

Far from taking a pasting, wallpaper continues to be on a roll, according to Claire Vallis, Design Director, Harlequin fabrics and wallcoverings (www. harlequin. uk. com).

"As a backlash to bland minimalist interiors, the movement towards colour and pattern is very evident in wallpaper which is extremely hot at the moment, " says Vallis.

Used on one or two walls as a feature it's perfect for adding definition and interest to a space without becoming overpowering, she says. "The effect is striking and contemporary but still highly useable, " Vallis enthuses. Following the success of Harlequin's Decadence collection, the company has taken the concept of feature walls one step further with its new Indulgence range. It features lacquer metallic effects, assertive stripes, bold botanicals and flamboyant damasks in teal, lime chocolate and fuchsia.

"Indulgence is certain to bring added verve to even the most understated scheme, " Vallis says.

Speaking of spoiling yourself, bespoke wallpaper is a way of ensuring your walls really wear what you want.

Tom Watts of Imagine Wallpaper in Kilkenny (www. imaginewallpaper. com) says seasonal elements such as plants, are starting to come to the fore.

"When I started out three years ago, people wanted one big image on a wall, " Watts says. "Now the demand is there for natural patterns like blades of grass on a very large scale, on a white background.

Rather than having one image and having to leave the wall clear, people are enjoying taking the image and putting it on two walls, and being able to have furniture around it."

Watch out too for a new range of VIP wallpaper by Cole & Son, selected by Tom Dixon, coming to Habitat shortly.

For a real glass act, Swarovski butterflies or orchids can be overlaid on patterned wallpaper. Steal the stylists' secrets by using magnets or adhesive to apply them to different surfaces.

When it comes to winning walls and bringing colour into your home without losing your cool, the new season holds all sorts of pleasing possibilities.