Types of Wallcoverings & Wallpapers

Preparing your walls

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

Lining paper can be used to:

• even out minor surface imperfections;
• create a more consistent surface for paint or wallpaper; and
• help delicate or expensive wallcoverings achieve a more even finish.

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.

Traditional printed wallpapers & murals

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.

Murals & panel wallpapers

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.

Washable, vinyl & relief wallcoverings

Relief & embossed wallcoverings

Embossed wallcoverings have a pattern pressed into the surface to create three-dimensional texture. Some are designed to be painted after installation, while others are supplied as a finished decorative surface.

• They can introduce texture without relying on a strong printed pattern.
• Some products help disguise minor surface imperfections.
• Traditional relief products such as Lincrusta remain available alongside modern fibre-based alternatives.

Washable wallpapers

Washable wallpapers use a surface treatment designed to tolerate light marks and occasional wiping. They can be useful in rooms where some cleanability is desirable, but “washable” does not automatically mean suitable for heavy scrubbing or direct water exposure.

Vinyl wallcoverings

Vinyl wallcoverings use a decorative vinyl surface over a backing. They are often chosen where durability and cleanability matter, and modern vinyls can reproduce effects ranging from woven fabric and plaster to stone and other natural-looking textures.

Contract vinyl wallcoverings are also produced for hospitality and commercial interiors where higher performance may be required.

Natural & tactile wallcoverings

Grasscloth & natural fibre wallpapers

Grasscloth wallcoverings are made from woven natural fibres such as sisal, hemp or jute mounted onto a backing. Their appeal comes from texture and irregularity rather than perfect uniformity.

Flock wallcoverings

Flock designs use a fine fibre pile to pick out parts of the pattern, creating a velvet-like surface and a distinctly luxurious appearance. Some modern vinyl flock products are more robust than traditional flock papers.

Cork, wood & wood veneer wallcoverings

Cork wallcoverings use thin sheets or particles of natural cork on a backing, creating warmth, organic variation and a slightly cushioned surface. Wood and wood-veneer wallcoverings use real wood or fine veneers for a more architectural finish.

Because cork and wood are natural materials, variation in colour, grain and texture should be expected. They are generally best suited to dry, well-ventilated rooms and are often used on feature walls, in studies, dining rooms and living areas.

Paperweave & woven paper wallpapers

Paperweaves are made by weaving narrow strips of paper into a textile-like surface, often on a backing. They sit visually somewhere between a flat printed paper and a natural grasscloth: textured and handcrafted in feel, but often somewhat more consistent than natural fibre wallcoverings.

Textile, embroidered & embellished wallcoverings

Embroidered & embellished wallpapers

Embroidered wallcoverings incorporate stitched motifs, appliqué or other decorative details onto the surface. Other embellished designs can use beads, glass beads, sequins, metallic threads, foils or layered elements.

These products are usually selected for feature areas and refined interiors rather than hard-working walls. Their materials and construction can make them more delicate and labour-intensive to manufacture and install.

Paper-backed textile wallcoverings

Textile wallcoverings can use woven cotton, linen, silk or blended fibres mounted on a paper or other suitable backing. The result is softer and more tactile than conventional printed paper.

• They add depth and texture to bedrooms, dining rooms and living spaces.
• Some are more delicate than vinyl wallcoverings.
• Many are best installed by a decorator experienced with specialist materials.

Designer houses including Arte, Dedar and Élitis are known for exploring woven, embroidered and mixed-material wallcoverings.

Unbacked fabric on walls

Fabrics can also be glued or stretched directly across walls. This is highly specialist work and should be approached differently from conventional wallpaper hanging. The finished effect can be extremely elegant and can also soften the acoustic character of a room.

Specialist & 3D wallcoverings

Modern manufacturing has introduced wallcoverings that are genuinely sculptural rather than simply printed to look three-dimensional.

Thermoformed wallcoverings are one example. Heat and pressure are used to form raised motifs into the material, producing a tactile surface with real depth. Luxury collections can combine this technique with textiles, metallic effects and layered constructions.

Other specialist wallcoverings may incorporate metallic foils, glass beads, mineral fragments, technical non-wovens and multi-layer constructions.

Choosing the right wallcovering for your room

Material is just as important as colour and pattern. Think about moisture, wear, traffic and the atmosphere you want to create before choosing the finish.

Continue planning your wallpaper project