When you are decorating your home, whether it is for the first time or you are re-vamping the style after years of monotony, one of the most important things to consider is what you will do with the walls. After all, they take up more space than both ceiling and floor, and often provide the first visual impact when you walk into a room. Think about someone’s house that you’ve recently visited; the first thing you would mention when describing the interior is almost always the color or pattern on the walls.
With such a huge selection of wall coverings on the market today, you no longer have to stick with paint if you want your home to look both attractive and contemporary. In fact, many of the world’s top designers are opting to use wallpaper, sometimes in new and interesting ways. Here is a look at some of the different types of wall coverings you may consider for your home.
Textured
When you choose a textured wallpaper, the possibilities are limitless. Some textured papers could be solid colored with ripply texturing across, or you might choose a raised, or embossed, pattern that adds just a little depth to the design. You may also find some papers that are textured to look and feel like wood, stone, or other types of materials.
Cloth
Depending on the exact fabric, cloth wall coverings can range from relatively inexpensive to very pricey. Most cloth papers are made of sturdy woven textiles with a paper backing, but you can purchase finer linen or silk coverings if you are willing to pay a bit more – and if you aren’t worried about staining.
Reflective
Foil paper is the most common type of reflective wall covering. It is extremely reflective and may not work well in a large room. However, if you like a reflective sheen, there are wallpapers with shiny or glossy finishes, as well as designs created with metallic or iridescent inks that may not jump out quite as much as foil papers.
Glass
If you want the look of stone, marble, or tile but don’t want the difficulty of installing them, glass bead wall coverings could be the perfect solution for you. This wallpaper gives any room a look of elegance at a fraction of the cost. Some of the most popular glass bead papers are made of recycled glass, so you can boast that your room is papered green.
Natural Materials
Grasscloth paper is rapidly becoming the style of choice among designers. Bamboo is a favorite, but you can also choose from materials like jute, sisal, reed, or hemp. Just remember that these wall coverings do not clean easily – in fact, most manufacturers recommend that you simply vacuum your walls, and avoid spraying them with cleaners or chemicals altogether. If you like the look but need something a little more durable, there are lots of great vinyl faux grasscloth wallpapers out there.
