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Wallpaper Materials Guide
We often use the word “wallpaper” for every decorative wallcovering, but modern collections include far more than printed paper. Vinyls, grasscloths, textiles, cork, wood veneers, paperweaves, embroidered surfaces and sculptural 3D designs all behave differently and create very different effects in a room.
This guide explains the main types of wallpaper and wallcovering, how they are constructed, where they tend to work best and the practical points to consider before ordering or installation.
There is no single “best” wallpaper. The right material depends on the look you want, the room, how much wear the surface will receive and how specialist the installation is likely to be.
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| Type | Character | Often suited to | Bear in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Printed paper | Huge choice of pattern and colour | Most domestic rooms | Durability and hanging method vary by product |
| Vinyl | Durable and versatile; available in smooth, embossed and textured finishes | Busy domestic spaces and many commercial applications | Check the exact cleaning, moisture and performance guidance |
| Grasscloth / natural fibre | Organic texture and natural variation | Living rooms, bedrooms, studies and feature walls | Visible joins and shade variation are part of the character |
| Paperweave | Woven paper surface with textile-like structure | Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms and studies | Check weave variation, match, backing and hanging direction |
| Textile | Soft, luxurious and tactile | Bedrooms, dining rooms and refined living spaces | Often more delicate and best installed by a specialist |
| Embroidered | Genuine stitched and sometimes embellished textile detail | Feature walls and refined residential interiors | Handmade variation and delicate surfaces may require specialist handling |
| Cork / wood veneer | Warm, architectural and naturally varied | Studies, living areas and feature walls | Natural tone and grain variation should be expected |
| Murals / panels | Large-scale artwork rather than a simple repeat | Feature walls and immersive schemes | Accurate measuring and panel order are essential |
| Relief / 3D | Sculptural surface and pronounced physical depth | Feature areas and statement interiors | Product-specific installation advice is especially important |
Whatever wallcovering you choose, the finish starts with the wall beneath it. Before hanging, the surface should be:
Very porous surfaces may also need to be sized to reduce rapid paste absorption and improve adhesion. Good preparation helps the wallcovering hang more evenly and gives the decorator a better surface to work with.
Lining paper can be used to:
A suitable grade of lining paper is usually preferable to simply choosing the cheapest option. Many decorators hang lining paper horizontally before the main wallpaper is hung vertically, which can help avoid the two sets of joints sitting directly on top of one another.
Specialist underlayers: products and installation recommendations vary, so follow the manufacturer’s current instructions and your decorator’s advice before using any specialist lining or insulation product beneath wallpaper.
Most modern wallpapers are machine printed and available in an enormous range of colours, patterns and price points. Well-made printed wallpapers are suitable for many domestic rooms, although cleaning, hanging and durability guidance should always be checked for the individual product.
Hand printing can create exceptional depth of colour and character. The process is less mechanically uniform than mass printing, so subtle variation may form part of the finished design.
Heritage and specialist wallpaper houses continue to produce artisanal designs. More delicate papers are usually best installed by a decorator familiar with the specific product and manufacturer’s hanging instructions.
Wall murals and panel wallpapers are designed as a large-scale image or sequence rather than a conventional repeating pattern. They are commonly supplied as numbered drops that form one complete composition when installed in order.
Murals can depict landscapes, architecture, abstract artwork and decorative scenes. They work particularly well behind beds, sofas and dining areas, or in smaller rooms where a more immersive effect is wanted.
Before ordering a mural:
Embossed wallcoverings have a pattern pressed into the surface to create physical relief. Some are designed to be painted after installation, while others are supplied as a finished decorative surface.
Vinyl describes the wallcovering construction rather than a particular texture. A vinyl surface can be smooth, printed, deeply embossed or designed to reproduce effects such as woven fabric, plaster, stone and other materials.
Washable wallpapers use a surface treatment designed to tolerate light marks and occasional wiping. They can be useful where some cleanability is desirable, but “washable” does not automatically mean suitable for heavy scrubbing, direct water exposure or every high-humidity environment.
Contract vinyl wallcoverings are also produced for hospitality and commercial interiors where published performance characteristics may be required.
Grasscloth wallcoverings are made from woven natural fibres mounted onto a backing. Depending on the product, materials may include sisal, jute, raffia, hemp and other plant fibres. Their appeal comes from texture, weave and natural variation rather than perfect uniformity.
Visible joins, changes in shade and small variations in the weave can be inherent characteristics of genuine natural-fibre wallcoverings. Always check the product specification and manufacturer’s hanging guidance before ordering.
Cork wallcoverings use thin sheets or particles of natural cork on a backing, creating warmth and organic variation. Wood and wood-veneer wallcoverings use real wood or fine veneers for a more architectural finish. Natural differences in colour, grain and texture should be expected.
Paperweave wallpapers are made by weaving narrow strips or yarns of paper into a textile-like surface, usually mounted onto a suitable backing. They sit visually between flat printed paper and many natural grasscloths: tactile and woven in character, but often somewhat more controlled in appearance than plant-fibre wallcoverings.
Width, supply format, pattern match and hanging direction vary between paperweave designs. Some products may also specify reverse hanging, so the manufacturer’s instructions for the exact wallcovering should always be checked before installation.
Textile wallcoverings can use woven linen, silk, cotton and blended fibres mounted onto a suitable backing. Their depth comes from weave, pile, fibre and sheen rather than from printed pattern alone, creating a softer and more tactile surface than conventional paper.
Some textile wallcoverings are delicate and many benefit from an installer experienced with specialist materials. Width, backing, hanging direction and adhesive requirements should always be checked for the individual product.
Flock wallcoverings use a fine fibre pile to create raised, velvet-like areas on the surface. Velvet and other soft-touch textile constructions create a related tactile effect through their pile and changing sheen. These finishes can range from understated plains to highly decorative statement designs.
Embroidered wallpapers use genuine stitched threadwork as part of the decorative surface. Some designs also incorporate appliqué, beads, metallic threads or other applied details, giving the wallcovering physical relief and textile character rather than simply printing the appearance of embroidery.
Handmade and specialist constructions can show small variations in stitching, alignment or surface character. Width, backing, repeat and installation requirements can also differ considerably, so the specification for the individual wallcovering should be checked before ordering.
Fabrics can also be glued or stretched directly across walls. This is specialist work and should be approached differently from conventional wallpaper hanging. Some textile installations can also alter the acoustic character of a room, but any claimed acoustic performance should be checked against the manufacturer’s published specification for the exact product or system.
Modern manufacturing and specialist craftsmanship have introduced wallcoverings that are genuinely sculptural rather than simply printed to look three-dimensional. Their physical depth may be created through embossing, thermoforming, folded or layered textiles, applied materials and other dimensional constructions.
Textured wallpaper is the broader family: it includes woven fibres, textile surfaces, flock, cork and other tactile finishes as well as pronounced relief. 3D wallpaper is more specific, with physical dimension or sculptural relief forming a defining part of the design.
Other specialist wallcoverings may incorporate metallic foils, shell, glass beads, mineral fragments, technical non-wovens and multi-layer constructions. Sampling is particularly useful where relief, sheen or applied materials are difficult to judge from a screen.
Material is just as important as colour and pattern. Think about moisture, wear, traffic, cleaning requirements and the atmosphere you want to create before choosing the finish.
Look for a wallcovering whose manufacturer specifically allows the level of humidity and cleaning you expect. Vinyl and washable constructions are often considered for these rooms, but suitability must be checked for the exact product and installation environment.
Durable vinyls, washable finishes and suitable textured wallcoverings can be practical choices. Check cleaning and abrasion guidance where the wall will receive regular contact.
These rooms can accommodate a wide range of materials. Printed papers, grasscloth, paperweave, textiles, cork, wood veneer and sculptural surfaces can all work when chosen to suit the scheme and level of use.
Softer tactile materials can be particularly effective in bedrooms. Grasscloth, linen, textile and velvet-like finishes can add warmth, while murals or stronger printed designs can create a focal point behind the bed.
Cork, textiles and other tactile surfaces can make these rooms feel visually softer and more cocooning. If acoustic performance is important, look for products or systems with manufacturer-published acoustic data rather than assuming that texture alone will provide a measurable benefit.
Murals, flock, 3D surfaces, natural textures and embellished designs can work particularly well where the wall itself is intended to become a decorative feature.
Always check the individual product. These room suggestions are general guidance only. Manufacturer specifications for moisture, washability, fire performance, installation and cleaning take precedence.
“Wallpaper” is commonly used as an umbrella term. “Wallcovering” is broader and can include constructions such as vinyl, textile, grasscloth, cork, wood veneer and specialist three-dimensional surfaces as well as conventional printed paper.
Textured wallpaper has a genuinely tactile surface created by its material or construction. This can include woven natural fibres, textiles, flock, embossed surfaces, cork, wood veneer and three-dimensional wallcoverings. A printed design that only looks textured is not necessarily a textured wallcovering.
No. Textured wallpaper is the broader category. A grasscloth or linen wallcovering can be tactile without having pronounced relief. 3D wallpaper is a more specific type of textured wallcovering where physical dimension or sculptural relief is a defining feature.
Paperweave wallpaper uses strips or yarns of paper woven into a textile-like surface and mounted onto a suitable backing. It provides genuine woven texture while generally having a more controlled appearance than many plant-fibre grasscloths.
Genuine embroidered wallpaper incorporates stitched threadwork into the decorative surface. Some specialist designs also use beads, appliqué or other applied materials, so construction and installation requirements can differ significantly from conventional printed wallpaper.
Natural-fibre wallcoverings commonly show visible seams and variation in colour and weave. Those characteristics can form part of the natural appearance rather than necessarily indicating a fault.
Choose according to the individual manufacturer’s suitability and cleaning guidance. Vinyl and washable wallcoverings are often considered for more demanding rooms, but not every product is suitable for high humidity, direct splashing or frequent cleaning.
Not every wall needs lining paper, but it can help create a more uniform surface and is often recommended for certain substrates or specialist wallcoverings. Your decorator and the wallcovering manufacturer can advise on the appropriate preparation.
Murals and panel designs are commonly supplied as a numbered sequence of drops, so accurate measuring and following the supplied panel order are especially important. Always follow the instructions supplied with the design.
Browse the wallpaper collection, order samples and ask our team if you need help comparing materials, product specifications or wallpaper quantities.
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