How to Choose the Right Wallpaper: Don't Make These Mistakes

If previously the choice of wallpaper was limited to paper wallpaper only, now their range has expanded significantly.

And each of these options has its own characteristics, which we will now consider.

Types of wallpaper and their features

Paper wallpaper is a budget option. There are several varieties of it - single-layer (simplex) and multi-layer (duplex).

Single-layer wallpaper is very thin and light. Multi-layer wallpaper is denser and heavier, says Yulia Tychino .

Advantages

• Low price.
• Paper is an environmentally friendly material that is absolutely safe for health.
• Large selection of colors.
• Allows walls to breathe.

Flaws

• They are difficult to work with because during the pasting process the wallpaper may bubble, become wet from the glue and tear.
• They are afraid of moisture.
• Short service life. They last literally 4-5 years.
• They fade quickly in the sun.

Non-woven wallpaper

These are wallpapers made from non-woven materials based on polyester. Compared to paper counterparts, these wallpapers are denser and more wear-resistant.

Advantages

• They do not require special care.
• They are convenient to work with when gluing.
• More resistant to mechanical damage.

Flaws

• High cost.
• If we are talking about pure non-woven wallpaper, then the range of their colors is small. Therefore, perhaps in this case it is worth taking a closer look at vinyl wallpaper on a non-woven base.

Vinyl wallpaper

This is a two-layer material, the base of which is made of non-woven fabric, and the top layer is made of polyvinyl chloride.

Advantages

• They do not require special care. If there is dirt on the wallpaper, it can be washed off with any detergent.
• If there are minor defects on the walls, vinyl wallpaper, thanks to its density, can hide them.

Flaws

• They don't let air through.
• High cost.
• Beginners may encounter certain difficulties when gluing.
• During combustion, substances hazardous to health are released.

Textile wallpaper

They, like the previous version, consist of two layers - a paper or non-woven base and a decorative textile layer made of velour, linen, cotton or silk.

Advantages

• They can give any interior a luxurious look.
• Do not fade in the sun.
• Provide good noise and heat insulation.
• If there are cracks and other defects on the wall, they can be masked using textile wallpaper.

Flaws

• High price.
• It is very difficult to work with, especially if you have no experience working with them.
• Wallpaper has the ability to attract dust. Accordingly, it is not the most suitable option for people suffering from allergies.
• Textile wallpaper has the property of absorbing odors.

Glass wallpaper

This is the most expensive type of wallpaper available today, made from quartz sand.

Advantages

• Eco-friendly material.
• Not afraid of moisture.
• Fire resistance.
• Allows walls to breathe.
• They have excellent strength.

Flaws

• High cost.
• It's hard to remove from the wall.

Liquid wallpaper

Made on the basis of an adhesive composition with the addition of decorative elements.

Advantages

• It is easy to work with such wallpaper, as it is applied in the same way as plaster.
• If necessary, they are easily allocated.
• If the coating is damaged, there is no need to repair the entire room. It will be enough to restore the damaged area.
• If there are any flaws on the walls, liquid wallpaper will help you to mask them.

Flaws

• Small range of colors.
• They are afraid of humidity.

Bamboo wallpaper

This type of wallpaper is a canvas with small strips applied to it and connected to each other.

Advantages

• Original appearance.
• Made from environmentally friendly material, which is perfect even for decorating a child's room.
• They do not require special care.
• They are easy to work with.
• They have good sound and heat insulation.

Flaws

• High cost.
• Modest range of colours.

Photo wallpaper

They are canvases on which an image is applied using a photographic printing method.

Advantages

• Stylish appearance.
• Impressive range.
• They have good wear resistance and resistance to moisture and mechanical damage.

Flaws

• High cost.
• There may be some difficulties, since during gluing it is necessary to monitor the coincidence of the joints of the contours.

We choose wallpaper depending on the type of room

• For such rooms as a bedroom, living room and children's room, absolutely any type of wallpaper will do. But for a children's room and bedroom, it is preferable to use wallpaper made of natural materials.
• For finishing the kitchen and bathroom, it is worth giving preference to moisture-resistant wallpaper. These can be vinyl, non-woven, glass wallpaper and photo wallpaper.
• For the hallway, we choose wallpaper that is suitable for wet cleaning.

What wallpaper to choose for walls with unevenness

If there are minor unevenness, cracks and other defects on the walls, then it is worth giving preference to non-woven, vinyl, liquid wallpaper and glass wallpaper. Due to their density, they perfectly mask minor defects. As for liquid wallpaper, they are applied like putty, sealing all existing cracks and chips.

Paper wallpapers are the worst at masking flaws. They are very thin and any existing flaws will be clearly visible from underneath.

What to look for before buying wallpaper

1. Before buying, carefully inspect each roll of wallpaper. They should all be from the same batch. If the wallpaper is from different batches, their color may differ slightly, literally by 1-2 tones.
2. Familiarize yourself with the icons on the packaging.

3. It is best to buy wallpaper with a small reserve. After all, if you do not have enough wallpaper, then buying more wallpaper from the same batch will be problematic.