Inspiration | News | Interior Decorating Tips | Wallpaper | julio 17, 2026
10 Years of Hua Trees
Ten years ago, Hua Trees began with a sketch in a coffee shop.
I had just had another conversation with my business advisor about ROI. I understood why it mattered, but I also felt frustrated that every creative idea seemed to have to justify itself before it had even had a chance to exist.
So I opened my sketchbook and wrote:
“No ROI, just a freaking large tree.”
That was the beginning of Hua Trees.
Photo: Jon Day Styled by: Charlotte Love
At the time, I wanted to paint large, expressive trees. I originally imagined them as a landscape for my Flying Pigs stickers to move through. What I did not realise was that this simple idea would take over a year to paint, design, and turn into a wallpaper.
Photo: Jo Crawford
Hua Trees was painted with Chinese inks, and I wanted to keep as much of the original hand painted feeling as possible. The scale mattered. I wanted the trees to feel immersive, with every brushstroke and ink mark still visible when printed.
Photo: Jo Crawford
When the design was taking shape, I still needed a name for it. My dad suggested Hua Trees.
Hua, written as 华, is a Chinese character that can mean splendid or prosperous, and is also often used to refer to China or Chinese culture. It also sounds like 花, the Chinese word for flower. It felt like a fitting name for a mural painted with Chinese inks.
Photo: Jon Day Styled by: Charlotte Love
One of my favourite parts of the story is the Pink colourway. I remember someone questioning whether pink trees made sense. It still makes me smile, because Hua Trees Mural Wallpaper in Pink went on to become one of our most loved designs.
The Hatchery Boutique Hotel by Curated Studio Photo: Isabella Finch
Over the past 10 years, Hua Trees has appeared in nurseries, dining rooms, corridors, bathrooms, living rooms, bedrooms and boutique hotels. Seeing it in real homes has been one of the most rewarding parts of the whole journey.
Photo and Styling: Abbey Brown
Looking back, Hua Trees reminds me that not every good idea begins with a calculation. Sometimes it begins with frustration, instinct, and the need to paint something simply because it will not leave your mind.
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Thank you to everyone who has brought Hua Trees into your home over the past decade. It means so much to see this very large tree continuing to grow.
— Sian Zeng
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