Wallpaper: It’s not what you think

White Room through doorway. Photo by Breather from Stocksnap.

We’re not talking about the motel floral print that comes to mind either.

You know the one, right? 

Picture this. 

Motel sign at dusk. Photo by Jake Stark.

You’re on a road trip with family or friends. You pull over at a rest stop for the night and find yourself in a desert motel with that floral print wallpaper. It’s peeling from the edges, you can see the old yellow glue struggling to pull the paper back to the wall.

We promise, it’s not what you think.

In the wonderful modern world of wall coverings, somewhere a collective of artists conspired together and said, “Enough is enough!” and opened the door to a sea of designs and textured prints that spans further than floral print.

Some History.

Wallpaper was stated to have started in Ancient China around 200 B.C. and became popularized during the technological advancement of paper in the 20th century.

With a lot of bare walls to be covered, people began to develop long lasting paper and dyes and created ways to make the application and removal process easier.

Designs.

A small collection of Yorks wallpaper collection. Photo from the York websites product search page.

Wall coverings come in many different types which include:

• Vinyl
• Solid Sheet Vinyl
• Vinyl Coated Fabric
• Vinyl Coated Paper
• Non-Woven
• Easy-Walls
• Pre-pasted and Grasscloth

Vinyl wallpaper is mostly used due to its durability. Vinyl is easy to clean and with its ability to withstand steam, it’s a great choice for kitchens and bathrooms. 

Pre-pasted comes with an adhesive base that you won’t have to apply during installation. Just one step less.

Grasscloth is woven, made from a lot of natural materials and is also the most textured out of the other types.

Whatever wallpaper you want to use is up to you. Be sure to prep your walls and patch up any holes or cracks to ensure a smooth and seamless application. 

Installation.

Before you roll out the goods and slap them on the walls, like any design project, you want to map out the space you’ll be working with.

People Painting a house wall. photo by Roselyn Tirado.

Wallpaper and wall coverings come in rolls and measure in at 20.5 inches wide and 16.5 feet long.

Measure the length and width of the roll of paper you’re going to use, cut them into panels and then adjust those measurements to the wall you plan to work with.

The installation process has significantly advanced today with peel and stick methods. Peel and Stick aides in no longer leaving behind unwanted residue when removing wallpaper.

This is great news for those who rent spaces with little room for renovation and want to add a little flair to their environment. Instead of taking the risk to repaint over walls you can’t per property policy, it’s okay to jump for joy with knowing you have options. 

Peel and stick wall coverings have pre-added adhesive sides where all you’ll need to do is spray water on the back of the paper to activate it. 

Happy tenant, happy landlord, happy life.

Using the paste method to hang your wallpaper is the easiest to do but it can leave behind unwanted residue. You can grab a tub of Roman brand adhesive for wallpaper at almost any hardware store. 

All you’ll need is a brush to apply the paste to the back of the paper.

Before applying, be sure to soak the wallpaper. Soaking is when you prep the paper for application by letting it sit for around 8 – 12 minutes to allow the paper to settle at room temperature. 

Putting the paper up right away will cause it to expand and create more air bubbles and creases.

With either method, after soaking, use a roller to smooth out the paper to limit creases or air bubbles. Air bubbles are common during the process. They should go away once the adhesive dries. If not, you can use a pin to free the trapped air and smooth down the paper.

Depending on how you decide to install your wallpaper, it falls on the medium to intermediate level of the DIY friendly scale.