IN THIS POST
– Pros of using wallpaper
– Cons of using wallpaper
– Wallpaper vs paints
– Types of wallpaper material
– Types of wallpaper application
Does your home décor look a little outdated? Are you struggling to freshen up your living room, bedroom or entryway? Updating the interior of your home can be a little overwhelming as it requires a lot of time, money and patience. However, if you’re looking for a quick solution, using wallpaper is an easy and effective way to add personality to any room in your home. Depending on your personal taste and style preference, you can use different types of wallpapers to create accent walls in different rooms or go bold with a fully-wallpapered room.
Wallpapers are available in a variety of colours, textures, patterns, designs and materials. So, whether you are a fan of eye-catching floral prints or want to opt for trendy geometric designs, you can use wallpaper to give your space a whole new look.
In order to help you brighten up your home and add a creative flair to your décor, we’ve brought you a complete guide detailing the pros and cons of using wallpapers as well as their types based on material and application.
Let’s start with the benefits of using wallpaper in your home.
What Are The Advantages of Using Wallpaper?
Here are some of the reasons why you should consider applying wallpaper in your rooms:
- Wallpaper can help hide the poor condition of your walls by covering up the imperfections
- There are different types of wallpapers available for every budget
- Most types of wallpaper are easy to install and remove
- They are more durable than paint
- Depending on their quality, some wallpaper types can last up to 15 years
- Most types of wallpapers are easy to clean and maintained
- You can use wallpaper to decorate a rental property as you can install and remove it without leaving any traces on the surface
What Are The Disadvantages of Using Wallpaper?
Just like everything else, there are a few downsides of installing wallpaper as well. Let’s take a look:
- Installing wallpaper is usually more expensive than painting your walls
- Some wallpaper types don’t fare well in a humid and damp atmosphere. Often times, their edges begin to peel away from the wall
- Matching patterns at the seam while installing wallpapers can be a little difficult sometimes, especially if you have no prior experience doing so
- You can’t apply wallpaper on textured or raw concrete walls
- Low-quality wallpapers may have to be replaced every 3 to 5 years
Which One Is Better: Wallpaper or Paint?
When it comes to deciding between wallpaper and paint, there are two main things that you must keep in mind: your budget and the condition of your walls.
While it is cheaper to paint a room than it is to apply wallpaper, a fresh coat of paint is usually not enough to hide dents, surface cracks and other imperfections on your wall. In addition to that, wallpaper usually has a longer life-span, so the cost evens out over the years. Meanwhile, the paint needs to be freshened up every once in a while.
You can learn more about choosing wallpaper vs paint for your room in our detailed guide on the topic.
Types of Wallpaper: Material
Based on their materials, here are the most popular types of wallpaper used in homes across Pakistan.
- Paper Wallpaper
- Fabric Wallpaper
- Vinyl Wallpaper
- Fibreglass Wallpaper
- Non-Woven Wallpaper
Let’s discuss the features as well as the pros and cons of these wallpaper types.
Traditional Paper Wallpaper
The traditional paper wallpaper is the most popular and widely-used wall covering in Pakistan. It is composed of cellulose and can be single (simplex) or double (duplex) layered, the latter of which can be embossed for a 3-D effect.
These wallpapers are hypoallergenic and eco-friendly. Even the adhesive paste used to install paper wallpapers is free of chemical additives, making it a healthy choice for your home. They are also one of the most affordable types of wallpaper available in the market.
However, traditional paper wallpapers are not washable and cannot withstand moisture for extended periods of time.
Pros of Traditional Paper Wallpaper:
- Budget-friendly
- Easily available
- Wide range of colours and designs
- Eco-friendly
Cons of Traditional Paper Wallpaper:
- Less resistant to moisture
- Not washable
- Exposure to sunlight may cause discolouration
Fabric Wallpaper
These wallpapers never go out of style. Made of materials such as linen, silk, cotton, velvet and felt, fabric wallpapers are a great solution to decorate bare walls. They are also easy to install, remove and replace.
Fabric wallpapers are available in a variety of textures and designs. Owing to its porous nature, this type of wallpaper doesn’t harbour bacteria or germs, provides insulation and has the ability to withstand the moist or humid climate. However, it is not an ideal choice for bathrooms and kitchen.
Pros of Fabric Wallpaper:
- Budget-friendly
- Easy to remove and replace
- Allows the walls to breathe
- Less susceptible to mould growth
Cons of Fabric Wallpaper:
- Can discolour due to heat
- Not suitable for liquid cleaners
Vinyl Wallpaper
Wondering which is the most durable type of wallpaper?
Well, the answer is vinyl. Considered an ideal wallpaper for the living room, kitchen and other parts of the house, it consists of two layers: a paper, fabric or fibre backing layer and a plastic layer on top.
Vinyl wallpapers are easy to clean and extremely durable. In fact, they can last up between 15 to 20 years if treated with care. These wallpapers are available in a variety of colours and patterns, with some even imitating stone, wood or concrete. Also, vinyl wallpapers usually come pre-pasted, which makes them easy to install and remove.
Pros of Vinyl Wallpaper:
- Easily washable
- Relatively affordable
- Extremely durable
Cons of Vinyl Wallpaper:
- Don’t allow the walls to breathe
- Might release toxic fumes
Fibreglass Wallpaper
Looking for eco-friendly wallpaper ideas for your home? Well, you should consider opting for fibreglass wall coverings.
Made from non-toxic natural materials such as lime, soda, quartz and dolomite that are bonded together to form a sheet, fibreglass wallpapers are known for their durability, sturdiness and insulation properties. They are also very lightweight and can be painted over if needed.
Fibreglass wallpapers can last up to 30 years without showing any signs of general wear and tear.
You can easily find fibreglass wallpapers in different designs and patterns to fit the theme of your home décor.
Pros of Fibreglass Wallpaper:
- Flame retardant
- Impervious to water damage
- Very durable
- Washable
- Hypoallergenic
Cons of Fibreglass Wallpaper:
- Slightly expensive
- Low flexibility
Non-Woven Wallpaper
It won’t be wrong to call non-woven wallpapers the latest trend in interior designing. Considered an environment-friendly alternative to vinyl wallpapers, the non-woven wallpapers are made of synthetic and natural fibres. They are completely breathable and easy to remove without ruining your wall.
This wallpaper is ideal for kitchens and bathrooms as it does not tear easily, is impervious to mould and mildew, resistant to water damage and fares well in hot temperatures. In fact, it is one of the best types of wallpaper in Pakistan.
Pros of Non-Woven Wallpaper:
- User-friendly application
- Eco-friendly nature
- Great for DIY projects
- Seams are so easy to work
- Does not expand or contract
- Washable
Cons of Non-Woven Wallpaper:
- Relatively expensive
- Not a lot of choices in terms of colours and designs
Here are some more tried and tested methods of cleaning wallpapers that you might want to check out.
Types of Wallpaper: Application
There are three main types of wallpaper based on application:
Pre-Pasted Wallpapers: You don’t need to use a messy paste to install these wallpapers. All you need to do is dip a brush into a bucket of water and use it to wet the backing on the wallpaper to activate the adhesive.
While prepasted wallpapers are easy to install, they usually do not last very long and can begin to come off at the corners.
Self-Adhesive Wallpapers: Also known as peel-and-stick wallpapers, these wall coverings can be pasted on to the surface just like a sticker. They are easy to install, remove and replace.
Non-Pasted Wallpaper: Most traditional paper wallpapers are of non-pasted variety. That means you need to prepare a paste and then apply it at the back of your wallpaper in order to install it in your room.
Although this procedure takes time, it produces the most long-lasting results.
In case you are planning to upgrade your home décor all by yourself, here is an in-depth tutorial on how to apply wallpaper that will definitely help you out.
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