Wallpaper is a great addition to your rooms and can transform your walls into statement pieces. However, with various trends taking over the design world, it is an integral element rarely discussed. Yet, the suitable wallpaper materials can give your home a unique character, whether you’re planning to redesign an old place or a brand new one.
In most cases, people opt for paint over different types of wallpapers when remodelling their homes. So, we are here to tell you everything about wallpaper materials and different types of wallpapers to ensure you make the right choice.
Here is a list of 8 critical things that you need to keep in mind before choosing a wallpaper for your home:
1. How Can I Wallpaper a Tiny Room?
Before we get into details, note that you should always choose a colour or a pattern that you really love. Besides the fact that you will see it every day, anything not particularly appealing to your taste will soon overwhelm you.
You can go for large floral or leafy prints and embrace the natural setting of the room. It also helps to deal with a low height ceiling. Our HomeLane design experts suggest that you include a combination of pastel-coloured or white painted walls and wallpaper to create the illusion of a larger room. Horizontal stripes can make a space feel more expansive, whereas vertical stripes can stretch the room and raise the ceiling. Avoid bold, dark colours and tiny patterns because they make a room feel claustrophobic.
2. Do I Go with Paper or Other Materials?
Paper wallpaper or lining paper is well-known for hiding imperfections in walls. It’s low maintenance and easy to remove. Care must be taken while putting it up.
Vinyl-coated wallpaper is another favourite that can be easily pasted to the walls and doesn’t wrinkle when applied to wet places. Embossed wallpaper is another great option for hiding scratches. Fabric wallpaper, bamboo, and other materials are considered lavish choices but are high-maintenance and have limitations in sticking to the walls.
3. Where Can I Try Small Wallpaper Prints?
Small wallpaper prints are for kitchens, bathrooms, and children’s bedrooms. You can also use a small pattern in a spacious living room where windows, doors, and built-in furniture separate the walls.
4. Can I Make a Small Room Larger with the Wallpapers?
Yes, making a smaller room appear more extensive with suitable wallpapers is possible. As mentioned earlier, horizontal stripes make a room wider, and vertical ones make a room taller. Simple geometric patterns or textures imitating marble make a room bigger. If used in the entire room, a minimal repeating pattern in a lighter colour can create a larger space. Diagonal patterns work well in rectangular rooms.
5. What Is a Pattern Repeat?
In the case of horizontal and vertical patterns, it is crucial to pay attention that the prints must have an equal distance and match the alignment on both sides. Geometric patterns take more time and effort for perfect alignment. In contrast, floral patterns and randomly aligned patterns require fewer repetitions and are easier to work with.
6. What Are the Do’s of Installing a Wallpaper?
- Careful planning and preparation are the keys to successful wallpapering.
- Determine the amount of paper needed and purchase all of it at once.
- Ensure all the papers are from the same batch to maintain colour/pattern consistency.
- Measure and cut the papers. Line them up on the floor to understand how they look on the wall before pasting them.
7. What Are the Don’ts for Wallpaper?
- Don’t start with a large area.
- Don’t start without prepping your walls.
- Don’t choose a wallpaper that doesn’t suit your existing interior style and finishes.
- Don’t go for complicated patterns.
- Don’t forget to hire a professional for advice.
8. Do Walls Need to Be Painted before Wallpapering? How Long Does Wallpaper Last?
An excellent wallpaper installation starts with proper wall preparation. If the walls are not strong enough to hold the paste used to stick the wallpaper, there might be a spill. Thus, it is important to paint before hanging your wallpaper.
Wallpapers are highly reliable and can last up to 15 years.
Above all, choose wallpaper materials based on the room’s purpose, durability, and ease of maintenance. Kitchens, hallways, and children’s rooms need water-resistant wallpapers. You can do this independently, but a little professional assistance can save you energy and money. Our expert designers at HomeLane can handhold you through this journey. Book a consultation with us right now.