A type of wallpaper. Types of wallpaper: characteristics and selection criteria. Advantages and disadvantages of paper products

Wallpapering walls is the most obvious and widespread way of finishing. But this finishing material has different characteristics and prices. What types of wallpaper are there, how they differ, where which is best to use - we’ll talk about all this further.

Classification by characteristics

In order not to make a mistake when choosing wallpaper, you need to have an idea of ​​what they generally are. Let's start with general classification according to various characteristics and properties.

The first thing you should decide on is how friendly the finish should be with water and how often it will need to be washed. According to this feature they are:


This characteristic is displayed on the label of each roll in the form of a graphic icon - a wavy line (look at the photo).

Next, you need to decide on resistance to fading. It is no secret that some materials and paints change their color on sunlit surfaces. For sunny rooms, it is better to choose fade-resistant wallpaper. In rooms with windows facing west or north, this is not so critical. For those without windows (corridors, bathrooms, toilets, etc.) this does not matter at all. This characteristic is also displayed on the label with a sun pictogram (pictured below).

Resistance of wallpaper to fading - graphic designation

Fitting the pattern may also be important. Some colors do not require pattern selection or offset at all (plain colors). Others require displacement, and by different amounts. The displacement increases the consumption of finishing material. This information is also indicated on the label using pictograms.

All types of wallpaper are equipped with an instruction insert that displays this data. There are also pictures that show how to apply the glue. The method of removal is also shown - they are removed completely or partially. Next, we will consider the types of wallpaper - what they are made of, what advantages, disadvantages they have, and scope of application.

Paper

Paper wallpaper is the most common and cheapest. Their popularity is due to their low price, wide range, and good performance properties. They are environmentally friendly, permeable to air, but are afraid of high humidity, have low mechanical strength, fade quickly. Average service life is 3-5 years. Not much, but this and all other shortcomings are compensated by a very attractive price.

There are several types of paper wallpaper:


When choosing, pay attention to such an indicator as density - it greatly influences the strength, but keep in mind that thick paper wallpapers are harder to glue to uneven walls - they are not as elastic as average ones. Very thin ones are also bad, since they, on the contrary, stretch very much, and when wet they can practically crawl apart in your hands or “roll”, go in waves, when you try to level them on the wall. All in all, best option- average. They will also cover up any imperfections and are easy to work with. The division is as follows: up to 110 g/m2 - light, 110-140 g/m2 - medium, more than 140 g/m2 - heavy.

If you need an inexpensive “breathable” material for wall decoration, paper wallpaper is practically unrivaled. When gluing, the simplest glue is used, which is applied to both the wall and the canvas (but not always, read the instructions).

Non-woven

Interlining is a non-woven fiber that consists of cellulose fibers (sometimes artificial fibers are used). This material has high vapor permeability, conducts air and moisture well, and comes in different densities. Thin non-woven fabric is a fairly elastic material that can be glued to uneven walls. But it stretches too much, which can be a problem. Canvases with medium and high density They are easier to stick, but they have practically no stretch, so the surface must be flat.

Please note that there are wallpapers made from 100% non-woven fabric, and some only based on it. Now we are talking about those that are completely made of non-woven fabric, since otherwise their characteristics depend on the second layer. By the way, when searching in the catalog, write “non-woven wallpaper with non-woven coating”, otherwise most of the results are vinyl wallpaper with a non-woven backing, and they have completely different properties.

Non-woven wallpaper comes in two forms - regular and “paintable”, and is glued with a special glue based on well-purified starch and/or PVA. They can be smooth, textured, embossed or voluminous. They have good performance properties:

  • When wet, non-woven fabric does not swell with glue or water and does not change its shape after drying.
  • The preparation of the walls may not be ideal - due to the density of the material, some unevenness will be hidden, but large depressions and protrusions are unacceptable.
  • Can be used in new houses - it does not tear when new small cracks form.
  • Slightly reduces the thermal conductivity and sound permeability of walls (it is clearly not enough to significantly improve sound insulation, but read how to improve it).

Most non-woven fabrics on sale are imported, but there are also a few Russian ones (for example, Milassa, Loymina). They do not differ in price, so there is little point in choosing based on this criterion. When choosing, pay attention to the fact that the width is 53 cm and 105 cm, the length in a roll is from 10 meters to 25 meters. So the price per roll is far from an indicator. It’s easier to compare if you consider the price per square meter.

Vinyl

Vinyl wallpapers are paper-based or non-woven. A layer of polyvinyl chloride (PVC, PVC or, more simply, vinyl) is applied to the base. This film is less than a millimeter thick, but it gives the finishing material strength (can be washed with a brush), water-repellent properties, and high resistance to fading. Vinyl sheets can be washed, and many are abrasion-resistant and allow the use of a brush.

This set of properties allows you to use this type of wallpaper in rooms with high humidity, particularly in the kitchen or bathroom, but not in close proximity to water sources. It also performs well where high durability of the finish is required (corridor, hallway) - you have to try hard to scratch it.

Another type of wallpaper with special properties is vinyl.

Their main drawback is that they do not allow air to pass through, so they try not to use them in residential premises or compensate by having a good ventilation system.

Types and varieties

Which vinyl wallpaper is better - paper-backed or non-woven? It is easier to glue on non-woven fabric, but only on a well-prepared base. The fact is that thin non-woven fabric is used as a base, and since the vinyl film is also thin, the overall thickness of the coating is small, they are simply not able to hide unevenness - all errors are visible. Another nuance - if the vinyl wallpaper is light, then the base should be a single color, otherwise the uneven color may show through.

If we compare vinyl and other types of wallpaper, they are the best in terms of strength and are easily glued to a relatively flat (maybe not ideal) surface. But, with significant unevenness, difficulties may arise - the dry fabric is glued and it is completely inelastic.

Vinyl wallpaper comes in a wide variety of colors. The surface can be smooth or textured. The design can be simply applied or can have volume (embossed wallpaper). There is also one for painting.

One of the types of vinyl wallpaper is hot stamping (silk screen printing)

Separately, it is worth mentioning vinyl wallpaper, which is produced by hot stamping using silk or artificial threads. They are called silk-screen printing for their characteristic shine. They look very formal, which is why they are often used in living rooms. Some types of silk-screen printing can be seen on the walls in the hallway - they make the room larger with their matte shine.

Vinyl wallpaper is sold in rolls with a width of 53 cm, 70 cm and 105 cm, the length per roll is usually 10 meters (more precisely, 10.05 m), they are glued with a special glue, as they have quite a lot of weight.

Read how to properly glue wallpaper.

Acrylic wallpaper

To be precise, this is paper wallpaper with acrylic coating. The polymer is applied pointwise, without completely covering the base, so it only comes with a textured surface. This has practically no effect on the number of colors, but on the weight - quite strongly. Acrylic sheets are not as heavy as vinyl sheets, which is why the glue used is not as thick. Thanks to the spot application of the polymer (it is itself airtight), this type of finish can be classified as breathable, which is why this type of wallpaper is often used in residential premises.

Acrylic wallpaper is a paper base (usually colored) on which acrylic is applied pointwise

Partially coating the paper with acrylic slightly increases its resistance to washing - they are classified as waterproof, their resistance to fading is average, as is their price category. They are glued according to the same principle as paper ones - glue is applied to both the wallpaper and the wall; difficulty of gluing is average. Problems may arise if the acrylic coating is too soft - if you press a little harder, it will come off. Then they behave the same way during operation - the coating can be removed by accidentally touching it with something hard. Even with a fingernail. This does not apply to all types of acrylic wallpaper, but there are such examples. Overall, a good option, but not great.

The width of rolls of acrylic wallpaper is most often 53 cm, but there are 70 cm, and you can also find meter-long ones. The standard length is 10 meters. The price range here is greater than that of other types of wallpaper: there are very inexpensive ones made in Russia and Ukraine (cost from $3-5 per roll), there are imported ones - 8-15 times more expensive. It is worth noting that the quality, and appearance, differ significantly.

Textile (fabric)

Textile wallpaper is made from paper and non-woven fabric. A woven or braided material made of linen, cotton, viscose, jute, polyester, silk, etc. is glued onto this base. The texture can be smooth, silky, velvety. It depends on the material used and weaving technique. In addition, relief designs can be woven onto the fabric.

Textile wallpaper - looks great, but is expensive

Fabric wallpaper is another type of “breathable” wall decoration, and therefore can be used in living rooms. This is a very beautiful finishing material, but expensive. Even if we compare such not very cheap types of wallpaper as silk-screen printing or natural ones. At the same time, it is demanding in terms of operating conditions - it is afraid of high humidity, fades, and can only be cleaned dry, occasionally using a damp sponge.

There are two forms of release: standard - rolls 10 meters long (width 70-80 cm). Some textile wallpaper (more expensive) is sold by linear metres. Their width is usually 105-120, but there are also wider canvases.

The rules for combining wallpaper are described.

Glass wallpaper

Fiberglass wallpaper is a special type of finishing material for painting. They are good because they are not afraid of moisture and can be glued in damp rooms. You just need to choose the right paint. The second positive point is that they can withstand repeated repainting (the highest quality - up to 20 times) and their service life is 20-30 years. Other types of wallpaper are much inferior to them in this parameter.

Due to the interweaving of fiberglass, wallpaper is vapor-, air- and water-permeable. However, it is worth remembering that the properties of the surface being glued depend on the properties of the paint with which they will be coated.

Needed durable wallpaper for painting - choose from fiberglass

The disadvantage is that the range is not very large, it has a somewhat “office” appearance, and also that before painting, tiny particles of glass get into the air. It is also worth wearing protective clothing when working. Glue fiberglass wallpaper using a special glue that is applied to the wall

A very interesting coating, which is rather one of the subtypes of plaster mixtures. Sold in powder form or ready-to-use formulation. It consists of astringent components (glue), textile fibers, cellulose, mineral and decorative additives. How putty is applied to walls with a spatula or something resembling this tool.

Important property liquid wallpaper- undemanding to the base. All other types of wallpaper require a flat surface. Some are more even, some less. Liquid wallpaper itself can level the wall it is applied to. But, in order to save composition, significant recesses should first be sealed with suitable putty.

Liquid wallpaper is suitable for heated and unheated premises, but require normal humidity. Another advantage of this type of coating is its high maintainability. The damaged area is cleaned off, the resulting recess is filled with the same composition. Once dry, the repaired area is almost impossible to find. Therefore, some of the composition is stored “until required”.

Other types of wallpaper

The above describes those finishing materials that are presented in any hardware store. But there are types of wallpaper that are rarely used, but have good performance properties and look very unusual. This may be why they are not so widespread.


Now you know all types of wallpaper - both widespread and not so widespread. Knowing their main characteristics, you can choose the finishing material to suit the requirements of a specific room and your desires.

The most traditional and popular material for wall decoration is wallpaper. With their help, you can decorate walls, replace their paint, and even insulate them a little. The coating determines how furniture and other interior details will look against its background. There are countless types of wallpaper, and their characteristics allow them to be used for rooms of all possible types.

It is easier to change the trellises than to repaint the walls in a suitable color.

Pasting a room is a kind of summing up of the renovation. After all, this work is done almost as a last resort. Once completed, all that remains is to paint the floors.

There are many ways to hang wallpaper.

They are all different from each other, but general rule one thing: color, pattern and texture must be harmoniously combined with the individual characteristics of the room.

The price of products also varies, mainly depending on the type, manufacturing method and quality of materials. Cheap wallpaper is based on light, thin paper, and the front side is covered with paint, which is not the best. In the production of expensive versions of this finishing material, thick, heavy paper is used. The paint used is the best.

Types of wallpaper, classification and characteristics - this is what you need to navigate in order to choose the right “clothing” for the walls of your home.

In general, they can be divided into several main types. The main ones are: paper, vinyl, textile, metal and cork options. There are other types, but they are not as popular.

Paper ones can be smooth, structured, with a printed image (photo wallpaper). Vinyl is also divided into many types, including flat vinyl, structural version, silk-screen printing and so on. Textile wallpapers are available on paper, fabric or synthetic bases.

How to navigate such diversity? Is it really possible to choose exactly what you need? We'll look at all of this below.

Vinyl

Of all types, they are considered the most wear-resistant and practical. They are not subject to fading and can be washed. Such finishing materials can be used in damp areas. The modern version of the product has a porous coating, which allows it to pass air to the walls.

Vinyl-based coating is chosen in cases where high-quality, but not the most expensive, wallpaper is needed. The types and characteristics are so diverse that they are worth talking about separately.

Vinyl wallpapers are made on paper or non-woven backing.

The quality characteristics of the material depend on the substrate. A vinyl product gives room for imagination and allows you to realize the most whimsical and colorful designs and patterns. It comes in four types. Among them, we should note smooth vinyl, hard, silk-screen and foam. The first two are dense and not embossed. The foam coating is airy, but convex. Silk-screen printing looks like textile wallpaper, but is produced by embossing.

Vinyl trellises are a two-layer material. The first layer, paper or non-woven, is covered with PVC film. Then a drawing or print is applied to it. This second layer protects the walls from moisture and other unwanted influences.

Vinyl wallpaper, the types and characteristics of which are very diverse, are the most popular among other wall finishing materials.

Below is a list of the advantages and disadvantages of finishing materials of this type.

Advantages and disadvantages of vinyl wallpaper

Vinyl finishing material can last a very long time, up to 20 years. In this case, it is enough to wipe them with a wet cloth from time to time. Moisture resistance, by the way, is also an undeniable advantage of vinyl. The advantage is the widest range of colors, textures, and patterns. Wallpaper does not fade and resists damage well.

This material is perfect not only for decorating walls in the hall and hallway, it will work great in the kitchen, hallway, and living room.

These types of wallpaper and their characteristics have negative qualities. Among them is the release of substances unsafe for health, such as formaldehyde. It may be written on the packaging of the roll that the materials used are absolutely environmentally friendly and meet all standards, but still it is better not to glue them in the children's room. In rooms where such wallpaper is used, it is advisable to frequently open windows and doors for ventilation. Another disadvantage is that the porous top layer began to be made relatively recently. If you purchase old-style wallpaper, it will not allow air to pass through, which means that moisture may accumulate under it, which can lead to the appearance of mold on the walls.

Paper wallpaper

If you are looking for suitable types of wallpaper for the bedroom, then you should pay attention to traditional paper ones.

Such wall coverings have the longest history among all other types; it goes back centuries. Their homeland is East Asia, from where they came to Europe in the 18th century. Since then, wallpaper has been widely used, and today it is difficult to find at least one home that does not use finishing materials of this or a related type.

Paper wallpapers are relatively inexpensive, they are easy to glue, and they are water-repellent. They can be painted in any color, thereby refreshing the look of the room.

There are different wallpapers available these days.

Now they are produced not only smooth, but also with an imprint (structural).

There are also two main types: two-layer (duplex) and single-layer (simplex). The first ones have a protective coating that protects against exposure environment. Single-layer wallpaper is not as wear-resistant, but is cheaper. Despite the price difference, in great demand they use two-layer ones. In any case, such wall covering will please the eye for about 5 years.

Advantages and disadvantages of paper products

Let's discuss the main pros and cons of these types of wallpaper and their characteristics.

The main advantage of paper finishing material should be considered its environmental friendliness. It will not provoke allergies or spoil the atmosphere with harmful emissions. The paper allows air to pass through, this will prevent mold from developing. A secondary advantage of this product is its relatively low cost.

Now a few words about the disadvantages that all types have paper wallpaper. And their characteristics also matter.

Paper is not a waterproof material, so wallpaper made from it is not designed for use in wet rooms, such as the bathroom, kitchen, or hallway.

For the same reason, they cannot be cleaned using water; even wiping with a damp cloth can harm the paper.

Only a few species whose surface is covered protective layer, can be washed with a damp cloth.

Compared to their vinyl counterparts, paper ones are not as practical to use.

Textile

Long before paper wallpaper was invented in Asia, walls were covered with fabric. This method of finishing premises became the prototype of a new material - textile wallpaper.

Nowadays, covering with fabric indicates the wealth and good taste of the owner of the apartment. The variety of choice will impress you if you decide to purchase such wallpaper. The types and characteristics of fabric are described below.

Not only fabric can be used as a decorative layer, but also threads glued to a paper base, located parallel to one another. Such materials are made in Germany, and they are expensive, up to $40 per roll.

Despite its luxurious appearance, wallpaper with a fabric surface is very demanding in terms of operating conditions. They are not recommended for use in children's rooms. There they will quickly lose their ideal appearance.

Suitable rooms for this material include an office, bedroom, and living room.

Some nuances of using textile wallpaper make this process more difficult than gluing with other types wall coverings. The difference is that you need to carefully ensure that drops of glue or water do not get on the front side of the canvas.

To avoid this, you should apply glue not to the back of the wallpaper, but to the wall itself. Fortunately, non-woven fabric used as a base allows this.

The advantages of the material are that it allows air to pass through, absorbs noise, and looks very beautiful and elegant. The disadvantages are the difficulties of pasting and maintenance, because surfaces of this type cannot be washed, only dry cleaning is permissible.

Velor

Such wallpaper is a paper sheet on which nylon fibers are applied. The fibers are arranged vertically.

The production process looks like this. The paper roll is installed in a special hopper, into which nylon fluff is then fed. The length of each fiber is no more than 1 mm. A grid rotates above the paper, creating an electromagnetic field, due to which the fibers falling on the paper become vertical, just as hair is pulled in the direction of an electrified comb. The fibers are glued, and the finished canvases are dried in the oven. These types of wallpaper are suitable for a guest room or office.

Advantages and disadvantages

The process of gluing them is quite labor-intensive. The glue should be quickly wiped off with a soft cloth, the seams should be smoothed with a brush.

Among the advantages of velor wallpaper, noise-absorbing qualities are noted. The walls covered with them shimmer like velvet. The coating will not fade, no matter how much it is used. Designers often use this type of finish in decorative purposes, decorating and highlighting areas of rooms.

But there are also disadvantages. Due to its hairiness, the surface collects dust. It also absorbs odors and gets dirty easily, although it only needs to be cleaned using dry methods. Once a stain appears, it will be almost impossible to remove. And, as already mentioned, this type of wall covering is quite difficult to glue.

Non-woven

These types of wallpaper, the characteristics of which are described below, come in two types. The first type is a finishing coating for walls, actually consisting of this material. Wallpaper of the second type has a non-woven base, while the coating is made of vinyl.

In order to better understand the properties of the material, you first need to understand what non-woven fabric itself is. Essentially, these are cellulose fibers glued together with a special polymer, with qualities reminiscent of paper. The difference is that non-woven fabric is stronger and does not burn as well.

Wallpaper is made from this material and can be painted frequently. The substance will repeat the texture or embossing made on them. Acrylic or any other paints are best suited for such wall renovation. water based.

Like other products, non-woven wallpaper has its advantages. They are made on a thick base, which means that by gluing them to the walls, you can hide some defects, such as cracks and unevenness.

They do not ignite well, which characterizes them positively from a fire safety point of view.

They do not prevent air from penetrating to the walls, so fungus will not form on them.

The material does not tear, does not stretch, and is easy to work with. Glue should be spread on the surface of the wall. Therefore, there is no need to lay out long strips of material in the middle of the room.

Non-woven fabric is not afraid of water; the wall decoration can be easily kept clean by periodically cleaning it with detergents.

Combined

Combining different types of finishes when decorating one room is the simplest and most inexpensive way to give the room a unique and original design. The main types of wallpaper and their characteristics are described below. Photos will help you better understand what we are talking about.

You need to have good taste and a sense of proportion in order to harmoniously combine different types of wall coverings. The resulting result should not “dispute” with the overall decoration of the interior; it is intended to emphasize it and enhance its positive qualities.

There are different types, they are determined by the rules for combining colors and qualities of materials.

When choosing suitable options, you need to consider the following nuances:

  • In rooms with low ceilings, it is undesirable to use dark-colored finishes, especially if they are accompanied by ornaments with large fragments. Such a room can be visually enlarged light wallpaper, especially monochromatic ones. Patterns with small details are acceptable.
  • If the ceilings are very high, then the use of materials with large patterns can come to the rescue. This will make the room feel cozier and less bulky.
  • Light-colored products are not very suitable for covering the walls of a large, spacious room.
  • When combining wallpaper, you should take into account the function of the room. A combination of plain materials with bright and cheerful wallpaper will look good in a children's room. For the living room, combinations of large geometric shapes, stripes or squares with monochromatic zones.
  • If the room for which the materials are selected is located in the southern latitudes, then in summer products in cool colors will look nice in it. Warm shades well suited where it is often cold and stormy.
  • You need to take care not only that the types of wallpaper are combined, and that their characteristics suit you. Their thickness must also be the same, otherwise when gluing it will turn out that the joints are too conspicuous.
  • Think about the combination of wallpaper colors and furniture that will be in the room.

What products to choose for the bedroom

What types of wallpaper are suitable for the bedroom and which are not? It's pretty Difficult choice, if we take into account the variety that is presented on the market of finishing materials for walls in our time. Each type is good in its own way, but also has disadvantages. Some of these disadvantages make certain wallpapers unsuitable for use in the bedroom.

Let's look at the types of wallpaper and their characteristics suitable for living space.

The best option is to use materials made from natural components for this purpose. Vinyl coverings are beautiful, but not very natural and safe; using them in poorly ventilated areas is not recommended from a medical point of view. A good but expensive option is textile or non-woven wallpaper. They are absolutely harmless.

In the case of non-woven materials, one must also take into account the environmental friendliness of the paint that may be applied on top of them.

You can use paper wallpaper for walls. The types, characteristics and disadvantages of this material are already described in the article.

What color the walls in your bedroom will be is a matter of your taste. We can only advise when choosing materials to resort to the same principles that are used when combining wallpaper. A small bedroom will benefit from the use of light-colored materials, a large one - vice versa. It is always better to choose calm colors for the bedroom, because this is a relaxation area.

All the above rules and principles are by no means a mandatory guide to action, because history is full of cases where violation of the rules led to best results. The main thing is that you and your loved ones feel comfortable in the apartment.

So, we found out what types of wallpaper there are and how to choose them correctly.

The types of wallpaper presented today in finishing materials stores amaze with their choice. The range can satisfy almost any request and has a varied price range. By studying the performance characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of the material, you can avoid unexpected reactions of the coating in the conditions of a particular room.

Types of bases and their characteristics

The base is the first, bottom layer of coating. It serves as the foundation for the material on which the top decorative layer is applied. Thanks to the base, the coating has a uniform color, is easier to stick and increases strength. There are three main types of bases: paper, non-woven and textile. Each of them has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages.

What types of wallpaper are there and their features?

Paper

Wallpapers are available in a wide variety of colors and patterns at budget prices. Most often, the coating is made in a roll width of 53 cm. Three types of paper wallpaper are produced, in one, two and three layers.

Since the material is thin, finishing requires skill and a well-prepared wall surface. They are not durable, practically impossible to clean, and are not resistant to temperature changes and moisture. Suitable for finishing rooms with the least possible tactile contact, such as bedrooms.

Vinyl

The popularity of the material is due to its wide variety. They consist of a base and a top polymer or PVC layer, produced using different techniques in several variations:

  • foamed vinyl,
  • compact vinyl,
  • silkscreen printing.

Externally, all coatings are completely different and have different characteristics. They lend themselves well to wet cleaning, have high strength, are not afraid of high humidity and sunlight, and are suitable for painting.

Non-woven

The type is divided into two types: non-woven ones and those that have only a non-woven base. This is a dense and durable material that will help hide some unevenness in the walls. The coating is often used for painting; it looks like this textured surface with a variety of relief patterns.

Often produced in a wide format, the roll width is 1.06 meters, which is convenient when working with them. The non-woven base is similar to rubber material and adapts well to the wall surface.

Liquid

A type of finishing material used to decorate walls and ceilings. Safe and environmentally friendly product. They are suitable for decorating a children's room and other living spaces, as they contain natural ingredients.

Fabric (textile)

Natural, non-allergenic material that allows air to pass through well and looks chic at the same time. Fabric wallpaper increases the soundproofing and thermal insulation properties of a room.

There are many types of textile coverings: linen, felt, jute, silk, velor and synthetic. However, the coating accumulates dust, with the exception of linen, fades in the sun and is quite expensive

One of the most durable wall finishing materials in all respects. Fiberglass wallpaper is classified as anti-vandal, it is a heavy canvas, it can withstand mechanical damage, animal claws, is not subject to combustion and is not afraid of moisture. The material is suitable for finishing any room, including a children's room, as it is environmentally friendly and easy to clean.

Natural

The canvases have natural composition and are made from plants and different parts trees. The coatings have a recognizable texture that is unique to them. Natural roll wallpaper suitable for finishing balconies, toilets and living rooms; they do not react to temperature changes, sunlight and high humidity. The most popular materials include bamboo, jute and cork.

Not the most famous, but very effective type of coating. Linkrusta is produced in several stages and only from natural materials. An exception may be cheaper analogues. Externally, the canvas is a clearly visible relief coating. In the form of various patterns. The material is strong, moisture-resistant, durable and safe. Will decorate the design of a classic or antique living room.

Acrylic

The acrylic look is created using the same method as the vinyl with foam coating, the only difference is in the top layer, it is made of acrylic. The characteristics of the material are low strength and moisture resistance. The thickness of the canvas is half that of vinyl wallpaper; this should be taken into account when painting.

Quartz

The two-layer material consists of a base and a decorative layer of quartz sand with various additives. The appearance is durable, reliable, with an environmentally friendly composition and a long service life, suitable for painting.

Photo printing is applied to the bases different types: paper, non-woven, vinyl. The canvases are made different widths, different from standard sizes. To increase the durability of the coating, an additional layer, varnish or lamination, can be applied. The image can be realistic, in 3D format, in the form of a fresco or stereoscopic.

Classification by texture (surface type)

Smooth

The smooth coating focuses attention on the pattern and color of the wallpaper. Such wallpaper requires a flat surface, since even small defects will be visible. Smooth wallpaper is not suitable for painting and is used as a final finishing option.

Embossed

The textured surface of the wallpaper can complete the image of the room or be used for painting. Manufacturing technologies provide different methods for applying the top layer, which allows you to create complex patterns and imitate other materials.

Types of embossed wallpaper

Metal

Like other types of wallpaper, they consist of a base and a finishing layer. The basis is paper or non-woven fabric. For the top layer, thin aluminum foil is used, which has previously undergone an artificial oxidation process or has been treated with a dye to reduce electrical conductivity. The surface of the canvas can be mirror or matte, with uniform or partial shine.

Flock or velor

Wallpaper can be classified as textile type. The canvas has a velvety surface in the form of a pattern; this is achieved by applying textiles to a paper or non-woven base treated with glue. The result is undoubtedly spectacular, plus it increases sound insulation and thermal insulation qualities premises. However, fabric wallpaper absorbs odors and attracts dust.

Silkscreen printing

One of the types vinyl covering with a complex manufacturing method, which results in a beautiful shiny canvas with patterns, among other things, it has good quality indicators.

With bugles (with beads)

Otherwise they are called beaded. The surface of the canvas is decorated with glass beads of different sizes, forming multi-colored patterns. The surface of this type of wallpaper is quite durable and hard, with high resistance to damage.

Varieties by number of layers

The number of layers affects the strength, service life and appearance of the material. This division by the number of layers applies to paper-type wallpaper. In total there are three of them: simplex, duplex and triplex, respectively one, two and three layers.

Varieties according to the method of drawing

Embossed

Wallpaper with embossing is a covering with a relief pattern applied in a special way. There are paper and vinyl embossed wallpaper.

  • Paper wallpaper is made from two layers; a pattern is extruded into the top one, resulting in a relief surface.
  • Hot stamping vinyl wallpaper is made using a slightly different technology. A foamed PVC layer is applied to a non-woven or paper base, which is subsequently heated to a high temperature and pressed with a roller with a convex pattern.

Embossed wallpaper is highly durable, lasts longer, does not fade in the sun and tolerates wet cleaning well. They are suitable for finishing kitchens and restrooms, as they do not absorb odors and do not react to temperature changes.

Printed

Printing is applied to two types of coating, primed or unprimed. Primed wallpaper is more expensive, but undergoes a treatment that protects it from fading. There are no preliminary procedures for unprimed canvas; the design is printed directly onto the front part.

Natural

Natural wallpapers are made from natural raw materials and have a natural pattern. Variety for bamboo wallpaper obtained by using different parts of the stem. Cork coverings do not differ in variety, the pattern may have different densities and color inclusions. Jute fabrics are usually made without a pattern, but can be in the form of weaves and inclusions.

Types by purpose

For walls

For wall decoration today there is an incredible selection of materials with completely different appearance and characteristics. The assortment allows you to choose wallpaper tailored to a specific room and its conditions, be it high humidity, the presence of animals or bright sunlight.

For the ceiling

To decorate the ceiling, white textured wallpaper with a wide meter-long canvas, such as vinyl, non-woven or fiberglass, is usually used. Such coatings can have different textures and are suitable for painting. Another type is liquid wallpaper; its main advantage is the absence of seams after application. They are also great for decorating the ceiling. You can also use colored wallpaper or with photo printing; the nature of the image depends entirely on personal preference.

Classification by functionality

Washable

Washable wallpaper can have varying degrees of interaction with water. The marking on the back of the fabric or packaging will help you decide on the method of care. Typically, markings are divided into four types and are indicated using waves.

Moisture resistant

Wallpaper with increased resistance to humidity is suitable for finishing a kitchen, bath or toilet. They allow wet cleaning and do not react to changes in humidity. Moisture-resistant wallpapers include: fiberglass, vinyl, silk-screen printing, paintable and non-woven backing.

Anti-vandal

Coating with increased protection against various types of damage. There are several main types: laminated, fiberglass, non-woven and commercial wallpaper. Bonded anti-vandal coatings do not provide absolute protection against stains or scratches, but they significantly reduce the likelihood of leaving marks. An excellent option for a hallway or corridor.

Sound-absorbing

Almost all types of wallpaper have sound-absorbing properties to varying degrees. However, some of them have high rates of this quality.

  • Tufted wallpaper consists of a fabric base and synthetic surface In addition to soundproofing, tufting also insulates the room.
  • Velor wallpaper consists of a paper base and artificial velor. A coating with a pleasant appearance, but not the highest sound insulation.
  • Cork wallpaper. A natural finish that provides maximum noise protection.

For painting

Used for painting different types structural wallpaper, some of them are suitable for repeated staining, others can only withstand a few treatments. The main types include paper, non-woven and fiberglass wallpaper.

  • The most durable of them are glass wallpaper; they can withstand many stains while maintaining their quality.
  • Non-woven wallpaper can be smooth or textured. The textured coating with a foamed vinyl layer is easily damaged.
  • Paper wallpaper has an environmentally friendly composition, but is short-lived.

Other types of wallpaper

Self-adhesive

This type of finishing does not require additional costs for glue. To the reverse side PVC sheets dry glue is applied, which is covered with protective paper on top. Before applying the wallpaper, the protective paper is simply removed.

Changing color depending on temperature (thermal wallpaper)

Fluorescent

Another name for them glowing wallpaper. In the interior, this type of decoration looks very impressive, modern and unusual. The trick is in a special paint with lumineforms; it is these substances that make the drawing glow. Under the light of ordinary lamps or daylight, the wallpaper is no different from ordinary ones; the pattern appears only in ultraviolet light.

Leather

Leather wallpaper is an uncommon way to decorate an interior. The material is practically not found in ordinary stores and has a high cost. The leather covering looks impressive, it does not allow moisture to pass through, retains heat and serves as a soundproofing barrier. However, the material is very capricious; when working with it, the hand of a master is required and possible mechanical contacts should be avoided during operation.

Wallpaper consisting of a self-adhesive base and black film. The front part is covered with vinyl coating, on which you can draw with crayons. An excellent solution for a children's room allows you to solve two problems at the same time - development creativity child and the original appearance of the interior. There are also marker films, but they are often used in offices.

Photo gallery

The various production technologies that exist today and the unimaginable choice of colors make our lives much easier; any design task can be brought to life only by choosing the right type of wallpaper and choosing the desired shade.

How to choose the right wallpaper for a room? Types of wallpaper, expert recommendations.

Beautifully decorated rooms are one of the components of a cozy atmosphere in a house or apartment. Therefore, special attention has been paid to wall decoration since ancient times. And one of the oldest ways to decorate a home, along with painting or painting it, was decorating with special materials. These were woven mats, tapestries, and fabrics with printed patterns. Later, with the widespread development and reduction in cost of paper production, already at the end of the 19th century, wall decoration began to be made of paper - and this is how wallpaper appeared, in the sense to which we are accustomed today. Interestingly, long before the spread of this technology to Europe, paper was actively used as a decorative material in China and Japan.

In the old days, the profession of an upholsterer was highly respected and highly paid, so very few could afford such home decoration. By the way, an interesting fact - the great French playwright Jean-Baptiste Moliere (Poquelin) came from a hereditary family of upholsterers. How lucky world culture is that he moved away from family traditions– humanity could get a little-known upholsterer, but lose Moliere!

Wallpaper is a type of building finishing materials for cladding walls and ceilings indoors. They are a canvas rolled into a roll. The main dimensions of the canvas: width - 0.53, 0.70, 1.06 m, length - 10 and 25 m. Wikipedia

However, let's not be distracted any further. Despite such a rich history and the emergence of many other finishing materials, wallpaper is not at all going to “lose its position in popularity.” On the contrary, their family, paying tribute to old technologies, is constantly replenished innovative developments, significantly expanding the possibilities of high-quality finishing of premises. And it can sometimes be difficult to understand this diversity. Therefore, this publication will examine the types of wallpaper offered today, weigh their advantages and disadvantages, and give general recommendations according to the choice of such finishing material.

Rating of wallpapers by type

Photo Name Rating Price
#1


⭐ 95 / 100 1 - vote
#2

Vinyl wallpapers ⭐ 85 / 100
#3


Paper wallpaper ⭐ 70 / 100
#4


⭐ 65 / 100
#5


Glass wallpaper ⭐ 55 / 100

Types of wallpaper based on material of manufacture

There are currently many types of wallpaper available for sale made using various materials natural and artificial origin. To begin with, let's just list them, and then look at each type more closely.

  • Paper wallpaper.
  • Vinyl wallpaper on paper or non-woven backing.
  • Acrylic wallpaper, also on paper or non-woven backing.
  • Fabric (textile) wallpaper.
  • Wallpaper made from natural materials - cork, bamboo, etc.
  • Wallpaper based on fiberglass.
  • Metallic wallpaper.

Somewhat apart from this list we can note liquid wallpaper, as well as photo wallpaper. The differences here are not so much in the material of manufacture, but, in the first case, in the texture and technology of applying the material, and in the second, in the specifics of the design of the canvases and their configuration.

Paper wallpaper

Wallpaper made from paper is currently the most inexpensive category, which is one of the main advantages. This, by the way, does not at all indicate a lack of quality: modern paper canvases are far from the simple wallpaper that was offered for sale a couple of decades ago.


Another remarkable quality of paper wallpaper is its environmental friendliness. In addition, the structure of the paper allows water vapor to pass through well, meaning that excess dampness will never accumulate under the finishing on the walls - an optimal environment for the development of various microflora such as mold or mildew.

The design of paper wallpaper is striking in its diversity - for every taste and color, in various designs - colorful designs, relief embossing, and structured textures with the introduction of solid or thread inclusions into the paper fibers. It must be said right away that in terms of the ability to decorate walls, paper wallpaper is in no way inferior to any other, and sometimes even surpasses them in these indicators.

Wallpaper of two types: simplex and duplex

  • Simplex- This is a single-layer wallpaper, that is, a design is simply applied to the paper canvas.
  • Duplex- this is a combination of two paper layers, the bottom of which performs a kind of “load-bearing reinforcing” function, and the outer one is responsible for decorativeness. It is in duplex versions of wallpaper that embossed or structured design is possible.

Duplex wallpaper, of course, has increased strength and durability compared to simplex, which, however, is also reflected in their cost.


Of course, paper wallpaper is not without its drawbacks, and quite significant ones:

Any paper is characterized by a “phobia of water” - its structure begins to blur due to waterlogging. This, by the way, somewhat complicates the process of gluing such wallpaper - in order for it to stick well to the wall, the glue must saturate its structure. Therefore, after coating the canvases with glue, they are given time for such impregnation, and only after that they are attached to the surface. And wet wallpaper can, in the wrong hands, begin to “creep,” wrinkle, wrinkle, and even tear. That is, when working with them, extreme care is required - an incorrectly glued canvas usually does not provide a second chance and is sent to waste.

The paper does not have outstanding abrasion resistance. That is, such a finish can easily be damaged even by seemingly very minor mechanical contacts. For this reason, paper wallpaper should not be pasted in rooms where frequent contact with the walls is possible - for example, in the hallway or corridor. But for a living room or children’s room, this is an excellent option.

The two negative qualities listed above naturally lead to the third - this finish does not like wet cleaning, especially if dirt has to be cleaned with a brush or sponge. This also limits the scope of use of paper wallpaper.

There are paper wallpapers with increased abrasion resistance, but still, even they cannot be called fully washable.

By the way, when choosing paper wallpaper it is useful to pay attention to their density. The golden mean is considered to be approximately 110÷140 g/m² - it is easier to work with them, and in addition, their density is even sufficient to hide minor flaws in the wall. Light wallpaper (density less than 110 g/m²) gets very wet and creeps when applied, and at the same time requires a perfectly prepared surface. Not only will any flaw not be hidden, but rather it will even be emphasized after the paintings dry. Well, heavy wallpaper, with a density of more than 140 g/m², will require more effort when gluing, simply due to its increased weight and reduced elasticity.

Finally, most paper wallpapers do not show resistance to ultraviolet rays. In a word, the external design of such paintings will actively fade in those areas where the sun's rays enter through the windows. This must also be kept in mind when choosing a finishing material.

Resistance to such external influences also varies - it is indicated in the characteristics of the wallpaper. This will be discussed in more detail below.

Prices for paper wallpaper

paper wallpaper

The disadvantages are significant, but they are justified by the low cost of the wallpaper. Yes, their average service life is short, usually no more than 5–7 years. But replacing them with new ones (especially since the owners often begin to get tired of the finishing within the specified period) will not entail any significant costs.

At first, someone may, simply out of ignorance, be scared off by such a name - what kind of non-woven fabric is this? But there is no reason to worry about the unnaturalness of the material. In fact, interlining is the closest relative of ordinary paper. The raw material for its production is also cellulose fibers, although they undergo a radically different processing technology. And in the end – it’s environmentally friendly pure material, completely harmless to humans and the environment. This is confirmed by very wide application non-woven fabric in medicine, including for the manufacture of sterile workwear.


Features of production technology determine the remarkable qualities that distinguish non-woven fabric from its paper “brother”.


First of all, it is necessary to note the high strength of the material - to damage it, much greater tensile or abrasion forces are required. Moreover, moistening the material does not reduce these characteristics at all. And at the same time, all the advantages of paper, including vapor permeability, are fully preserved.

By by and large, non-woven fabric does not require, like paper, impregnation with glue - the special sparse arrangement of fibers makes this process very fast. And when finishing, it is often enough just to coat the wall with glue well. But even when wet, non-woven fabrics do not begin to swell, deform, or “float”. That is, gluing them is much easier than paper ones, which is especially important for inexperienced repairmen. Moreover, non-woven wallpaper of medium and high density can hide minor defects in the wall, that is, it is often not necessary to bring the surface to perfect smoothness. And one more advantage, also associated with elasticity - when the walls shrink, if small cracks appear on them, they will not show through the finish. In such situations, the paper usually breaks, but non-woven fabric is able to cope with such deformation by stretching in place.

Prices for non-woven wallpaper

non-woven wallpaper

The colors adhere perfectly to the non-woven fabric, and relief embossing is done well. And in terms of the wealth of design options, such wallpapers can easily compete with paper ones.


Plain non-woven wallpaper with a textured pattern is also available - they are intended for subsequent painting in the shade chosen by the owners.

We can mention one more feature of non-woven wallpaper, which, with different approaches, is regarded as both a disadvantage and an advantage. If you look again at the illustration with the non-woven fabric, its translucent structure is clearly noticeable. That is, thin non-woven wallpaper may show through a little after gluing. And this, in turn, means that the surface for finishing must be carefully prepared - primed with one color so that “stains” do not break through the wallpaper. For example, if it is pasted over plasterboard wall, should not be puttied over the entire area, and not just along the joint lines of gypsum plasterboard sheets and in the locations of the self-tapping screws. However, it is advisable to completely putty the plasterboard surface under any wallpaper, but for a slightly different reason.

How is it recommended to prepare walls before wallpapering?

You should not rely too much on the ability of wallpaper to hide defects in the wall surface. Yes, surface preparation is not carried out with such “fanaticism” as for painting, but it still requires care. A special publication on our portal will tell you more about this. And another article will give recommendations.

But this “translucency” is often considered by some interior designers as an advantage. Such qualities of non-woven fabric open up very wide horizons for completely exclusive wall design, with a peculiar tint “illumination from within”.

Finally, it should be noted that non-woven fabric, like paper, is widely used as a base layer in the manufacture of many other types of wallpaper, which will be discussed below.

Vinyl wallpapers

But with this type of wallpaper, the naturalness is already “lame”. Such canvases are made by spraying a layer of polymer - polyvinyl chloride (colloquially - vinyl) onto a paper or non-woven base, on which either a colorful pattern, a relief pattern, or a combination of both is then applied.


This external coating dramatically changes the performance of the finish. The canvas becomes waterproof, that is, they can be used in rooms with high humidity and even with a high probability of direct contact with jets of water (bathtub, shower, toilet). They are not afraid of wet cleaning, including using detergents, sponges, brushes, etc. In addition, contaminants that fall on their surface are not absorbed into the structure - they freeze on the surface and become invisible after cleaning. And this is exactly what is needed for kitchen conditions.

Surface strength and abrasion resistance are an invaluable quality for rooms where walls are traditionally exposed to increased mechanical stress - corridors, hallways. In combination with the capabilities of wet cleaning, it is a very good option.

The disadvantage of such wallpaper can be considered its very low, close to zero, vapor permeability. That is, the wall is “sealed” with the finishing and is unable to “breathe”. In unfavorable conditions, this becomes a prerequisite for the appearance of pockets of mold, and the surface of the laminated walls itself can become covered with perspiration - droplets of condensation.

Prices for vinyl wallpaper

vinyl wallpapers

The solution is to provide a reliable one to prevent stagnation of moisture in the atmosphere of the room. Before covering with vinyl wallpaper, walls should be carefully prepared, including treating them with primers with an antiseptic effect.

Note that there are vinyl wallpapers with micro-perforation, that is, which have the necessary conditions for sufficient vapor permeability. But the price of such samples is much higher.

The disadvantages of vinyl wallpaper include the quite noticeable characteristic smell of plastic, which, of course, dissipates over time, but this often takes a long time.

In a word, judging by the totality of the features, the conclusion suggests itself - in residential premises, especially in children's rooms, vinyl wallpaper there is nothing to do at all. Their scope of application is kitchens, bathrooms, showers, corridors and hallways, loggias and other similar rooms.


Liquid wallpaper

By and large, this is not wallpaper at all in the classical sense of the term. They are related only by their purpose - wall decoration, and the source material - again, they are cellulose fibers, however, in fluffed and finely chopped form.


But the finishing technique is more akin to applying decorative plaster. And here it’s not enough just effort - often considerable artistic talent is also needed in order, for example, to create a beautiful multi-color composition on the wall.

What is liquid wallpaper and how do you decorate walls with it?

Some owners of houses and apartments have not even heard of this finishing method. But he has many advantages! And one of them is that you can even make them, give them the desired tint, and then apply them to the surfaces of the walls. More details about this extraordinary material can be found in a special publication on the portal.

Prices for liquid wallpaper

liquid wallpaper

Photo wallpaper

This type of finishing is also customized. Although most often photo wallpapers are made on the same bases as regular ones, they are best considered separately. The fact is that in relation to such finishing, somewhat different principles of selection and evaluation apply - decorativeness comes to the fore, sometimes to the detriment of performance.


Another peculiarity is that, unlike all other types, such wallpaper is purchased not in the number of rolls for a certain finishing area, but in a piece set. It usually includes several fragments, from which you need to create a photo panel on the wall, showing intelligence and great care.

Once upon a time, at the dawn of the appearance of photo wallpapers on the domestic market, the fashion for them was crazy. They bought indiscriminately what they could get their hands on. And, accordingly, photo wallpapers were often glued without any connection to the rest of the decoration of the room. Gradually, passions subsided, and now photo wallpapers are most often used, so to speak, “spot-on”, carefully selecting the composition. So that it really harmonizes with the decoration, becomes its complement or even the central element of the interior, “expands the space”, and gives other interesting effects. But in any case, it didn’t look outright kitsch.

Where are photo wallpapers appropriate and how to hang them yourself?

The choice of photo wallpaper should be approached very carefully - there is no guarantee that a large, full-wall image that you like today will not become a constant irritant after a few months. If you decide to purchase it, read the recommendations in a special publication on our portal.

* * * * * * *

The publication has not yet mentioned metallic (more precisely, metallized) wallpaper. The fact is that, we have to admit, the author of these lines has never had the opportunity to deal with them in his life. And talking about the advantages and disadvantages of material with which you are completely unfamiliar is, to say the least, incorrect.

Video: Review of modern types of wallpaper

What other criteria are used to evaluate and select wallpapers?

It seems that clarity has been achieved regarding which wallpapers are most suitable for which rooms. But even a material of the same type may have certain differences in terms of gluing technology, operating conditions, and even dismantling during the next repair. You should also be able to understand this.

Assessing the specific qualities of wallpaper

Finishing materials in our time are usually purchased not in markets, but in specialized stores. That is, you can count on the help of the staff. Of course, advice received from a polite and competently trained seller can be very useful. However, sometimes the desire to “melt down” stale goods can prompt “counter workers” to “embellish the reality.” That is, it makes sense to learn to read the information that is necessarily located on almost every roll, or more precisely, on its packaging label.


  • Of course, the material used to make the wallpaper is indicated (for multi-layer wallpaper, both the backing and the outer decorative layer).
  • The dimensions of the canvas in the roll must be indicated (in the example shown in the illustration, highlighted with a red ellipse and arrow).

Roll sizes are most often standardized. And it is necessary to clarify them for calculation required quantity purchased material and for subsequent cutting of canvases.

  • Each, so to speak, “model” of wallpaper is assigned a unique number – article number (highlighted in blue). Even a very small change in the design or its color entails a change in this article. That is, when purchasing material to decorate one room, you need to make sure that the article number matches on all rolls.
  • But that's not all. Even with the same article numbers, an exact match of color tones is not guaranteed. Here the issue lies more in production technology - it is very difficult to fill production equipment with paint in ideal proportions. Hence the possible scatter, which, by the way, may be completely invisible in the store. But after gluing the wallpaper on the wall, you can appear “in all its glory.” To avoid such a “failure”, it is necessary to purchase rolls from strictly one batch (highlighted in green). With this choice, differences in color tones will be completely eliminated.
  • The label also contains a number of pictograms indicating the features of this type wallpaper (highlighted in the illustration with a purple frame and arrow). If you know how to decipher them, the picture will become completely clear. So take it into your “arms”:

A. Symbols indicating the resistance of the wallpaper to wet cleaning.

PictogramDecoding the meaning
Wallpaper is not moisture resistant. Humidification is allowed only when gluing them to the wall.
Periodic wet cleaning without the application of mechanical force is allowed.
Wallpaper with increased moisture resistance, allowing an unlimited number of wet cleanings, but without the use of abrasive loads.
The wear resistance of the wallpaper allows it to be cleaned wet using brushes.
Wallpaper with increased moisture and wear resistance. The number of wet cleanings using abrasive action and household cleaning products is not limited.

B. Symbols indicating the wallpaper's resistance to fading.

PictogramDecoding the meaning
Fade resistance is virtually non-existent. Wallpaper should be pasted only in the “shadow” zone.
Weak resistance to ultraviolet exposure.
Moderate resistance to ultraviolet exposure.
High resistance to fading - the wallpaper is also suitable for sunny rooms.
Maximum resistance to ultraviolet radiation - the wallpaper will retain its original richness of colors, regardless of their location, throughout the entire period of use.

B. Symbols indicating the peculiarities of gluing and removing wallpaper.

PictogramDecoding the meaning
The glue is applied to the wallpaper.
The glue is applied only to the wall.
Wallpaper equipped adhesive layer, which requires moistening with water to activate
The wallpaper is removed from the wall dry in whole sheets.
When the wallpaper is removed, it delaminates - the bottom layer (backing) remains on the wall.
To remove wallpaper you need to moisten it.

By the way, let’s clarify one question - is it good that the bottom layer (more often this applies to non-woven bases) remains glued to the wall? Yes, finishers often use this. The remaining layer of non-woven fabric becomes a good reinforcing “mesh”, on which the putty fits perfectly for any further finishing, for example, painting or gluing new wallpaper.

D. Additional wallpaper information icons

PictogramDecoding the meaning
Double-layer wallpaper with an embossed relief pattern.
Wallpaper with increased surface strength, resistance to mechanical stress and scratching.
It is recommended to glue the wallpaper overlapping, followed by cutting through and removing the cut fragments.
Wallpaper is part of a conceptual collection, that is, additional interior accessories can be purchased for it - curtains, furniture covers, baseboards and other elements of the general decoration of the room.

Other signs of additional information are possible. Their meaning is usually easy to guess intuitively.

And another rather large and extremely important group of icons remained unexamined. This was done intentionally - we will get acquainted with it in the last section of the publication, devoted to calculating the number of wallpapers.

Types of wallpaper: photo






How to determine the required number of rolls of wallpaper?

When the necessary wallpaper has, in principle, been selected, it is time to calculate the required quantity.

At first glance, everything seems completely obvious. The length and width of a roll of wallpaper is known, that is, it is easy to calculate its area. It will also not be difficult to measure the walls along the perimeter and height. The area ratio will show the number of rolls.
Right?

No not like this.

There are several more important rules to consider that will directly affect the calculation results.

Let's go in order.

First of all, the axiom is observed - the surface along the entire length from floor to ceiling (or, more precisely, from the lower to the upper edge of the area being pasted) must be covered with one solid sheet. Horizontal joints are completely excluded. That is, if, when cutting a roll into solid sheets, even very long pieces remain, but still insufficient to cover the area, their use is sharply limited - only for filling small fragments of walls, for example, above doors, above and below windows, etc.

So very important parameter becomes the number of whole webs that can be cut from one roll.

When cutting, of course, the height of the section plays an important role. It should be remembered that the technology for properly gluing wallpaper requires allowances at the top and bottom, approximately 20÷30 mm, which will then be carefully trimmed to fit a ruler, for example, along the line of the ceiling and floor plinth, or simply along the intended horizontal line. That is, when calculating, about 50 mm is added to the measured height of the area being pasted.

A simple example. The length of the roll is 10.05 m. It is necessary to cut it into sheets for pasting the area with a “clean” height of 2.2 m. To this height another 0.05 m is added for allowances at the top and bottom. In total, it turns out that 10.05 / 2.25 = 4.46, that is, four full canvases and a remainder of 0.46 × 2.25 = 1.04 m, which will have to look for another use (spoiler - it is usually found) .

But that's not all. It also happens that the number of whole canvases becomes even smaller.

To sort this out, let's move on to considering those remaining pictograms that carry information about the order of the wallpaper on the wall when it is heated and the peculiarities of the mutual joining of the canvases.

To begin with, just the icons, then we’ll look at them in more detail.

№№ PictogramDecoding the meaning
1 All canvases are glued in the direction indicated by the arrow.
2 The wallpaper has a “reversible” pattern, that is, each subsequent canvas rotates 180 degrees relative to the previous one.
3 The pattern on the wallpaper does not require any alignment.
4 The drawing requires alignment, but without vertical shift.
5 The drawing requires alignment with a vertical shift of the canvases.
6 The step of the pattern (its repeat) and the amount of vertical shift equal to half the repeat.

1 - this icon does not impose any additional requirements when performing calculations.

2 - such wallpapers are rare, and usually their design does not require horizontal alignment. As a rule, vertical lines prevail on such canvases. An example is shown in the illustration below.


It is quite obvious that cutting of web from a roll can be done from any arbitrary point.

3 - also a very convenient option for cutting and gluing: the design does not require alignment, you just need to join the edges of the sheets. Marking when cutting can also be done from a completely arbitrary point, that is, the cutting line of the previous blade becomes the starting point for the next one.


It is clear that when such wallpaper is heated, the combination of the pattern is limited to just neat joining of the edges of adjacent panels

4 - here it’s a little more complicated. The drawing requires horizontal alignment, and when cutting, usually all canvases begin their measurement from one point in the drawing.


When cutting, it is possible that strips of wallpaper will end up in scraps. It is easy to understand that in the most unfavorable situation, the length of these strips can be close to the repeat value.

5 - even more difficult option, when in order to combine the pattern, each successive canvas has to be shifted vertically to the height of half the repeat.


When cutting such wallpaper, a situation may again arise with a considerable number of scraps, similar to the previous example.

6 - this pictogram indicates the height of the repeat in centimeters and the amount of displacement of the canvases. Very helpful information to carry out calculations.

Thus, when determining the number of canvases from one roll, it makes sense to also take into account the height of the repeat. That is, the number of solid canvases may decrease.

Interestingly, experienced finishers strive to minimize losses by using various tricks. So, under certain circumstances, “cross” cutting can help. That is, from the first roll, for example, canvases No. 1, No. 3 and No. 5 are cut, from the second – No. 2, No. 4 and No. 6. The alternation may be different - it all depends on the initial data. But to evaluate the possibility of such an approach, experience is certainly required. Although, if mathematical thinking is well developed, why not try to calculate this option?

So, if the perimeter of the room (or the length of the areas for finishing) is known, then it is easy to calculate how many canvases of standard width will be required to completely cover the walls. And then this value is divided by the number of canvases obtained from one roll. The result, of course, will be the required number of rolls.

There are often recommendations to immediately add another spare roll to the received quantity. There is a sound grain in this, but you still need to evaluate the circumstances, as they say, on the spot. Rolls come in different sizes, including one meter wide and 25 meters long! Will you need such a supply? – I think it’s unlikely. In addition, the cost of an extra roll for some high-end wallpaper can seriously hit your pocket. So caution is required in this matter.

Surely questions will follow - what to do with window doorways? Should they be subtracted from the total area of ​​the wall, or should they be taken as a continuous surface?

It should be correctly understood that there are no absolute methods for calculating the amount of wallpaper - in any specific case there will certainly be some nuances. This, in particular, applies to doors with windows.

Again, you need to be thoughtful when assessing the situation. For example, a room has only one standard door and one standard window. It would probably be reasonable to “ignore” them in the calculations, taking them as solid wall. The surplus will be small and will probably be used to cover small fragments of walls. But if, say, a hall with several doors is being finished, or a room with panoramic glazing, then, of course, it makes sense to exclude the width of windows and doors from the overall perimeter. And the areas above the doors and windows will be covered using the stock created or formed during cutting.

Below, the reader will be offered a calculator for calculating the number of rolls of wallpaper, built on the considered algorithm. Entering initial data after the explanation should not raise any questions. And therefore, just a few words about the results of the calculations.

The result will be shown as a whole number, that is, rounded up. This value does not include the recommended reserve roll.

In addition, another indicator is given below - this is the same result, but with an accuracy of tenths of the roll length. Why - no one in the store sells wallpaper like that? Yes, just so that the user can immediately assess what kind of reserve he has created, and whether it makes sense to stock up on an additional roll. For example, with both 7.1 and 7.8 the rounded result will be shown as 8 rolls. But in the first case, there is already almost a whole roll left in stock, and, apparently, there is no need for additional ones. And in the second, you can think about purchasing one extra one.

Read the detailed illustrated instructions in our new article on our portal -

Please use it, but be thoughtful about it.

Wallpaper is a popular covering for wall decoration. They are so varied that they are suitable for finishing as budget rooms, and expensive interiors. But when it comes to choosing the right type, many simply take the material at random, focusing on external characteristics. In this article we will talk in detail about the types of wallpaper, how they differ from each other and which one is better to choose.

  • paper;
  • non-woven;
  • vinyl;
  • acrylic;
  • natural;
  • fiberglass;
  • textile;
  • metal;
  • liquid.

Some of them can be used as a base for painting. These are paper, vinyl with non-woven backing and glass wallpaper.

Any of the types has wide choose design, many patterns and colors. To enhance the effect, you can try. Let's talk specifically about each of them.

When choosing wallpaper, buy rolls from the same batch: the shades of colors in different batches may vary slightly.

Paper

The cheapest and most common type of wallpaper, made entirely of paper. There are both single-layer (simplex) and double-layer (duplex). Most often the surface is smooth, but sometimes they are produced with relief.


Advantages:

  • low price - from 50-100 rubles. per roll;
  • environmental friendliness - can be used in the nursery and bedroom;
  • allow air to pass through, so the walls can “breathe”;
  • the simplest gluing process.

Flaws:

  • fragility: light spots appear quickly, maximum period of use is 5 years;
  • fear of moisture (if dirt appears, you cannot wash it);
  • drawings fade in the sun;
  • absorb odors.

The quality of the paper roll depends on the density of the material. Good quality wallpaper should weigh 110-140 g/m2. m.

Flesilinovye

Their base is made of non-woven fabric, nonwoven fabric with high density. Essentially this is the same paper, only with the addition of fabric fibers.


Advantages of non-woven wallpaper:

  • high strength, unlike paper types;
  • allow air to pass through;
  • do not shrink after drying;
  • when wet, the material does not swell;
  • hide small cracks on the surface;
  • environmentally friendly, durable and wear-resistant;
  • easy to glue: only cover the wall with glue;
  • Well suited for finishing walls and ceilings.

Such wallpaper is used for painting if foamed vinyl is applied to the non-woven base.

Non-woven wallpaper without a vinyl layer is considered harmless. They tend to be harder to find and more expensive. Also, safe wallpaper must be certified according to GOST 6810-2002 “Wallpaper”.


Vinyl is a type of wallpaper coated with foam vinyl. The base material is paper or non-woven fabric. The surface can be smooth and embossed, as well as in silk-screen printing style.


  • moisture-resistant, they can be washed and cleaned (should be indicated on the packaging, ideal for hallways);
  • retain color for a long time, almost do not fade;
  • relief designs visually hide small unevenness of the walls;
  • There are types for painting that can be repainted up to ten times.

The disadvantages include airtightness, so it is better not to use them in the children's room and bedroom.


Read more about it in a separate article.

Acrylic wallpaper

Acrylic wallpaper looks very similar to vinyl. Foamed acrylic is used as the front layer.

Due to the thinner layer of acrylic, they are not as durable. Spraying is applied in a pointwise manner, therefore acrylic wallpaper capable of passing air.

Natural wallpaper

Elite types of wallpaper for the hall are made from natural materials. Cork, jute, straw, veneer, bamboo, reed, and seaweed are used as the top layer; Most often, paper is used as a base. Some of them have a non-woven base.


In most cases, the width of the rolls is natural material is 91 cm, and length is 5.5 or 10 m.

To glue this type, use regular wallpaper glue, depending on the base. For a paper base it is applied only to the canvas, for a non-woven base - on the wall, and if the canvas is heavy - both here and there.

  • Natural materials create a cozy interior, very warm to the touch;
  • the material is completely environmentally friendly;
  • To protect them from dust, they are coated with special impregnations.


The disadvantages of natural wallpaper include:

  • fear of moisture (the paint is water-based and can easily lose color when wet);
  • difficult gluing process;
  • high price (because of this, they are rarely glued to all walls, only for zoning and highlighting accents);
  • Due to the nature of the natural material, the joints between the canvases remain visible.
  • bright colors can lose color when exposed to the sun in just one season.

When wiping dust from natural types of wallpaper, you cannot use wet cleaning. It is acceptable to use a vacuum cleaner or brush away dust with a long-bristled brush.

Glass wallpaper

Fiberglass wallpaper is optimal for use in new construction that is shrinking. They are also often used in offices.

They are produced using the weaving method from glass fibers, so they have increased tensile strength and are environmentally friendly. Unlike glass wool, they do not prick when touched. After gluing them, it is recommended to paint the walls with latex or water-based paints.

Among the advantages of glass wallpaper:

  • greater durability and wear resistance;
  • service life is about 30 years, if necessary, you can repaint the top layer up to 15 times;
  • protection of walls from cracks;
  • fiberglass does not burn, is not afraid of water or smoke;
  • the material does not create a breeding ground for microorganisms, fungi and mold, therefore eliminating the most common causes of allergies;

The disadvantages include little choice designs, the most popular of them: matting, herringbone, rhombus. The walls look rather boring.

Textile wallpaper

The front part is made of natural materials: silk, linen, cotton, jute, velor. The base is made of paper or non-woven fabric. At production, they are treated with an antistatic and fireproof solution. Sometimes the covering is made of synthetic fabrics; such material is easier to care for and can be vacuumed if necessary.


Advantages:

  • First of all, fabric trim looks expensive and exclusive.
  • completely environmentally friendly material;
  • some flax-based types have antiseptic properties;
  • They are resistant to sun exposure and additionally have heat and sound insulation.
  • There are types with increased roll width, which allows you to create a seamless coating.

The disadvantages include low resistance to dust, dirt, odors, moisture and exposure to pets. Since this is a designer type of finish, it has a high price. An experienced specialist will be required for gluing.

Metal wallpaper


Metallic wallpaper varieties are perfect for high-tech interiors. They cast beautiful reflections in the sun, and additional lighting will only embellish them and show all their advantages. The interior will be filled with gold, silver or bronze sparkles.

  • metal wallpaper is attractive due to its beautiful appearance;
  • the decorative layer consists of thin aluminum foil, which provides high wear resistance;
  • are not afraid of exposure to sunlight and do not lose color over time;
  • easy to clean;
  • have good sound insulation;


Of course, the price per roll remains high. And before gluing it is required to be perfect, otherwise the thin foil will wrinkle.

Liquid wallpaper

One of the most unusual types is liquid wallpaper. They combine best qualities roll coverings and .

Without experience, it is easy to confuse them appearance with structural plaster. However, liquid wallpaper differs in composition: sand is not used in production; cellulose, a harmless adhesive, is used as the main component. To give a pleasant look, they contain decorative fibers, glitter, and natural dyes.


Liquid wallpaper is sold in the form of a dry powder, which is diluted with water before use. The price for one package weighing 1 kg with a simple structure starts from 360 rubles, it is enough for 4-5 square meters. m. when applied thin layer(1 mm). Usually the price depends on the number of decorative particles in the mixture; the brighter it is, the more expensive it is.

A master class on applying liquid wallpaper is shown in the video:


They are seriously different from ordinary wallpaper and have the following number of advantages:
  • there are no joints during application;
  • create an unusual relief structure;
  • can level walls, so finishing time is reduced;
  • environmentally friendly material;
  • have antistatic properties, do not attract dust;
  • service life 6-8 years.

Drying time after applying the mixture is up to 48 hours. It is not recommended to use liquid wallpaper in damp rooms due to its high hygroscopicity.

Photo wallpaper

Photo wallpapers are also worth mentioning. They allow you to get almost any pattern on the entire wall: flowers, cities, nature, ocean. Most often, a self-adhesive base is used for their application.



We looked at almost all types of wallpaper for walls. Now it’s easy to choose the best option for your room, depending on the conditions, requirements and financial capabilities.