When the rough work in the room has come to its logical conclusion, it's time to tackle the artistic aspect of the repair. At this moment, many understand that a wide selection of wallpapers presented on the shelves of hardware stores and hypermarkets is not limited to colors and stylistic components.

If there is no desire to update the interior every year, it is worth taking a more thoughtful approach to the question of how to choose wallpaper and what you should pay special attention to. 

How to deal with the types of wallpaper, are there any secrets on how to make the room more comfortable and visually spacious with the help of finishing material - we will talk about all this in the article.

Types of wallpaper 

When choosing wallpaper, you should definitely pay attention to their appearance. As a rule, wallpaper consists of two layers - the base and the top decorative coating. 

According to the type of base, wallpapers are:

• paper - their peculiarity lies in the pasting technique: the adhesive composition is applied to the canvas (in some cases, to the wall and to the canvas);
• non-woven - characterized by the need to apply glue exclusively to the wall and the absence of shrinkage upon drying.

According to the type of outer (artistic) layer, the wall covering can be:

• paper;
• non-woven;
• vinyl;
• textile.

All of these types have features, advantages and disadvantages. Let's consider them in a little more detail, focusing on the main details.

paper wallpaper

The raw material for the production of paper wallpapers is paper weighing 70-200 g/m². It can be represented by specimens with one- (simplex) and two-layer (duplex) coating, smooth or with corrugated embossing, plain and with a pattern, with primed or non-primed processing of the front layer. 

Advantages of paper wallpaper:

• environmental friendliness of materials;
• low cost;
• ease of application;
• opportunity to "breathe".

Flaws:

• easily damaged;
• unstable to wet processing;
• the drawing fades in the sun.

It is worth choosing this type of wallpaper for decorating living spaces - bedrooms, living rooms and children's rooms. 

Non-woven wallpaper

The raw material for the manufacture of non-woven wall covering is a semi-synthetic non-woven material similar to paper. It contains chemically modified cellulose and polyester fibers. 

Advantages:

• environmental friendliness;
• the possibility of coloring;
• ease of application;
• ability to reinforce microcracks;
• no deformation.

Flaws:

• high price;
• air tightness (for options with a vinyl layer);
• fragility (for options with a top paper layer).

Interlining acts as an independent material for the production of wallpaper and is the basis for products with an outer paper, vinyl or fabric coating.

It has a smooth, slightly velvety surface. To give relief, the canvas is subjected to structuring by means of hot stamping, for colorization, a printed image is applied. 

Vinyl wallpapers

This type of wallpaper was named after the material of the outer layer - polyvinyl chloride. The canvas is based on paper or interlining. 

Advantages:

• strength;
• durability;
• moisture resistance;
• versatility.

Flaws:

• air tightness;
• shrinkage probability;
• the inability to be used for painting some types of wallpaper;
• high price.

With a wide variety of wall covering classifications, today you can choose one of the 5 main types of PVC wallpaper:

1. Structural with a layer of foamed vinyl - characterized by a voluminous loose structure, the use of sparkles in the upper foam layer. A great option for rooms with uneven walls.
2. Hot stamping. There are three varieties:

- heavy vinyl - has a dense two-layer coating, is produced in deep saturated colors with a bright and clear pattern;
- compact vinyl - canvases with imitation of various surfaces: stone, brick, wood;
- chemical embossing - they are distinguished by increased resistance to ultraviolet radiation and mechanical stress.

1. Silk-screen printing is the most expensive, luxurious from a visual point of view, durable (8-10 years) and moisture resistant type of canvas. It always has a paper base, characterized by the weaving of silk threads into the top layer, which can be either smooth or embossed.
2. Washable. The name itself speaks of their main ability - it is easy to clean with water. The ability to be resistant to moisture is due to the application of several layers of polyvinyl chloride, plasticizers, stabilizers, pigments and other additives on top of the base.
3. Solid or evaporated vinyl is a type of PVC wallpaper with the most environmentally friendly composition (three layers of paper and a layer of vinyl, purified from harmful substances that can evaporate).

Due to the extended performance characteristics and a wide variety of types of vinyl wallpaper, which differ in composition, method of drawing and embossing, such a canvas can be used everywhere.

But for living rooms it is better to give preference to "breathing" options with micro-holes. This will prevent the appearance of fungus and extend the period of their use.

Textile

Hide wall defects, giving the room originality, textile wallpaper will help. They have a multi-layered structure - a base made of paper or non-woven fabric and an upper layer of structural linen, velvet velor, natural cotton, thick felt or coarse jute. 

Advantages:

• high decorative qualities;
• environmental friendliness;
• a wide range of textures and colors;
• high rates of noise and heat insulation.

Flaws:

• high cost;
• absorption of foreign odors;
• difficulties in care;
• resistance to abrasion and mechanical stress.

The canvas is often sold by the meter and is used for zoning or decorating individual sections of the room.

Other types of wallpaper

In addition to the main varieties of rolled wall covering, there are other popular options.

Among them:

• photo wallpapers - canvases on a paper or non-woven base with a non-repeating pattern, suitable for visually expanding the room, applied to one or two walls;
• acrylic - have a decorative layer of foamed acrylic, freely pass air, but have low wear resistance;
• natural - an original option for zoning a room, characterized by a paper base and an outer layer of natural plant materials;
• for painting - white wallpaper is taken from paper, non-woven or fiberglass (can be repainted) with a clearly defined texture;
• liquid - they are a dense composition of cellulose, glue and decorative inclusions, they are distinguished by the possibility of repair in case of damage, they are unstable to washing.

A wide selection of wallpapers allows you to choose exactly the option that can transform the room.

How to choose the right wallpaper?

Having dealt with the types of wallpaper, you will probably wonder - which wallpaper to choose for you?

For this you need to know:

1. What room is wallpaper selected for? Bedrooms and living rooms in this case act as universal premises - any options are suitable for them; for children it is better to take eco-friendly species; for rooms subject to frequent cleaning (kitchen, corridor, bathroom), washable wallpaper should be preferred.
2. Is it necessary to camouflage wall defects - bumps, microcracks? If not, take what you like. If such a problem still exists, non-woven, vinyl and textile fabrics will help to solve it.
3. What is the level of illumination in the room? For rooms where the light of the sun does not get well, light wallpapers are suitable, for rooms facing the sun, you can take dark ones with a high level of light resistance. 
4. Are there additional "risk factors" - children, pets? In this case, take a closer look at buying washable, mechanically resistant wallpaper. 
5. What is the humidity level in the room? In kitchens and bathrooms, paper-based or moisture-resistant wallpaper is recommended; there are no restrictions for other rooms with normal natural ventilation.

You need to choose wallpaper rationally, leaning towards the factors of durability, safety and reliability, but do not forget about the color side of the issue. But which wallpaper color to choose? It is worth remembering that on the layout in the store it can be much lighter and brighter than what it will be after wallpapering the walls.

This is due to the difference in illumination and viewing angle. In addition to personal preferences, one should also be guided by the general ensemble of the interior.

Wallpaper by room type

The same canvas in different rooms can look different. Therefore, experts recommend choosing wallpaper based on the functionality of the room.

To the living room

For spacious rooms, wallpaper with a large pattern is suitable, for small rooms - with a small ornament. Rooms with a high level of lighting are “dressed” in cold shades - blue, blue, green. For poorly lit, warm colors are relevant - orange, yellow.

How to choose wallpaper with your favorite animals for walls

The choice of modern finishing materials is really huge. But how to make the right choice in this multitude and not make a mistake with the material or picture? The answer is obvious. Photo wallpapers, on which animals are depicted in a variety of angles and scenes, are a very good option for wall decor for a bedroom, living room, hallway, kitchen and even a bathroom.

Animals on the wallpaper are a real find for a child's room. Cute pets or exotic animals can live on its walls. Photomurals with dinosaurs will surely appeal to little explorers. Wallpaper with birds for walls in a small room will look beautiful and gentle. A larger room will be decorated with an image with an animal in full growth against the backdrop of nature.