A cozy interior is necessarily beautifully decorated walls. You can use paint, panels and other materials to finish them. But the most popular option is wallpaper. They play a serious role in the perception of the entire interior as a whole. Therefore, it is important to choose the right design for them.
In addition, you need to pay attention to the performance characteristics. We will tell you about all these nuances in detail in the article.
What to consider when choosing wallpaper
Of course, they must match the style of the interior and look harmonious, but no less important factor is their quality.
What you need to pay attention to:
- Environmental friendliness. They must be made of safe materials.
- Moisture resistance. This is especially important for the kitchen and children’s room.
- Density.
- Easy to care for.
- Resistance to fading and abrasion.
- Fire resistance.
Good wallpapers that meet all of the above criteria may cost more than lower-quality counterparts. But in the future you will feel that they fully justify their cost. They will not have to be re-glued for many years.
Types of wallpaper
All modern wallpapers are divided into several types. They should be selected based on the characteristics of your room.
Paper wallpaper
They can have either one layer or two. The choice is huge: plain smooth, with three-dimensional patterns and drawings, grooved. When choosing, pay attention to the weight – the heavier, the higher the quality.
This type is the cheapest, but also the most unreliable.
Vinyl wallpaper
The decorative layer of vinyl wallpaper is made of vinyl, which makes them durable. The base is of two types: paper and non-woven. The latter is preferable, since they are easier to stick and have a longer service life.
Acrylic wallpaper
A cheap alternative to vinyl. Acrylic wallpaper is made of paper, which plays the role of the bottom layer, and foamed acrylic. They have a high level of breathability, but are inferior to vinyl analogues in terms of service life.
Non-woven wallpaper
They combine the advantages of paper and vinyl wallpaper. They contain 70% cellulose, the rest is binding materials. They have an increased density without losing their breathability and practicality.
As a rule, the surface of non-woven wallpaper is embossed. If you want to transform the interior, they can be easily repainted several times. They also have an adhesive layer that simplifies their bonding.
Glass wallpaper
The basis of such wallpaper is fiberglass made from sand. Fiberglass is made by the woven method, and after gluing it requires painting.
Among the advantages of fiberglass: environmental friendliness, fire resistance, breathability, moisture resistance and high strength.
Liquid wallpaper
They are a dry mixture that needs to be diluted with water, then applied to the walls. The mixture is based on glue, fiber filler, dye and sometimes decorative sequins.
How to choose the right type of wallpaper
The first step is to decide for which room you choose the finishing materials. Their characteristics should correspond to the room. For example, for a children’s room, the most successful option would be wear-resistant washable wallpaper. Also think about whether you plan to repaint the walls in the future.
Pay attention to the symbols on the label. It contains all the information: the level of moisture and light resistance, the rules of care, the features of gluing. When calculating the number of rolls, you will also have to refer to the labeling.
Take into account the features of the room where you plan to glue them:
- You can choose any option for the living room and bedroom. Textile ones look especially interesting – they make the interior more expensive and elegant.
- It is best to glue vinyl wallpaper to the kitchen – it is easy to wash off any dirt from them, which cannot be said about paper analogues.
- The same rule applies to the hallway. There is a big risk of staining the wallpaper with dirty shoes, so you need them to be moisture resistant.
- For the bathroom, you should choose washable, glass wallpaper is also suitable.
- Paper wallpaper is best for a children’s room. Children often paint on the walls, so it will not be a pity to change the decoration. A good solution is to purchase glass walls that can be repainted several times. Also an interesting option is a special wallpaper for drawing in the nursery. They come in three types: marker, chalk and coloring. In the first two cases, the drawings may be erased.
How to choose a color
Poorly chosen wallpaper can spoil the whole impression of the room. They should look harmoniously in the interior and not stand out, unless, of course, you set a goal to focus on one of the walls. Even when wallpaper becomes an accent of interior design, you need to remember the rules of color combinations and the features of the room.
When choosing a color, pay attention to:
- The size of the room. Color can greatly change the visual perception of space. In small rooms, you should not make black walls, as the room will become even more cramped and uncomfortable. It is better to choose light colors. They will create a sense of spaciousness. White, beige, light gray will help to create a relaxed and calm atmosphere. These are neutral colors, which are also great for creating a restrained background, so that you can switch all attention to furniture. In spacious rooms it is quite possible to use dark colors. However, it is still not necessary to design all the walls in this way – one or two will be enough.
- Color saturation. Too bright colors should be used only in large rooms and as a single accent, otherwise they will start to irritate. They can decorate the wall behind the bed in the bedroom. She is rarely in sight, so bright colors will not bother.
- Lighting and location of windows. There is always a lack of natural light in the rooms facing north. Warm colors will help make them more cozy: beige, yellow, peach, pale pink, orange and the like. Cold tones, on the contrary, will be appropriate in rooms on the sunny side.
- Wallpaper density. If you choose light wallpaper, they can often shine through, emphasizing the shortcomings and irregularities of the walls. In this case, before gluing them, the surface should be painted with water-based paint.
How to choose a pattern
A few tips on how to choose the right pattern:
- Use small patterns on only one wall.
- Dark wallpaper with a large pattern on one of the walls is a win–win way to visually lengthen the room.
- Bright wallpaper should be supported by interior items of the same color. For example, combine a red accent wall with a small red armchair.
- The horizontal stripe visually expands the walls, and the vertical stripe visually lifts.
How to calculate the number of rolls before buying
For the correct calculation, you need:
- Calculate the total area of the room, subtract the door and window openings from the resulting value.
- Divide the result by the area of the wallpaper roll. It is indicated in the instructions or on the label.
- Add an extra roll of wallpaper in reserve.
- Remember that the drawings and ornaments must match when pasting. Because of this, additional materials will be required.
Is it worth saving when choosing
One of the common mistakes is buying the cheapest finishing materials. It is worth remembering that the higher the quality, the more durable and beautiful repairs you will get.
Wallpaper is the basis of the room, its background, which can be both accent and neutral. In any case, poor-quality finishing materials are always noticeable.
In the store, it may seem that cheap wallpaper is not so bad. However, when pasting them, you are likely to encounter a lot of problems: they can tear, crumple, emphasize the irregularities of the walls. Over time, the pattern often fades or is completely erased.
It will not be difficult to choose good finishing materials, the main thing is to take into account all the nuances described in the article. If they are chosen correctly, they will definitely transform the interior and will delight the owners with beauty and quality for a long time.