First of all, wallpapers for walls differ not in their design, but in their physical characteristics. When choosing wall coverings for a particular room, it is first of all necessary to pay attention to type of wallpaper, which is ideal for this room. Is it hardy and waterproof? How often do walls in this room have to be cleaned? Will not these wallpapers create additional difficulties in the care of the house? ... This article will help you to understand these and many other issues well.

How to choose wallpaper for home?

Types of materials for the wallpaper substrate

From the surface of wallpaper and their design usually depends on what attention they attract to themselves, what impression is produced on others and how demanding they are in care. But the functionality and the way to install these wall coverings depend primarily on their backing - the side of the wallpaper that directly mates with the wall. To date, there are 4 types of wallpaper substrates: paper, textile, non-woven (non-woven) and acrylic latex.

Paper wallpaper base is the most common and common. Wallpaper on a paper substrate (vinyl, vinyl coated, natural wallpaper Grasscloth, etc.) are fairly easy to install, but not so easy to remove, which probably faced many of you. In addition, they are extremely undesirable to use in rooms with high humidity, where it is possible to deteriorate the adhesion of wallpaper to the wall and even delamination of the wall covering (when, for example, the vinyl layer separates from the paper layer).

Stratification of natural wallpaper on a paper substrate

Textile backing Usually used in vinyl, foil and some other types of wallpaper. Depending on the degree of gravity of the wall covering, this can be lightweight gas (grid), Scottish osnaburg or thick strong cotton fabric as a textile substrate.

Top down: gas cloth, osnaburg, durable cotton fabric

Wallpaper on a fabric basis is characterized by strength and the ability to hide small flaws in the wall surface. Vinyl wall coverings on a fabric basis can safely be called wallpaper-longevity, because they can not resist the wear of 15, 20 and even more years. When it comes time to remove this material from the walls, you will be pleasantly surprised that this is not difficult (of course, if the wall under them was well primed).

Flizelin is traditionally produced on a paper machine from a mixture of long cellulose fibers and textile fibers combined with each other with different binders. Special additives ensure the strength of the material in the wet state and its absorbency, so that nonwoven wallpaper and substrates retain their shape even under the direct impact of water.

Flizelinовые обои

Manufacturers also say that the non-woven base allows the wallpaper to breathe, which means that mold can not accumulate between it and the wall, poisoning the healthy atmosphere in the house. Vinyl wall coverings on a non-woven substrate are the only kind of wallpaper that are recommended to be installed in the bathroom or in the kitchen.

Vinyl wallpaper on a non-woven substrate

Substrates of acrylic latex Today they are used only to ensure the stability and the best quality of installation of some varieties of textile wall coverings.

The criteria for choosing wallpaper for decorating residential interiors and for commercial use differ significantly from each other. So, if the main role in the house is played by the environmental friendliness of materials and their lack of tolerance to the effects of moisture and dirt, it is much more important for various enterprises to purchase wallpaper that is particularly resistant to wear and other useful properties such as soundproofness, heat resistance, etc. Below we consider only the most common in the modern market types of wallpaper for the house.

Modern types of wallpaper for home

Paper wallpaper with vinyl cover are a paper substrate on the decorative surface of which was sprayed or otherwise applied a layer of acrylic.

These wallpaper belong to the category of wall coverings, which can be cleaned with a brush without excessive use of water. They have a fairly good resistance to fat and moisture, but they can be used in bathrooms and kitchens only if there is good ventilation in the room.

Бумажные обои с покрытием от Graham & Brown

Coated Textured Wallpaper of liquid vinyl or acrylic are considered a more "breathable" type of wallpaper, which makes their use in living rooms more preferable. From the previous variety of wall coverings they differ also in that their pattern is printed not on the base material, but on top of the protective layer. This creates certain limitations in the design possibilities of such wallpapers, although over time, perhaps, manufacturers will find a way to fix it.

Coated Textured Wallpaper

Vinyl wallpaper on paper basis and simply solid vinyl sheets have a fairly strong and durable decorative surface. This type of wallpaper is classified as being cleaned with a brush. Such wall coverings can be used in most areas of the house, because they perfectly resist moisture, stains and grease. However, they do not stand up to rigid physical contact - scratches, bumps etc.

Vinyl wallpaper on paper basis

A kind of vinyl wallpaper on a paper base is a solid vinyl coating, laminated on a piece of paper. Design of these wallpapers is carried out with help hot stamping, which can provide many beautiful textured effects. Such vinyl coatings have high quality and durable appearance. However, the peculiarity of their design can significantly complicate the process of care, which is very important to consider when choosing wallpaper for the house, because usually they are purchased for a rather long time.

Vinyl wallpapers with embossing

Vinyl wallpaper on fabric backing have a textile base on which a solid decorative surface of vinyl was laminated. The wallpaper, covered with vinyl film, rather than liquid vinyl, is particularly reliable and ideal for customers looking for durable wall coverings that are resistant to washing and cleaning.

Vinyl wallpaper on a textile basis

Traditional paper wallpaper are usually produced without coatings, but some of their varieties can have a protective layer of different nature, applied to individual seals in the paint. Therefore, if you need 100% eco-friendly wall coverings, the composition of paper wallpaper before buying should be clarified by reading the information on the label or by consulting with the seller.

Paper wallpaper Borastapeter

Wall-papers with string effect are very thin vertical strands laminated to a paper substrate. Threads can have both artificial and natural origin, but in any case they require increased attention in the care and should not be used in rooms with high permeability and / or humidity.

String silk wallpaper from Phillip Jeffries

Flock Wallpaper are produced with the help of a special machine that applies cotton, silk, viscose or nylon fibers to a specially prepared surface, thus creating an imitation of velvet fabrics with fluffy pile. These wall coverings have sufficient strength and good antistatic properties, but can absorb odors, and care for them is not very simple. If you are thinking about installing them in the kitchen, in the bathroom, the nursery or the hallway, you better abandon this idea.

Flock Wallpaper от Elitis

Foamed vinyl or vinyl for painting is manufactured using a special reagent that is introduced into the liquid vinyl and expands when it is heated, thus creating a three-dimensional effect. These wall coverings are excellent for imperfect walls and can even be attached directly to panels or concrete blocks. It is best to use them in spacious rooms with high ceilings, where a beautiful design and visual effect can be assessed in the best way. In rooms that require frequent cleaning, they should not be used on the contrary, which is associated with a complex relief surface.

Foam vinyl wallpapers

Natural wallpaper are made of a variety of natural materials, such as grapes, jute, wool, seaweed, coconut fibers, cork, hemp, sisal, cotton, and other plants and materials. They are stained and attached to a paper substrate, after which a pattern is applied using a variety of traditional techniques and water-based inks.

Such eco-friendly wall coverings are ideal for living room, bedroom or dining area. However, they absorb odors and may require specialized cleaning methods and means.

Natural wallpaper Grasscloth

Frescoes and wallpapers This is a special way of finishing the walls with the help of a bright, picturesque design that is meant to cover part or even the whole wall without repeating the pattern. Such wallpaper can be printed in various ways and practically on any substrate. The care and durability of these wall coverings vary widely depending on the production technology and materials used.

Large format wallpapers

Foiled wallpaper are produced by laminating a thin sheet of aluminum foil onto a substrate of paper or fabric. Sometimes between the substrate and the foil, manufacturers place a layer of polyester that retains the moisture contained in the wallpaper paste from the actual contact with the foil.

Foiled wallpaper

Quite often the foil wallpaper is confused with their close relatives - mylar wallpaper, which are made of metallized synthetic polyester fiber.

Mylar wallpapers from York

Lincrusta or molded wallpaper differ in that they can last an infinite number of years. This type of wall coverings has a deep relief pattern, which can be painted on request. Made from a mixture based on wood flour and linseed oil, they look on the walls, like a plaster molding. But the paper substrate allows them to roll into rolls and be transported, but because it's all the same wallpaper.

Why are these wallpapers considered eternal? Their secret lies in the fact that they are subject to multiple restoration - polishing and repainting.

Wallpapers Lincrusta

Glass Textile Wallpapers - these are painted, decorative and functional coverings for walls with a universal design, which are woven from thin glass threads. The wallpaper produced in this way is reliable, environmentally friendly and absolutely safe. However, they may require special procedures and methods of application. Typically, a modified starch binder is used for this.

Wallpapers woven from glass filaments

Paper lining is a traditional product that is applied to the wall under any thin wallpaper to absorb the excess moisture that is contained in the glue. The application of the lining provides an ideal wall surface before installing the wallpaper, and also allows the cushion seams to dry out much faster and safer.

Wallpaper gluing on paper lining

Of course, this list does not end with all the wallpaper available in the world for the house. Creative design studios, located in different parts of our world, work day and night to develop innovative wall coverings, which broaden the general idea of ​​the possibilities of decorative interior decoration. So, in recent years, the first samples of LED, magnetic and some other original types of wallpaper have been successfully manufactured, which promise to become very popular after a certain period of time. But let's not run ahead, but rather consider the existing types of commercial wallpaper in the next article.