From vinyl to fabric to foil and beyond
Wallpaper types include vinyl for durability, grasscloth for natural texture, and peel-and-stick for easy removal, helping you match your room's needs.
Pre-pasted wallpaper simplifies your installation by eliminating separate paste application, while non-pasted options offer longer-lasting results for permanent applications.
Different wallpaper options suit specific spaces: washable vinyl works well in kitchens, while fabric and flocked styles add visual impact to low-traffic areas.
Hiring a local wallpaper installation professional provides reliable guidance on material selection and precise installation, especially for textured or high-end options like grasscloth.
Wallpaper has lost its bad reputation for being dated. Today’s wallpaper offerings are sleek, attractive, and even easy to install with options like peel-and-stick. Some of the most common types of wallpaper include vinyl, grasscloth, flocked, pasted, non-pasted, foil, fabric, paintable, and washable. There are benefits to each, and which option works best for your project will depend on how you want it to look, how easy it is to install, and how simple it is to maintain.
| Type of Wallpaper | Average Life Span in Years |
|---|---|
| Vinyl | 10–15 |
| Grasscloth | 10–15 |
| Pasted | 5–15 |
| Flocked | 10–15 |
| Non-pasted | 10–20 |
| Peel-and-stick | 3–10 |
| Paintable | 8–15 |
| Foil | 5–15 |
| Fabric | 10–15 |
| Washable | 10–20 |
Vinyl is one of the most common types of wallpaper and is available either pre-pasted or as a peel-and-stick option. Vinyl, made from PVC, comes in a wide variety of styles and is easy to keep clean.
This type of wallpaper is often washable, and even if it isn’t, vinyl wallpaper is often treated to be antimicrobial and stain-resistant. Look for options with mildew-resistant adhesive to prevent any mildew growth between the wall and the wallpaper, especially if you’re installing wallpaper in a humid area.
Wallpaper is a great option for moisture-rich environments like kitchens and bathrooms, so long as you choose the right type. We've had plenty of success wallpapering bathrooms using vinyl options, which are water-resistant and hold up well.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Highly durable | Shiny or plastic-looking finish |
| Easier installation | May off-gas and have a strange odor |
| Often washable | Vulnerable to shrinkage |
Best for: High-traffic areas
When it comes to the most common types of wallpaper, grasscloth is another option that’s popular with many homeowners. This wallpaper is made with natural materials, such as jute, hemp, reed, or even cork. The result is a luxurious, natural finish that has bonus benefits like breathability and mild sound absorption. Plus, because this wallpaper is made from woven grasses, it won’t off-gas like vinyl-based wallpapers.
Because of the high-end nature of this wallpaper, it’s best to leave the application to a wallpaper installer near you.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High-quality, natural finish | Higher cost |
| No off-gassing | Harder to clean |
| Sound-absorbing benefits | Vulnerable to fading |
Best for: Dry, low-traffic areas
Pasted, or pre-pasted, wallpaper has the paste pre-applied to the back, saving you time on installation. This eliminates the need to buy paste, makes it easier to measure for wallpaper, and reduces the risk of using the incorrect type of paste. With the paste already on the back of the wallpaper, there’s less mess to deal with, too.
However, keep in mind that the paste can swell or peel from moisture, so keep this type of wallpaper out of bathrooms and kitchens.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Less messy than non-pasted | Messier than peel-and-stick |
| Includes the paste | Less durable |
| Faster to install | Vulnerable to moisture |
Best for: Less humid rooms, such as bedrooms
Looking to make wallpaper the focal point of a room? Consider installing flocked wallpaper. This style of wallpaper features a raised, textured pattern with a velvet-like finish that adds a dramatic touch to any space.
It works best to install flocked wallpaper using a paste-the-wall method to prevent damaging the texture. Reserve this special wallpaper for lower-traffic areas to minimize risk of damage. Because of the bold designs and layered textures, flocked wallpaper can hide textured walls or other imperfections.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High-quality look | Harder to install |
| Hides wall imperfections | Vulnerable to damage |
| Versatile colors and designs | Higher cost |
Best for: A more dramatic or glamorous look in low-traffic areas
Despite the name, “non-pasted” wallpaper types require you to use paste because it isn’t pre-applied. Non-pasted wallpaper may be in paste-the-paper or paste-the-wall styles.
Paste-the-paper is more traditional, where you apply paste to the back of the wallpaper and then adhere the wallpaper to the wall. With paste-the-wall, you paint sections of the wall with the paste, then stick the wallpaper to the pasted wall.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Long-lasting | Harder to DIY |
| Wide style variety | Requires specific paste |
| High-quality finish | Messy |
Best for: More permanent applications
Many homeowners these days have heard of peel-and-stick wallpaper, a type of wallpaper that has an adhesive backing rather than requiring paste to apply. This makes for a mess-free application, so it’s easier to DIY peel-and-stick wallpaper.
However, installation still requires finesse to line up the panels just right. Because you can’t easily slide the wallpaper over the paste to align it with other rolls of wallpaper, you’ll need to move carefully. Otherwise, you’ll have to unpeel it and reapply.
This is a less permanent option for walls, making it a renter-friendly choice (still, be sure to get a landlord’s approval before installing since some peel-and-stick wallpapers can damage walls).
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easier to DIY | Difficult to align |
| Removable | Lower-quality finish |
| Easy maintenance | Lower longevity |
Best for: Rentals or temporary installations
Although it may seem counterintuitive to install wallpaper just to paint over it, paintable wallpaper offers more texture and style than just paint alone. This wallpaper, available pasted, non-pasted, or peel-and-stick, features a textured finish that you can paint over for more customization.
However, once you paint over the wallpaper, it can be harder to remove the paste, wallpaper, and paint if you decide to refresh the space later.
Best for: High-traffic areas
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Versatile textured looks | Requires dry time before painting |
| Highly durable | Harder to remove |
| Disguises wall imperfections | Loses texture with repeated painting |
Best for: High-traffic areas
Like fabric or embossed wallpapers, foil wallpaper is designed to make a statement. This metallic wallpaper is reflective, making it ideal for rooms with little natural light. The shiny finish can help reflect small amounts of light to brighten the space while also adding a contemporary feel. The unique finish is smooth and easy to clean, but be careful not to scratch or ding the metal.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High-quality finish | Less durable |
| Unique look | Not breathable |
| Easy to clean | Higher cost |
Best for: Rooms with low light
Imagine your favorite fabrics adding a touch of coziness, drama, or playfulness to a space. This is achievable with fabric or textile wallpaper. Made from materials including linen, polyester, cotton, or even silk, fabric wallpaper can become a statement piece in a room.
Just keep in mind that fabrics will be harder to clean, so you should install fabric wallpaper in rooms with less traffic and low humidity to better preserve the wallpaper.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Adds visual interest | Higher cost |
| High-quality look | Harder to clean |
| Versatile designs | Harder to DIY |
Best for: Dry, low-traffic areas
For homes with young kids and pets or rooms that get messy, like kitchens, washable wallpaper is a durable, easy-to-clean option. Washable wallpaper is made of vinyl, and the exterior is moisture-resistant. This makes it easy to wipe down, and you can even find scrubbable wallpaper—perfect for kitchens, mud rooms, or other mess-prone spaces. Washable wallpaper is even suitable for bathrooms.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to clean | Shiny or plastic-like look |
| Moisture-resistant | No breathability |
| Durable | Higher cost |
Best for: Kids’ bedrooms and playrooms, mud rooms
Terrible experience. Walls/trim/floors/cabinets/doors all have drip marks, overspray, etc. Tiling at the fireplace had to be redone by another vendor due to incorrect and shoddy install by Profect. Contractor had his children in our house while he was on site without prior authorization or...
Profect painting & exteriorsThe Cisco team did an exceptionally good job of painting (very detailed), and they were professional, courteous, helpful and just pleasant to have in our home for a week. I have already recommended Cisco to some neighbors.
Cisco FinishesI cant stop admiring my newly painted walls. Custom Paint Jobs LLC made my house feel brand new.
Custom Paint Jobs, LLCWould hire again. Wall looks great. Happy with job.
Central PavingBecky went above and beyond as usual! I met her over 8 years thru Angies list and she has been doing paint and wallpaper for me ever since we met. I am an Interior Designer and she has always taken great care of my clients, my home, and even my dog. She's become part of my family and I always...
The task proved more difficult than anticipated. When they arrived the first day, they had no tools with them at all, and had to make a run to purchase appropriate tools. It was quickly determined that the paper had to be steamed off, and neither the workers, nor the company itself, had...
ABS Interiors of Mid-Ohio LLCWe needed them to do extra work to remove existing wallpaper, and provide full primer and painting/trim work around existing furniture etc, during a move-in period. They did everything top-notch with minimal mess. They were always extremely on time, and very professional. They also cleaned...
WALLS IN OLD VICTORIAN WERE GOUGED AND CRACKED AFTER REMOVAL OF WALLPAPER. VERY CAREFUL WORK. GOOD ATTENTION TO DETAIL. CLEAN-UP WAS A LITTLE MESSY.
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