Buying Guides

1. Material

Areas prone to high humidity or heavy traffic, such as kitchens, bathrooms and hallways, are best suited to vinyl-coated or solid vinyl wallpaper. These types of wallpaper are non-breathable and therefore more stain-resistant and easier to clean (look for products labelled “washable” or “scrubbable”).

For areas with lower moisture levels, both breathable and non-breathable wall coverings are an option. Fabric wallpaper is great for bedrooms and living rooms, but keep in mind these varieties are generally non-pasted, making them more difficult to apply than other types. Innovative new varieties of non-vinyl wallpaper (made from paper fibre) are both washable and easy to apply and remove.

2. Application

In terms of application, there are three main categories of wallpaper:

Pre-pasted has an easy-to-apply adhesive backing. The term “booking” refers to activating the pre-pasted wallpaper, which is usually done by wetting the strips with a sponge.

Self-adhesive (or peel-and-stick) has a sticker-like backing for convenient removal. To apply, take off the backing and smooth carefully over walls. (This type of wallpaper can usually be lifted and applied a couple of times to get the positioning right).

Non-pasted (or paste-the-wall) requires a separate paste to be applied to the wallpaper (or sometimes the wall itself). Follow manufacturer’s instructions on what type of adhesive to use. Application is more intensive as it requires every area of the wallpaper backing to be covered evenly with paste.

TIP: Look for wallpaper labelled “strippable” if you want something that’s easy to remove. This is convenient for when you change your mind or are expecting the wallpaper to be a shorter-term décor commitment.

3. Colour and Texture

As with paint, choosing a wallpaper colour depends on the room where you’re applying it. Look to your floors, furniture and accent pieces for guidance and remember light colours make rooms look bigger, whereas dark colours are more dramatic and often make a room feel cozier.

When you want to give your room a more tactile dimension, choose wallpaper with interesting textural elements. Textured wallpaper, such as embossed varieties or those made with natural fibres, can also disguise uneven walls or other surface flaws.

4. Pattern

Wallpaper comes in a huge variety of patterns, from floral to striped to damask. If you’re new to wallpapering, it’s recommended you start with a pattern that’s easy to line up. Here are some guidelines:

Random match wallpaper has a completely arbitrary pattern; it may be one solid colour or consist of different colours or shades, but it would not bear any design.
Level of difficulty: Beginner

Straight across patterned wallpaper have repetitive patterns that are designed to be lined up side by side, either horizontally or vertically.
Level of difficulty: Intermediate

Drop match patterned wallpaper has a pattern in which every other sheet needs to be cut at the same spot in order to line up the pattern.
Level of difficulty: Advanced

TIP: Floral or repeated patterns can be a good choice for smaller areas and can be used to hide bumps, nicks and other wall imperfections. Vertical stripes make walls and ceilings look higher, so they’re a good choice for tight spaces.