Are you thinking of remodeling a room in your home and aren’t sure if you should consider using wallpaper? You’ve heard horror stories of people trying to remove old wallpaper and can’t imagine going through the same headaches if you have a change of heart later down the road? Or are you just unsure with the various types of wall coverings on the market right now and are wondering which type would be best for you?
Well I am here to shed some light on all these questions and the best part of it, I’ll be sharing my ‘coups de coeur’ (crushes) along with great suggestions on how to use wallpaper!!! So grab a coffee and keep on reading!
A Bit of Background
The origins of wallpaper date back to the Qin Dynasty (221 to 206 BC) in China when they started pasting rice paper on to walls. Over the following centuries, the Chinese continued to improve their techniques, using smoother linen fibers so that hand painting and printing on paper (older methods) became easier. The Silk Route contributed to the skill of wallpaper making being known throughout Europe and the Middle East.
The earliest known fragment of European wallpaper that still exists today was found on the beams of the Lodge of Christ’s College in Cambridge, England. The paper is believed to have been printed and most likely designed by Hugo Goes, a printer, in 1509. Jean-Michel Papillon, a French engraver, started making block design in matching, continuous patterns in 1675, and wallpaper as we know it today was on its way.
Fast forward to the 20th century, wallpaper was everywhere, and I mean everywhere!!! Growing up, every room in our home was wallpapered! It is only in the late 80’s that wallpaper popularity slowly faded and remained on the sidelines for another 30 some years. But advancement in technology (better glue, less toxic inks) and an explosion of beautiful options definitely contributed its revival! The Seattle Times ran an article in 2018 proclaiming “Wallpaper is the Comeback Story of 2019”. Additionally, Business of Home reported this last March that a study estimated that the global market for digitally printed wallpaper would grow exponentially to reach $7.5 billion by 2026!!!
Types of Wallpaper1
So now that I have you convinced that wall covering is here to stay, let’s look at the different types out there. There are multiple options on the market. Two things you need to remember are: what is it made of AND how does it stick to your wall?
VINYL WALLPAPER
The most popular option in wall coverings due to its versatility. It’s easy to install, easy to remove, and easy to clean. There are a few different options of vinyl based wallpaper depending on the needs of the room you’re looking to decorate.
SOLID SHEET VINYL
This type of pure vinyl wallpaper is the most durable option because of its thickness, easy cleaning, and easy removal. Solid sheet vinyl is often embossed which adds to the beauty of the print.
VINYL COATED FABRIC
Fabric wallpaper is a popular choice because of its natural feel and texture. The vinyl coating gives it a good degree of protection and durability. It’s a wonderful choice for a sitting room or dining room where texture is a key design element.
VINYL COATED PAPER
An upgrade from plain paper wallpaper, vinyl coated paper offers the durability and washability that paper alone simply does not. The vinyl coating allows this type of wallpaper to be a great option for a variety of rooms including high-humidity environments like bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens.
NON-WOVEN WALLPAPER
Non-woven wallpaper is a completely vinyl free option that’s a great choice if you’re suffer from environmental sensitivity disorder. It’s also washable and breathable. So, no need to worry about mold with this wallpaper. It also is very easy to install and remove. It does not tear easily, and it comes off the wall in one long strip. So, if you have some structural work to do with the wall, you can remove the wallpaper and put it back up again when you’re ready.
EASY-WALLS WALLPAPER
Similar to non-woven wallpaper, Easy-walls is a material that is completely PVC and VOC free, and the ink is water based. The wallpaper is easily cleaned, but breathable at the same time. So you won’t need to worry about mold. This type of wallpaper usually comes with a pre-applied adhesive, so installation and removal is a piece of cake.
PREPASTED WALLPAPER
Wallpaper can be one of the types listed above AND be prepasted at the same time. The term “prepasted” just means that you don’t need to purchase additional adhesive because it’s already on the wallpaper. The glue is dry and just needs to be activated by wetting the back of the paper.
Note that more expensive higher-end wallpaper, over $50 per single roll, will never be prepasted.
GRASSCLOTH WALLPAPER
Grasscloth is a woven, highly textured wallpaper made from purely natural components. Cleaning is a little more difficult with this type of wallpaper. Stains should be spot treated and dirt should be vacuumed with a clean vacuum cleaner brush. If it’s a really specialty grasscloth then the overall cleaning may need to be handled by a professional cleaner. Grasscloth is a great choice to cover less-than-perfect walls, but it is expensive and relatively difficult to install.
Quick Pro Tips
My rule of thumb is the brighter the colours, the smaller the application… Gone are the days when wallpaper had to be applied to all four walls! I would rather recommend to highlight only one wall, and be wild!
In any event, here are some points you might want to consider:
- Vertical stripes or patterns make the ceiling appear higher.
- Horizontal stripes or patterns seem to widen a room and bring ceilings down.
- Large patterns generally don’t look good in a small room because they tend to overpower the space and make it seem smaller. A large, open pattern looks best in a larger space.
- A mini-print or a paper with a small pattern or geometric design suits smaller dimensions.
- Dark colors make a room seem smaller.
- Wallpaper with a light background makes a room look larger.
Costs
Although wallpaper price can vary widely depending on quality, brand name, and material, the average cost falls somewhere between $18 and $60 per roll (big box stores).
Even within each type of material, wallpaper prices still range widely. Some wallpaper designers are more expensive than others, depending on the specifics of their patterns and process. A non-woven wallpaper can range in price from $22 to $65 a roll, for example. Some vinyl wallpaper can be found for as little as $20, while others of the same material will go for as much as $300.
(I’d be very careful with selecting cheap wallpaper online. Although I totally understand the motivation, this is one instance where investing in high quality products might be the best solution. There is nothing like starting installing wallpaper only to realize that the paper is stretching and the pattern doesn’t line up!!!)
INSTALL
Now that you’ve invested in a decent, durable and beautiful paper, it would be a shame to damage it during the install. The more expensive the roll, the more important it gets to get the job right! So please consider your skills properly prior to undertaking the task of applying your newly purchased rolls!
If you’re hiring a professional, which I totally recommend, expect higher costs (obviously) to kick in. Provided you do your research and hire a reputable contractor with great reviews, you can feel pretty confident about your investment. Expect to pay somewhere between $900 and $1,200 for supplies, wallpaper, and services for installation in a smaller size bedroom.
Whether your goal is to brighten a bedroom, or living room, wallpaper is a wonderful option! Many interior designers like myself view wallpaper as a game-changer, as it’s a versatile design element that can be used in a multitude of ingenious ways. And with latest removable options, it’ll be super easy to take it down in the future.
Since it can be difficult to determine the perfect wallpaper pattern for your interior design aesthetic—and the best room to use it in—I’ve rounded up some of our favorite designs that you can find at Finest Wallpaper. I’ve also put together 5 fun ideas on to use wallpaper!
From eye-catching florals to colorful mid-century patterns, these rooms showcase some of my favorite wallpaper design ideas. Get ready to step outside of your comfort zone with wallpaper that can give your space an attractive new look!
Talk soon!
*Cover picture Mind the Gap via Finest Wallpaper
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