TYPES OF WALLPAPER AND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEM

On the market you can find a wide variety of wallpapers with beautiful patterns and designs to decorate your home. But not all of them are the same and have the same characteristics. It is important to differentiate between them as they are not all suitable for all uses.

All kinds of wallpapers are available on the market. Their labelling contains information that will be useful for you to find the type of wallpaper you are looking for for your home. If in doubt, always try to contact the supplier or manufacturer.

What types of wallpaper are there?

If you want to distinguish between the different types of wallpaper, you need to know the two qualities that make them up: the base and the finish. The former refers to the materials from which it is made and the latter to the type of protection it can have.

Depending on the base, wallpapers can be of the following types:

*Paper base. This type of wallpaper is one of the most commonly used, although it is now quite old-fashioned. Nowadays, other types of materials are used which are much more efficient, which is why they are not usually seen in shops. Their production is much more reduced as there are products with better qualities.

*Non-woven backing (TNT). This name refers to wallpaper whose base is made of textile fibres that are not interwoven with each other. This makes it particularly resistant and offers very good support. It is highly recommended for rooms that are going to be very busy or that may be damp.

 

What types of wallpaper to choose and what characteristics do they have? 

Characteristics that are used to classify different types of wallpaper

Wallpapers can also be classified according to their grammage. Thicker wallpapers are perfect for covering more uneven surfaces and are also much more resistant. Those with a lower grammage are more delicate and require a more thorough preparation of the wall on which they are to be applied.

Another distinction between the different types of wallpaper is whether they are washable or not. Washable wallpapers are those that allow the user to act on stains or accumulated dirt. Non-washable wallpaper requires replacement of the affected area if the damage is to be removed.

The washable condition can be further defined by the fact that some types of wallpaper can be rubbed and others cannot. In the first case, a more thorough cleaning can be carried out and the stain can be further affected without the paper being affected. In the second case, this operation cannot be carried out if the quality of the paper is to be maintained.

Wallpapers can also be embossed or completely smooth. You can find paper that has some kind of texture or shapes that are intended to offer an even more elaborate finish. On the other hand, other wallpapers only have the aesthetic value provided by their pattern.

 

How to combine the different types of wallpaper?

Other classifications can be found in terms of design. 

Simple wallpapers. These are those that only offer one colour over their entire surface. They are usually the least common as their finish is similar to that of a wallpaper. 

Patterned wallpapers. They also offer shapes and colours that can be abstract or refer to reality. In this group we find wallpapers with representations of animals and plants or with children's motifs, which can be combined with a neutral decoration to highlight the wallpaper on the wall.

Patterned wallpapers. This type of wallpaper has a design that is repeated and needs to be matched so as not to break the aesthetic unity. To do this, the size in which the repetition occurs and which will be used for the installation of the wallpaper is established.

At ALF&Mabi we have an interesting selection of wallpapers available on our website. Come in and take a look at our catalogue to discover all the possibilities. See for yourself our commitment to quality interior design.