Girls can be just as messy as boys – finger paints, arts and crafts there is no end to the playful mayhem that can arise. Therefore, a durable wallpaper could be the solution you are looking for, in which case vinyl wallpaper is a good option. On the other hand, you may wish for something more cost-effective that can simply be replaced more often. The advantage of the second option, which would refer to paper-back wallpaper would be that you can change the style as your child grows. With vinyl wallpaper, you need to make sure you opt for something that can withstand the tests of time in terms of design.

Types of wallpaper: Paper, non-woven, or vinyl wallpaper?

There are two broad categories when it comes to types of wallpaper – Paper or Vinyl. Whilst there are subcategories of vinyl wallpaper, it is important to understand the differences between these main categories before making a choice of wallpaper.

Vinyl wallpaper

The vinyl wallpaper is made from vinyl and acrylic, which makes it very durable. Not only is it hard wearing but it is also very easy to clean – you can even use bleach! Techniques such as high quality embossing is possible for vinyl wallpaper as it is strong enough to retain the shape of the imprint. Vinyl wallpaper is water-resistant thus suitable for wet rooms such as bathrooms and kitchens.

Non-woven wallpaper

Non-woven wallpaper is made from a combination of natural and synthetic materials. It does not contain vinyl and is good for the environment. It has breathable fibres that mean you do not acquire mildew or mould. This wallpaper can be cleaned using mild soap and a sponge making maintenance easier and greater longevity. Non-woven wallpaper does not shrink of expand meaning there is no need to overlap the strips when installing.

Installation: Paste the wall or paste the paper.

There are two types of installation methods for wallpaper, excluding self-adhesive. These are paste the wall and paste the paper. Both are common in the wallpapering world so you will likely come across both of these. The method you should use is usually noted in the product description, as the paper should have certain requirements per technique.

Paste the wall

The best method of wallpapering is to paste the wall because it is less complicated. You do not have to take into account the shrinkage if it is a non-woven or vinyl wallpaper, as these are not affected when made wet. Not only this, you don’t have to worry as much about the timings.

Paste the paper

Paste the paper is the most traditional type of wallpapering technique and dates back many years. This involves prepping all of the strips and then fixing them to the wall in a level fashion. Overlapping the strips allows for the expansion of the paper that happens when it becomes wet from the paste. As the paper dries it slowly regains its original size and the wallpaper does not overlap anymore. However, this can be tricky to perfect; some papers will still overlap if not positioned correctly. There is no exact science to this therefore it can be risky if you are a perfectionist.

If you are ever unsure of the installation method or are not keen to try your hand at DIY, you should call a professional wallpaper installer.

Buy Wallpaper Online at BRICOFLOR

Our sample service allows you to order up to eight samples so that you can assess the product yourself. A small P&P charge applies to the samples the value of which is then given back to you in the form of a discount code redeemable against purchase.

Whether you are a contractor or interior designer, we provide our bespoke offers for large quantity orders, whether you a re-decorating the whole house. Simply e-mail us your order to see if you qualify for our tailored service.

At BRICOFLOR we are always happy to help so if you need advice, why not ask one of our experts for advice by contacting us on our Customer Service helpline.

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