Today on the design magazine FillYourHomeWithLove we would like to deepen our knowledge about one of the most trending items in design and home decor: wallpaper.
We will have a look at its history, the most common styles and uses that characterize it.
Moreover, we will examine more practical aspects, such as the installation, layering and removing of the paper itself.
You will also find information on where to buy wallpaper online and the range of prices.
Let’s start from the beginning with a brief summary of the topic covered here and all the tips and tricks to enrich your house with this precious decorating item.
At the end of the article you will find some further reference.
Here are some of the topics we will encounter in the following lines:
- Origin and history of tapestry
- Which wallpaper to buy
- Trends for every room of the house
- How to apply the wallpaper
- How to remove it safely
- Where to buy wallpaper
- Books and further reference
Origin and history of tapestry throughout years and trends
If we had to define what a wallpaper is, we can easily state that it is, according to the dictionary:
“a kind of paper used for decades to cover the wall of houses, villas and historical mansions. Over the course of the years its usage has been applied to other surfaces such as furniture or accessories”
Since ancient times, it was usual to decorate the walls of nobles and bougeoises with frescos, wooden panels or precious fabrics coming from the East.
Tapestry from Arabia were the common choice to enhance the walls of big villas.
Wallpaper is an evolution of this kind of wall decoration.
In the XII century, thanks to the commercial revolution, paper was introduced from China.
The ability to decorate and paint, typical of Italy and Europe in general, was applied to this new material imported from the far East and there you have it, wonderful wallpaper.
Initially it was painted with handmande rolls and then it was transfered on canvas, using more advanced techinques, to meet the increasing demand.
Even today we can argue that tapestry is more and more requested and appreciated to enrich houses’ walls.
It is a perfect alternative to wall paint. Those who desire to personalize each room of their house can opt for this solution.
Which style to choose
If you follow the magazine FillYourHomeWithLove you would know that we like to keep you frequently updated on the latest trends and news from the world of interior design.
We have often showed you peculiar and contemporary patterns that can surprise those who visit your home.
Now we will deepen this topic, examining some of the most trendy styles, starting from the most classic decorations to arrive to modern themes and patterns such as:
- Damask wallpaper
- Vintage tapestries
- Flowers for a romantic style
- Plants and leaves, the trend of the moment
Let’s see them all in detail:
Damask wallpaper
This pattern lets you travel in time.
Its pattern recalls a classic, refined and elegant design.
It is used mostly to enrich the walls of living rooms and bedrooms.
In recent years many designers created a new interpretation of Damask, making it more contemporary using modern colors like black, white and gold.
A vintage look for your walls
Flowers on a dark background
Romantic wallpaper
Not only shapes but also shades of colors can make home decor “romantic”.
Soft pastel colors such as pink, creme, light green or light blue make for a romantic atmosphere.
The same goes for the subjects on the wallpapers.
Flowers, clouds, birds and so on make the domestic environment unique and welcoming for those who love this kind of romantic wallpaper.
Plant and leaves wallpaper
In recent years the botanic trend has experienced a proper boom.
We are talking about plant and leaves design to decorate wallpapers.
It is so appreciated that it is used by the best brands in wallpaper design.
Palms, banana tree and cactus are the protagonists, giving a touch of green to many houses, especially in America.
They are perfect for both classic and modern environments.
Many have chosen it to decorate offices and restaurants walls.
A trend for each room
For each room of the house there is a mood.
This is the though of many architects and interior designers using this home decor item to make their creations more personal and refined.
Here at FillYourHomeWithLove we like to suggest you various ideas on how to decorate your house and so we would like to prompt you some ideas for the walls of each room.
Wall decorations for the bedroom
The bedroom is probably one of the most difficult rooms to design and decorate.
There are people who like soft and delicate colors, others however prefer strong shades of red, green and orange.
Some others like pastel shades and soft hues, leaving the scene to furniture and curtains.
When you choose colors and patterns for the bedroom’s wallpaper you must take into account many factors.
Usually the wall used for a wallpaper is the one behind the bed.
There is a wide range of patterns, colors or even high relief tapestry.
Materials are also very varied, ranging from paper and fabric to less common velvet or leather.
These are a bit harder to maintain, but they are very classy.
Let’s have a look now at some ideas for the bedroom.
Original ideas for the dining room
Imagine a room with a big designer table and many chairs all around.
That’s where you have lunch and dinner with friends and family.
In the following pictures you will see how images like trees and palms help to personalize a room.
If you have a more romantic taste, there are countless solutions suitable for this space.
Wallpaper for the children’s bedroom
In this case you have to ponder both the patterns and the color.
It can be stripes, it can be fantasy characters, classic patterns on the tones of beige, pink or blue.
When you are choosing the wallpaper for the children’s bedroom, make sure it is made with safe and child-friendly paints.
Just think that your child will breath in that room for at least 8 hours a day.
For the kids and newborns’ bedroom we suggest you materials that are easy to clean.
This is in order to clean it from dust but also from possible drawings and “murals” created by our little ones.
Living room wallpaper
The living room is one of the most popular choice for the application of wallpaper.
Usually wallpaper is used to enrich the wall dedicated to TV.
The choice of which paper to use depends on the furniture style and the lines of the sofa.
If you opt for a modern furniture we suggest geometrical decorations.
On the contrary, if your furniture is recalling a more classic style, you can let loose with wallpaper of every kind, keeping intact the original style.
Here are some example of living room wallpapers:
This one depicts a forest in the shades of grey, white, black and dark green
Pink flowers and green leaves, for a romantic living room
White flowers on a black background
The bathroom, wallpaper and decorations
Wallpaper can be found in the bathroom too, even within the shower!
There are specific waterproof resins applied to protect the paper.
Wallpaper can be an alternative to classic tiles, but it can also be decorated in original patterns.
You can, for instance, recall the style of the other rooms also in the bathroom.
The fil rouge of your taste will be tangible in every room of your home.
Some pictures of bathroom wallpapers: choose the most suitable for your taste
In the first picture we can see how an inspired choice can create the right environment.
Tiles and wallpaper
Geometrical lines
Before choosing the design of the bathroom wallpaper, we suggest to define the style and colors of the mirror and the lights.
Then, depending of what you have chosen, opt for the right wallpaper.
Wallpaper for the kitchen
It’s not common to think about wallpaper within the kitchen.
This is because usually people think wallpaper is not washable.
Actually, the same resins used in the bathroom can be an excellent protector for the kitchen as well.
With this treatment, the wallpaper becomes a perfect splashboard to place behind the cooker or the sink.
Then,it can be cleaned with a simple wipe, keeping your style perfect.
Some pictures of kitchen wallpapers
Using wallpaper to decorate the exterior
Thanks to modern and revolutionizing techniques, it is possible to apply wallpaper even on the external walls of a house.
It is surely an unusual choice, but it’s feasible.
The final effect, once applied, will give an original and surprising appearance to the house.
There are no many houses decorated in this fashion, but they exist nonetheless, especially in Northern Europe.
Thanks to the countless number of graphics and designs to choose from, you can get a really original exterior.
Wallpaper at the entrance
The doorway of your home deserves its special decoration. Among the various designs, we suggest this paper with plants and shrubs.
This will help to create a little and welcoming corner in your home. You can also mount some hooks and a mirror as well.
Finally, if there is a shoe rack, why don’t complete it with a little chair?
How to attach the wallpaper
We suggest not to try it yourself if you’re not an expert, but always to seek the help of a professional instead.
Apparently it might seem an easy operation, but it requires a great deal of expertise and dexterity.
But if you feel brave, here are some suggestions on how to apply wallpaper.
Understanding where to start
Experts recommend starting from the most hidden corner of the room.
This of course doesn’t apply if you have to cover just one wall.
Place the paper over a door or a window. Keep some extra bits on the frame, in order to avoid holes or damages.
Then, finish the job cutting away the excess.
Prepare the wall for the laying
First of all you must prepare the wall on which you will apply the paper.
Take away the old paper with a solvent, or levigate the old paint.
It is important to be extra careful and precise in this step, because it is fundamental for the success of the laying.
By doing so, the glue will stick perfectly to both the paper and the wall. Before starting, make sure that the wall is well dry after the cleaning.
If not, take away the dust and clean it with a specific product. We also suggest to remove electric sockets, to avoid the risk of damaging them.
Prepare the glue
Once you completed the first operations, get to the preparation of the glue. Mix the glue with water trying to get a uniform texture.
Always keep in mind the quantities and proportions indicated on the box.
Make guidelines to apply the paper correctly
Try to draw on the wall some perfectly perpendicular lines with a pencil.
They will help you to lay the paper later. You can also use a plumb line.
Things will get a bit more complicated if the design of the paper is splitted on more canvas.
Look for two shapes and try to match them. This is the most delicate phase, you must match every single item.
Even a couple of millimeters can compromise the final result.
Tips and tricks on laying
Once you traced the parallel lines, perpendicular with the floor, cover the wall with glue.
Go a bit beyond the lines, for a perfect adherence of paper.
Leave an extra 5 cm of paper at the top and the side, if you suspect the wall is not perfectly perpendicular.
Use a spatula to make it stick perfectly.
At the end, cut away the extra paper on the sides, at the top and at the bottom.
Laying the second canvas is another delicate step.
Lay it next to the first one and move it until you reach a perfect alignment.
Now press the junction with a roller and clean the extra glue with a wet sponge.
Final touches
Once the paper is attached to the wall, smooth the edges of the sockets and the baseboards. Cut the paper covering the holes and let it stick on every side of it.
Sometimes, air bubbles can appear a few days after the laying.
Just wait a few hours until they reduce by themselves.
If this doesn’t happen, puncture them with a needle and inject some glue with a syringe.
Clean with a wet sponge and press, trying to remove the air completely.
The tools you need to apply wallpaper
To do all of this you will need:
- a pencil
- measuring tape
- scissors
- a bucket
- spatula
- cutter
- plumb line
- non-abrasive sponge
- a stable stair
The glue you choose is fundamental.
The choice of the glue depends on which kind of paper you are applying.
For cellulose and vinyl wallpapers use starch glue.
You can find it in powder, you’ll have to mix it with water and must sit for ten minutes before usage.
Consider also the weight of the paper. The thicker it is the stronger the glue needs to be.
If the wallpaper is made of fabric, you will need a specific vinyl glue, ready to use.
There are also pre-glued wallpapers in vinyl or tnt, that can be directly applied on the wall.
Besides the tools and the glue we suggest you to get a broad table, at least 2 meters long.
With that, you will be able to cut the paper on a stable, even surface.
How to remove tapestry
Removing wallpaper is also an operation that requires care and attention.
Verify the material of which the wall is made, whether it is in bricks or plasterboard.
This is important because the paper must be removed with a liquid, and if the wall is in plaster it can not be treated with huge quantities of water, otherwise it would deteriorate.
You can easily check whether the wall is made of bricks or not simply knocking on different spots.
Also verify what kind of paper you are using.
The removing will be easier and faster if the wallpaper is a removable or vinyl one.
Try to lift a corner of the paper with a pocket knife and detach the paper by hand.
If it comes away in one piece it means it’s removable wallpaper.
If it comes away a single layer instead, and another layer remains on the wall, it’s vinyl wallpaper.
It’s not easy to remove as the removable ones, but at least it’s better than the traditional wallpaper.
If you can’t remove it at all, it’s the traditional one, and you will have to use a specific wallpaper removing product or steam, but it won’t be easy.
If you have to lay a new wallpaper afterwards, make sure to clean all the surface, otherwise there will be bad adherence on the wall that not only will give a bad look but it will also increase the risk of detaching.
Who lays the wallpaper and some guidelines
For the laying of wallpaper we suggest to call a professional.
To apply wallpaper correctly it is necessary treating the wall first.
This must be ready to welcome the paper, which will adhere completely without bubbles and so on.
Moreover, the laying must follow the pattern of the paper.
If you choose a striped wallpaper, the lines must be straight.
This applies also to other types of patterns.
In short, a wrong laying of the paper can seriously affect negatively the design.
That’s why we always suggest to call an expert and trust in his skill.
You will have your wallpaper applied correctly and fast, just as you wish.
Where to buy wallpaper
Nowadays you can find wallpaper not only in furniture shop or drapers, but you can also easily buy it online.
FillYourHomeWithLove has just launched its first Capsule Collection, coming from the collaboration with artists and graphic designers.
Click here to visit the FillYourHomeWithLove e-shop.
On the store page there are wallpapers suitable for every room and taste, from the children’s bedroom to the exteriors.
Always be careful to insert the exact size you need into e-commerce websites, so that you will get the correct canvas.
We also suggest to order some extra meters of paper, in the event there is a mistake in laying or if it gets damaged.
Always remember to ask for the wallpaper components. The type of paper and the ink used to decorate it must follow a strict standard of quality.
This is particularly important if you are going to apply the wallpaper in the bedroom or in the kids’ room.
Sometimes lower prices are a symptom of low quality and poor materials, that could be harmful.
Always protect yourself asking for the exact composition of what you are going to buy.
The price difference includes many details. It depends on the brand, the quality of the materials, handcraft and much more.
Further reference
We would like to suggest a reading to deepen your knowledge of wallpaper.
Usually interior design books are not only beautiful but also very interesting, in both pictures and text.
Because of the subject, the emphasis is on depictions of mansions, houses and interior enriched with unique and surprising items.
A good reading on wallpaper is the book Wallpaper Papiers Peints, motifs, styles et conseils de pose by Ève-Marie Briolat, French journalist writing for Marie-Claire Idées, Maison Magazine, Côté Est, Bloom, Prima Maison.
In the book she talks about every kind of wallpaper, patterns, decorations and applications.
She examines the latest trends and suggests matching and inspired combinations, to create a unique atmosphere within the house walls.
Concluding thoughts
To sum up, quality, originality and refinement make for a special decorating item.
Wallpaper requires a great deal of attention when choosing and buying it.
Always ask for certified materials and inks. This particular care is required especially if the wallpaper is going to be applied on the bedroom’s walls or in the kids’ room.
Another fundamental precaution regards style and design. They must be in line with the pre-existent furniture of your home.
Don’t mix different styles if they are not compatible.
Finally, when you choose your wallpaper, also think about how to lighten it. You can go for simple spotlight, or for peculiar chandeliers that can make the design of the wallpaper stand out even more.
For other ideas and suggestions on wallpaper, click on the following links:
