There’s no better way to add color, pattern, and texture to your walls all at once than wallpaper.  Wallpaper comes in a variety of materials as well as patterns.  Todays wallcoverings range from vinyl to natural materials, from plain to pattern designs.

We’re back to loving interest, detail, and texture. Today people are buying designer wallpapers with softened metallics, textures that resemble animal skin, tone-on-tones, floral and damasks. The selections are endless.

Below is information to assist you in selecting the best designer wallcoverings for your needs that are available in todays market.

Wallpaper Materials

Borders

Borders aren’t a pattern, but a kind of wallcovering that accents your décor. They come in almost every material that your wallpaper does. You can use a border by itself or to accent matching wallpaper. Use it as a chair rail in a dining room, to outline a staircase, or to draw attention to a dormer or arched window. Borders define an area.

Embossed

Embossed wallpaper is a heavyweight, decorative paper that can be painted after hanging. Usually applied to a ceiling but is now becoming very popular on walls as well.  Embossed wallpaper is an elegant touch for any formal room.

Flocked                                                                    

Made from washable rayon and nylon, flocked wallpaper contains patterns cut in velvet pile. More traditional in style, it adds warmth to a formal living room, hall, foyer or any room and is good for hiding imperfect walls. Although rarely used today, it’s very appropriate for period homes.

Foil

There are two types of foil wallpaper: aluminum laminated to paper and simulated metallic. Be careful where you hang foil wallpaper, it shows every imperfection. However, it can be a beautiful touch to spruce up a darker area of your home, a bathroom, kitchen or any room.

Grasscloth

You can achieve a textured, natural look with the long, natural grass imported specifically for grasscloth wallpaper. Although the color can vary slightly (because of the natural material) and the seams are harder to conceal, grasscloth is often used to create a warm and inviting look in living rooms.

Liner                                                                         

A heavy bond paper used to smooth out irregularities in brick, cinderblock, paneled, or badly cracked walls in order to provide a smooth surface for your new wallpaper or paint. Use this before painting or wallpapering a difficult wall. Wall liner usually comes unpasted and must be applied with a special paste, although pasted wall liner is available. Wall liner is hung in horizontal strips unlike traditional wallpaper, which is normally hung vertically.

Paper

More delicate than vinyl, paper wallpaper is best for your living room, dining room, or another low-maintenance room in your home.

Vinyl

Of all the kinds of wallpaper, vinyl is the most versatile and durable. Best suited for areas such as kitchens and bathrooms, it comes in a great variety and a broad price range. For do-it-yourselfers, it’s also the easiest to hang. There are 3 kinds of vinyl wallpapers: a vinyl sheet attached to a paper back, a vinyl sheet attached to a cloth back, and vinyl-impregnated cloth attached to a paper back. Use vinyl wallpaper in children’s rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, or anywhere in your home!