Wallpaper is more than just a shot of Botox for tired-looking walls; it can add dimension, texture, and pattern. Although it had its heyday in the early 1900s, many homeowners still think of wallpaper as something for chintz-loving grandmas or high-end designers, but new patterns and improved materials make house wallpaper more versatile than ever. The key is to select the right paper for each room in your home.
Whether you are looking to spruce up an entryway or create a dramatic focal point in your living room, the right wallpaper can transform your space. But with so many options available, it can be hard to choose the right design for your home. This guide will help you sort through the various styles, designs and features of house wallpaper to find the perfect match for your home.
There are many different types of wallpaper available, from fabric-backed and vinyl to pre-pasted and unpasted papers. Some types of wallpaper are more durable than others and are better suited to certain rooms in the home. Generally, the more durable wallpapers are best for areas with higher traffic, such as kitchens and bathrooms. There are also washable, scrubbable wallpapers that can be used in family rooms, powder rooms and laundry rooms. These wallpapers are designed to withstand abrasion, and are often made of vinyl or woven fibers.
Some patterned wallpapers have repeating patterns while others have drop patterns, or have no pattern at all. The most popular type of textured wallpaper is vinyl, which offers durability and washability. Vinyl comes in a variety of textures, and can be printed to look like leather or even tin ceilings. There is even a simulated crocodile skin wallpaper, that can be hung in the bathroom or bedroom.
Another option is woven wallpaper, which is created from cellulose fibres that are bound together with a vinyl coating. Woven wallpapers can be printed to look like silk, jute or grass cloth and are usually more expensive than other types of textured wallpaper. There is also a faux metal wallpaper that is a shiny metallic foil printed on a base of cellulose paper. The advantage of this type is that it reflects light, giving the space a sense of space and luminosity. However, the metallic foil is highly reflective and can highlight wall imperfections, so it is important that the base walls are in good condition prior to installation.
Foil wallpaper is also more difficult to maintain than other types, because it can easily become soiled or dulled from moisture. It is important to keep foil wallpaper clean, and to use a mild cleaner with water as needed. Some foil wallpapers are also very thin and may wrinkle or peel over time. There is also a vinyl-coated version of foil wallpaper that offers a little more durability than the traditional one, but it is still not as durable as the woven varieties.
Historic wallpapers are not just found in old houses; they are also still being produced today by companies such as Adelphi Paper Hangings, Farrow & Ball and Bradbury & Bradbury Art Wallpapers. These papers are silk-screened or block-printed by hand or by mechanized rollers to re-create coverings that date back as far as the 1700s. They are generally coated with a clear or vinyl film to increase stain and moisture resistance.