Wallpaper provides an easy way to decorate a room with patterns, whether elaborate
or simple. This is useful and popular because most people do not have the skill
or time to paint detailed patterns on their own walls, and hiring an artist to do
so would be prohibitively expensive. It is hard to pinpoint where the idea of wallpaper
started. In ancient China, paper was used in the construction and decoration of
walls, but it was quite different from what we consider wallpaper today. Painted
paper wall coverings were commissioned by the French aristocracy as early as 1481,
although widespread use of the idea had to wait until the advent of the printing
press. The use of wallpaper for decoration quickly grew in popularity and availability,
and wallpaper was being made in America as early as 1739! With such a long history,
it is no surprise that there are a wide variety of both traditional and modern patterns
in wallpaper. There have also been significant advances in the materials used and
how the paper and paste are made and printed with patterns and images.
There are many styles and techniques available to choose from when using wallpaper
in decorating. Before deciding on a wallpaper to buy, it's important to consider
what effect you want to achieve in the room. Look at how the room is used, and the
preferences of the people who use it most often. Also look closely at what colors
and textures show up in the furniture, flooring and decorations such as posters,
pictures and curios. Consider whether the room's decor will be changing beyond the
change in wallpaper, or if the wallpaper needs to fit closely with the decor that
already exists. Many homeowners find it useful to bring home wallpaper samples in
order to see how they look against the existing carpeting, drapes and upholstery.
This also allows them to see how the wallpaper will look in the lighting available
in a specific room.
When changing a room's look, a little change can make a big impression. While some
rooms will benefit from wallpaper completely covering the walls, others work well
with partial additions. Consider the possibility of wallpapering one wall such as
the wall behind the TV in an entertainment room. Some homeowners even decide to
wallpaper the ceiling rather than the walls. Another popular method is to only wallpaper
the top half or bottom half of a room, or to wallpaper the top and bottom halves
in different but complimentary colors and patterns. This style works particularly
well with a chair rail or border along the level where the room is divided. A lot
of interesting effects can also be achieved with the use of borders, accents, and
wallpaper murals.
Wallpaper Styles
Patterned Wallpaper
Wallpaper is generally sold in double rolls and comes in an enormous variety of
patterns, colors and textures. No matter what the taste or decor, there is sure
to be a wallpaper pattern suitable for any room. Most modern wallpapers include
some vinyl content, which makes them more durable, more cleanable, and more resistant
to stains and tears. Wallpaper may come pre-pasted or paste may need to be applied
at the time of installation.
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Wallpaper is available in almost any imagineable pattern.
Many traditional patterns involve floral, animal or abstract motifs, while others
involve related pictures scattered over the palett of the paper. Some wallpapers
even mimic other types of wall covering, such as wood paneling or even stone!
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Wallpaper is generally printed with repeating patterns, and most installations call
for matching these patterns to create a continuous image. By minimizing the visual
interruption of the lines where the sheets of wallpaper meet, the impression of
a single pattern covering the whole room can be created. This can increase the amount
of wallpaper needed to cover an entire room considerably, since some waste is created
by needing to shift the sheets up or down to match the pattern of the prior sheet.
The standard sizing for wallpaper rolls is 20 1/2 inches wide by 33 feet long.
Wallpaper Borders
Wallpaper borders are a versatile design element that can be combined with patterned
wallpaper or used on its own within a room. Wallpaper borders vary considerably
in how tall they are, depending on the pattern used and the effect that the homeowner
wants to achieve. They may have a smooth upper and lower edge or an edge that is
die-cut to match the pattern. Patterns for wallpaper borders are as varied as those
for regular wallpaper, from traditional, to rustic, to hobby related patterns, and
a wide variety of children's patterns such as sports themes or cartoon characters.
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Wallpaper borders can be used to good effect in any room
of the house. In kitchens and bathrooms, a wallpaper border will fit nicely along
the top edge of the counter, or bordering the ceiling along the top of the wall.
In other rooms, wallpaper borders can accent crown molding or take its place along
the top edge of the wall. They can also be used in the role of a visual chair rail
to divide the upper and lower halves of a room. This can be an attractive effect
with either a solid colored wall, or one with different colors or patterns of wallpaper
above and below the border.
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Although wallpaper borders are typically hung horizontally, some patterns work well
with a vertical orientation and can be used as vertical accents at corners or next
to doors or windows.
Wallpaper Murals
In addition to repeating patterns and borders, wallpaper is also available in murals.
A wallpaper mural is a single picture which may be made out of one or several panels
of wallpaper. Some smaller examples include pictures of windows or portholes with
a view. These wallpaper images are similar in function to hanging pictures, but
there is no worry of them falling down and in many cases they are less expensive
than an equivalent hanging picture would be. There is also some more flexibility
of style in using a wallpaper mural, since the edges fit the picture rather than
the confines of a frame. It's also easy to achieve innovative effects such as hanging
the mural at an angle, which would be more difficult to achieve with a conventional
hanging picture.
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Larger murals can stretch over several feet or even cover
an entire wall or room. Because of their size, they require several panels of wallpaper
to complete the whole mural. This can raise the price, since a wallpaper mural needs
to be purchased as one complete set rather than an arbitrary number of rolls. In
hanging wallpaper murals, it is even more important to match the edges carefully
than with regular patterned wallpaper. This is made somewhat easier by having the
top and bottom of the panels already defined, but even tiny mistakes can be very
visually jarring. It is essential to match the edges carefully, and to make sure
that the picture is level (or at the desired angle) the first time, since adjustments
would be difficult and may be impossible without damaging the mural. It is very
important to be careful.
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One relatively new development in the field of wallpaper murals is the photo mural.
These wallpaper murals are printed with high quality inks and papers to produce
a photo-quality reproduction of almost any image. Some popular pictures include
photos of nature scenes such as waterfalls and forests, and sports scenes like surfing
or skateboarding. These photo murals are also available in a range of sizes, and
may consist of one or several panels of wallpaper.
Wallpaper
Cutouts
Wallpaper cutouts, also known as wallpaper accents or by a variety of brand names,
are small pictures, patterns and images that can be applied to a wall in any assortment
or pattern that the owner chooses. These are ideal for areas such as children's
rooms, kitchens and bathrooms where a bit of the whimsical is appropriate. Some
examples of the wallpaper cutouts available include flowers, cartoon characters,
planets, stars, and butterflies.
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Wallpaper cutouts such as baseballs and soccer balls can
be applied liberally around a child's room or used to accent a related wallpaper
border. Cutouts can even be arranged to form a freestyle border of their own!
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It is up to the owner to decide where to apply each cutout, and whether they will
be scattered around or carefully lined up in a pattern of their own choosing. Wallpaper
cutouts offer an ease and flexibility that full wallpaper panels cannot, since they
will look good in almost any arrangement. With cutouts, precision is a matter of
taste rather than necessitiy, and they can be a fun way to let children participate
in a decorating project.
Installation
Hanging wallpaper can be a messy, frustrating, tiring and time consuming process,
so many homeowners choose to hire professional paper hangers. Professionals have
the experience, tools and personnel to get the job done quickly, accurately, and
with the minimum of mess and wasted wallpaper. Homeowners on a tighter budget, however,
may choose to hang their own wallpaper.
When approaching a do-it-yourself wallpaper project, it is recommended to carefully
read the manufacturer's instructions regarding preperation of the wall and the wallpaper,
including their recommendations for the type of paste to use if the paper isn't
pre-pasted. Most people will also find it useful to read through a dedicated guide
to hanging wallpaper and to talk with local friends or professionals who can give
advice based on personal experience with hanging wallpaper.
A few of the processes to be familiar with before starting a wallpapering project
include how to establish a plum line, whether the paper is pre-pasted or needs paste
applied, whether it needs to be booked during the preperation process, and how to
line up the panels of paper so that the patterns will match. Also be sure to prepare
the room for the process, with coverings for the floor and baseboards to make cleanup
easier once the project is done.
Some of the essential tools for wallpaper hanging include a trough or water tray
to soak the paper in. This is essential for making the wallpaper flexible enough
to adhere well to both the paste and the wall. A long table is also necessary as
a surface on which to lay the paper for pasting and booking. A good utility knife
and sharp scissors or shears are essential for cutting the wallpaper with precision.
For lining up the paper evenly, it is also important to have a carpenters level,
straight edge, plumb bob and measuring tape. A steady ladder, of course, is essential
for reaching the ceiling and top of the walls.
Some homeowners may prefer to start out with smaller, more manageable projects such
as putting up wallpaper borders, small murals, or wallpaper cutouts. The larger
the project is, the more important it is to be well prepared with the tools and
the knowledge to do a job that you will be satisfied with.
Price
Patterned Wallpaper
Prices can vary depending on the vendor, the complexity of the pattern, the quality
of the paper, and special features such as texturing. In general, a double roll
of wallpaper will cost from about $25 to around $60. How many square feet this covers
will vary depending on pattern matching and the configuration of the space to be
covered. The standard sizing for wallpaper rolls is 20 1/2 inches wide by 33 feet
long.
Wallpaper Borders
Wallpaper borders are generally several inches high, but the actual measurement
will vary depending on the specific design. They are sold in five yard long rolls,
and prices generally range between $10 and $35. More complex or detailed patterns
such as images of animals are often more expensive than simple floral or hobby patterns,
although there is a great deal of variation.
Wallpaper Murals
Wallpaper murals come in a wide range of sizes and types of image. While patterned
wallpaper is sold in double rolls, wallpaper murals are sold as a complete package,
so larger images can be very expensive. Prices may range between about $30 and $500
or more.
Wallpaper Cutouts
Wallpaper cutouts are sold in packets, although the size and number of cutouts per
packet may vary. Prices tend to range between $15 and $25 per packet. Depending
on the design plan, wallpaper cutouts can be a very inexpensive way to brighten
up and re-energize a room.
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