Wallpaper has evolved into a crucial part of interior design as a substitute to a coat of paint for covering and decorating walls in homes and offices among other places.

The use of wallpaper dates back in the 17th century with simple hand painted and wood block printed pieces.

The practice has over the centuries evolved into new digital and high tech 21st century technologies where some wallpapers are coated with silver ink that can block certain Wi-Fi and mobile phone signal for privacy purposes.

There are many benefits of using wall paper in comparison to painting a wall in an interior. For example:-

  • Wallpapers have a huge variety of decorating options since they come in numerous designs, colours and patterns.
  • They do a better job of hiding imperfections on walls compared to a coat of paint.
  • Most wall papers are coated therefore easy to clean without fading unlike most paint works.
  • Some wallpaper can be painted on, which enables tenants to incorporate their personal colour scheme and style.
  • It is very long lasting and when properly fixed can last up to 3 times longer than paint.

Wallpaper is available in diverse types mostly dependent on the material used and sometimes what we call wallpaper might not be made of paper at all.

The most common types of wallpaper in the market include:

1.) Lining paper
Like the name suggests, the wallpaper is used as an under layer for good surface preparation especially over rough walls before the installation of delicate wallpapers such as paper backed foil wall papers.

2.) Vinyl paper
This is basically pure vinyl laminated onto linen or paper backing. It is durable and easy to clean, and can therefore be used in service areas such as children playrooms, and living rooms among others.

3.) Vinyl coated wallpaper
This is a paper whose face has been coated with a vinyl or acrylic coating. The decorative design is first applied on the paper before the coat is applied.

It is very long lasting, water resistant and stain resistant therefore best suited for kitchen and bathroom décor.

4.) Embossed paper
This refers to a paper whose face is embellished with raised designs while the reverse is hollow creating a textured effect. They are best suited for slightly damaged walls since the raised patterns perfectly cover the imperfections.

5.) Metallic/foil wallpaper
Foil papers incorporate the use of a large amount of metal on their surface, the most commonly used metal being aluminium.

Designs are then printed on top of the shiny metallic finish. If your wall is not in good condition it is advisable to avoid the foil wallpaper since it heightens the imperfections.

6.) Borders
These are vinyl coated strips which are used along ceiling lines, moulding chair rail, base boards and around doors and windows.

They are available in a wide variety of designs and widths and can be used on both wallpaper covered or painted walls to create contrast in the interior.

7.) Fiber glass wallpaper
This is a sheet material made from glass fibers woven and bonded together. It is strong, flame resistant and a great solution to wall imperfections such as cracks, flaking paint and dampness.

Fiber glass wallpaper can be painted on many times without getting worn out and is great for corporates which require regular branding changes.

If you decide to make the wallpaper installation a DIY project, it is very important that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter for best results since some materials are very delicate to work with.