Vinyl wallpaper for walls: features of choice, types, 50+ photos in the interior

What are the advantages and disadvantages of vinyl wallpaper?

Classic paper wallpaper has long faded into the background, “giving way to the walls” of a more durable, practical and luxurious option – vinyl.

Unlike other types of wallpaper, vinyl consists of two layers:

Lower. Responsible for good adhesion of wallpaper to the wall surface and ventilation. Paper or non-woven fabric is used as a base. The non-woven base is considered to be of higher quality, as it makes the wallpaper not only durable, but also allows air and heat to pass through well. On wallpaper with a non-woven base, moisture does not accumulate, dampness and fungus do not develop.
Upper. The outer layer is made of PVC - a material safe for humans. Its main task is the aesthetics of the interior and the protection of finishing materials from damage and dirt.

Compared to other types, vinyl wallpapers have undoubted advantages:

Strength. Vinyl is a combination of paper and non-woven cellulose, which makes the material very durable. The wallpaper is not translucent and is not subject to mechanical damage - it will not be possible to accidentally tear it.
Durability. The average service life of vinyl wallpaper is 15 years. During this entire period, they do not lose their colorful appearance, do not darken or fade under the influence of sunlight.
Sustainability. The wallpaper is not afraid of moisture and temperature changes, so it does not peel off even in a room with high air humidity. Therefore, before renovation, you don’t need to rack your brains about how to get rid of dampness in your apartment.
Wet cleaning. The moisture-resistant properties of some vinyl wallpapers allow for wet cleaning and washing the wallpaper with soapy water.
Imitation. Another advantage is the ability to convincingly imitate various surfaces using relief: from plaster to stone. It is almost impossible to distinguish wallpaper from natural finishing material, but you can create a unique interior.
Painting. Vinyl is an excellent base for painting. To create an unusual wall design, such wallpaper is often painted over with a layer of paint on top.
Care. Wallpaper on vinyl does not require careful maintenance. Simply wipe off dirt and dust with a damp cloth to restore it to its original appearance.
Versatility. Vinyl can be used in any room. Thanks to their performance characteristics and resistance to mechanical damage, dirt and moisture, they will perfectly decorate both the kitchen and children's room, where the risk of damaging the wallpaper is quite high.
Design. Vinyl products come in a wide range of colors, patterns and stencils.

Before gluing vinyl wallpaper, keep in mind that they also have disadvantages:

Price. You always have to pay for quality, and wallpaper is no exception. The price of vinyl wallpaper is much higher than other types of finishes, but it is justified by the years and ease of use.
Toxicity. PVC is a material, although artificial, but safe. However, when mixed with glue, cheap fabrics begin to emit formaldehyde, a colorless gas that harms the human body and leads to the development of serious diseases.
Low breathability. Again, we are talking about low-quality wallpaper on a paper basis, which does not allow air to pass through well, due to which excess moisture accumulates under it. By choosing cheap material, you risk serious consequences: mold on the walls, fungus, proliferation of microbes and insects, damage to repairs.
Difficult gluing. Vinyl sheets weigh much more than paper sheets, which makes repairs more difficult. Paper-based wallpaper shrinks after gluing and the seams come apart. It is better to choose non-woven products that do not have this drawback.

Description, composition and characteristics

Wallpaper is sold in rolls 0.53 - 1.06 meters wide and 10 to 25 meters long.
They consist of several layers: the base can be paper, non-woven or fabric, then there is an opaque layer that masks small irregularities in the walls and on top there is a decorative layer of vinyl (polyvinyl chloride), which can be wet cleaned. Each roll contains a label with the technical characteristics of this type of vinyl wallpaper, which, using symbols (marking), contains instructions on gluing, technical characteristics, environmental friendliness of the material, vapor permeability, and so on.

Specifications

Characteristics of a roll of vinyl wallpaper	Description
Properties of vinyl wallpaper	Amenable to wet cleaning; They have soundproofing properties; Resistant to fading in the sun.
Width	The most common sizes are 0.53 and 1.06 meters. European manufacturers have rolls with a width of 0.75 m.
Length	10.05 meters is the standard length of a wallpaper roll. You can also find rolls 15 or 25 meters long on the counter.
Weight	Varies from 0.9 to 4.0 kg. The weight of the roll depends on the length, width, base layer and quality of the vinyl.
Density	From 250 to 320 grams per 1 square meter of canvas.
Life time	High-quality vinyl material can last up to 15 years.

Marking

When purchasing wallpaper finishing material, it is important to pay attention to the markings. The signs indicated on the roll indicate the characteristics of the product and its performance properties.

Designations are divided into several groups and indicate:

degree of moisture resistance (moisture resistant, washable, super washable);
degree of light fastness (sufficient, satisfactory, good, very good, maximum);
method of processing with glue (wallpaper only, wall only);
method of removal (dry or soaked);
degree of impact resistance;
beginning of the pattern:

without a beginning - no need to follow the pattern;
direct start - identical patterns are glued next to each other;
the beginning is offset - identical patterns are glued offset;
reverse – the adjacent strip of fabric is glued in reverse.

Advantages and disadvantages

pros	Minuses
Suitable for gluing any surfaces (plaster, concrete, putty, drywall).	They do not tolerate large changes in temperature or humidity very well, but with sufficient ventilation and the use of a primer with an antiseptic, the formation of fungus can be avoided.
Vinyl wallpaper with relief will help hide small defects in the walls.
Suitable for any premises.	Low-quality vinyl may have a specific aroma, reminiscent of the smell of plastic.
You can choose canvases to suit any interior design.	They do not allow air to pass through. A common problem with vinyl wallpaper is that it does not “breathe”, as it is moisture resistant. However, for bathrooms or kitchens this is more of a plus than a minus.
A wide range of prices - from budget to luxury.
Thanks to the multi-layer structure, they are not translucent and have soundproofing properties.	Toxicity of cheap wallpaper options. The composition may contain formaldehyde, they can be dangerous for allergies. To avoid this drawback, it is enough to look for an environmental safety sign on the label.
Durability of the coating. Vinyl wallpaper is a wear-resistant wallpaper.

Base options and their features

As mentioned above, vinyl wallpaper consists of several layers. The base material can be non-woven, paper or fabric.

Non-woven base

This base does not absorb water at all, so when gluing such canvases, glue is applied to the wall, which greatly simplifies the gluing process. Also, due to their high density, such vinyl sheets can imitate the texture of stone, wood or any type of fabric. Non-woven fabrics are suitable for painting.

Paper base

Thinner than non-woven fabric and has less wear-resistant characteristics, but such material will also cost less.

Fabric base

It is quite rare - in premium wallpapers. Such fabrics are resistant to deformation and hold their shape well for many years.

Which foundation is better to choose?

Each consumer must decide for himself what characteristics the wall covering in his interior should have. Below is a table with comparative characteristics of different types of vinyl wallpaper bases.

Non-woven base	Paper base	Fabric base
It does not absorb moisture and is suitable for painting up to 7 times, which will allow you to change the interior without re-painting the room.	It gets wet, so when painting such material there is a high probability that the seams will open.	It has a special impregnation and is suitable for painting.
They do not expand when wet, which means they will not shrink when drying and seams glued end-to-end will not come apart.	It expands under the influence of glue applied to it, and contracts when it dries. Therefore, pasting walls with such material can become problematic.	Does not deform after drying.
The price per roll is quite reasonable.	They belong to the budget price category.	It is used on premium wallpaper, so the price for such repairs will be high.

From the price-quality ratio we can conclude that the best option is to choose non-woven wallpaper, but the final choice remains with the buyer.

How long does it take to dry?

After finishing the finishing work in the room, you need to leave the windows and, preferably, the doors closed - the slightest draft will negate the work done. For how long? Here you need to know how long it takes vinyl wallpaper on paper to dry.

Giving an unambiguous answer to the question would be the height of unprofessionalism. After all, they can dry for 18 hours and two days. It all depends on a number of factors:

type of walls - how actively they absorb moisture from the adhesive layer. Naturally, the drying process is the fastest on concrete;
type of glue - a paste made of methylcellulose and modified starch dries at different speeds;
thickness of the base and the wallpaper itself;
air temperature and humidity in the room.

The ideal conditions are: temperature - 19-21oC, humidity - no more than 75%. In this case, a day is almost always enough. You can check if the wallpaper is dry by hand:

cool - the drying process is not completed;
pleasant to the touch - you can open the windows and ventilate the room from excess humidity.

Types of vinyl wallpaper

Modern manufacturers offer a large selection of the top layer, that is, the vinyl itself, to choose from.

Textured vinyl foam wallpaper

They can imitate abstract drawings, the texture of fabric, raw stone and even wood. Designed for painting.

The photo shows light wallpaper with a relief pattern.

Hot stamping

The production process of such wallpaper is high-tech. First, foamed polyvinyl chloride is applied to the base, and then it is processed with special rollers.

Compact vinyl (also smooth or flat)

Such vinyl sheets are ideal for the kitchen, since the compact vinyl coating is not afraid even of cleaning with brushes.

Polyplen

Suitable for use not only in the kitchen, but also in the children's room and even the bathroom. You can wash such walls an infinite number of times.

Heavy vinyl

It will be a little problematic for people without experience to stick such vinyl sheets because of their heavy weight, but such sheets can be used to mask deep unevenness in the walls.

With chemical embossing (inhibition)

This material is resistant to ultraviolet radiation, that is, it does not fade and is not afraid of moisture.

Silkscreen printing

Design options and drawings

Everyone will be able to choose a design to suit their taste and color, because currently manufacturers follow fashion trends and offer a choice of vinyl canvases with a variety of ornaments, patterns, geometric designs (geometry looks best in a large version), floral and animal prints, and landmarks world capitals, popular fairy-tale characters and so on.

In addition, textured vinyl wallpapers that imitate stone, brick, plaster, wood, snake or crocodile skin are becoming increasingly popular. If you have taste and experience, you can successfully combine different types of vinyl wallpaper and create a unique interior.

Examples of new products

Vinyl wallpaper has gained such popularity that demand for it has begun to exceed supply. Active businessmen calculated this omission, and many new companies appeared on the wallpaper market offering their own interesting options.

Palette

One of the most promising companies for the production of vinyl wallpaper is Russian. The name of the campaign says it all, promising a variety of different color combinations, and it doesn't disappoint consumers' expectations.

Plus, the company plans to expand and focus on the Western market - they are already collaborating with many large global corporations.

Beaconprint

Another equally promising Russian company that produces vinyl wallpaper, distinguished by its exceptional beauty and reliable quality. The company works both on the domestic Russian market and on the external world market.

Erismann

A German company that occupies a leading position in its homeland and has managed to gain popularity far beyond the borders of Germany. The company has its own production in Russia. Buyers respond positively to Erismann products and note the quality and durability of the material.

Sergio Rosselini

An exclusive Italian brand that produces wallpaper, as they say in the fashion world, “haute couture”. The price for brand products may seem overpriced only at first glance.

When the buyer is able to take a closer look at the vinyl, he will be amazed by its unique style and the highest quality of the work performed. In this case, the overpayment for the brand is completely justified.

Presentation in different styles

Vinyl wallpaper is a universal modern material that is suitable for any interior style.

For the increasingly popular loft style, vinyl wallpaper that imitates masonry or plaster is suitable.
In a modern or Scandinavian style, you can use imitation wood.
For the Provence style, you can choose a pattern with a small flower.

The photo shows concrete textured wallpaper.

The photo shows a marine-style bathroom. The walls are decorated with dark vinyl wallpaper with a themed print.

Color palette

Includes the entire rainbow spectrum and more. In addition to red, yellow, green, beige shades, you can find pearl, silver, golden, copper tints that change color depending on the angle of refraction of light on them.

The photo shows a living room design in pastel colors with soft green wallpaper with a gold pattern.

Examples of photos in room interiors

Below is a selection of photo illustrations of vinyl wallpaper in the interior of an apartment: in the living room, kitchen, bedroom, nursery, bathroom and hallway.

Selection rules

Vinyl wallpapers have received a wide variety for a reason. The fact is that for each room you should choose a certain type of wallpaper:

Washable ones with non-woven backing are suitable for the kitchen.
For the living room you can use any type of wallpaper.
For the bathroom, you should give preference to smooth vinyl wallpaper, which can easily replace ceramic tiles.
For the corridor, you can use any type of vinyl wallpaper with anti-vandal coating.

How to glue correctly?

Installing vinyl wallpaper is quite simple. Due to their high density, they are quite difficult to tear; high-quality material does not shrink when dried and is not deformed. Anyone can hang such wallpaper on their own, even without experience. You should start by preparing the walls. It is necessary to remove the old wall covering; if there is bare plaster underneath, you need to putty the walls, then prime the surface to be pasted.

It is not advisable to overlap vinyl wallpaper and silk-screen printing. You should always start pasting the room from the window. And then you should follow the instructions on the roll insert, there you can find information whether you need to apply glue to vinyl wallpaper, how long they should be soaked in glue if necessary, and so on.

Preparing the tools

To work, you need to prepare the following tools:

glue brush;
roller for rolling joints;
spatula and knife for trimming excess;
roulette;
Ruler and pencil;
napkin for removing excess glue;
scissors;
a brush or clean rag for smoothing fabrics;
brush for applying glue in hard-to-reach places.

How to remove vinyl wallpaper?

This process is not easy, since they consist of several layers.

Step-by-step instruction

First you need to peel off the top layer of vinyl with a spatula or knife. It is advisable to do this from the floor.
Next, carefully detach the top layer of wallpaper from the bottom layer with a pulling motion.
If the bottom layer was paper, you need to thoroughly moisten it with water and leave for 5 minutes, and then using a spatula it can be easily removed in large layers.
If the canvases were on a non-woven basis, there is no need to remove its remains. This layer will be a good basis for gluing new wallpaper.

Video guide

Manufacturing technology

The process of producing vinyl paper material involves applying several layers of vinyl to a paper surface pre-treated with special means, which makes this look quite durable. Vinyl is applied using special printers that provide an original design, and to give vinyl wallpaper an exquisite shine, gold or silver glitter can be applied to the surface. Next, the paper material is covered with a layer of protective varnish, and then treated with special impregnations that allow the vinyl to be wiped and cleaned using detergents.

Painting features

Can it be painted?

The answer to this question is yes, if the vinyl material is intended for this purpose. This information can be found on the manufacturer's roll insert.

How to paint correctly?

Here are a few subtleties of painting vinyl wallpaper:

Start painting the walls at least three days after wallpapering, that is, when the glue is completely dry.
The paint must be water-based (preferably acrylic or latex).
When using a color, it is necessary to dilute it to the entire volume at once, otherwise it will not be possible to achieve an absolutely identical batch. Sections of walls painted with different mixtures will have different shades.
The glued canvases should be cleaned of dust and dirt before painting.
You need to start painting the walls from the bottom, moving upward.

Required glue

The next limitation is the glue. Vinyl is hydrophobic, so it is not really saturated with glue. Fiberglass wallpaper also has problems with this, and the same can be said about paint.

This doesn't mean you should abandon the idea. It’s just that traditional adhesives won’t work; they won’t hold tightly. Therefore, you need to choose a suitable glue that will hold the coating well.

Good glue for vinyl wallpaper from the French

Special formulations are usually sold, but if you want to use traditional glue for vinyl types of wallpaper, then it must be mixed in equal proportions with a more durable glue on which glass wallpaper is glued.

You can also add a third of a portion of PVA to the glue for vinyl wallpaper, onto which paper versions (and not only paper ones) are glued. This is an even cheaper option, and the grip will be very strong.

Please note that with such approaches it will be a little more difficult to dismantle the wallpaper during the next repair - but it is still possible, because although it will be more difficult to get to it, the bottom layer will still come off quite easily.

High-quality glue for working with glass wallpaper

Although you still need to dilute the glue according to the instructions, you can take a little colder water and add a little less of it, then the adhesion will be stronger. The glue must be mixed very carefully. If you have a specialized construction mixer for paint, then it is best to use it, although it won’t be too scary if you just mix it very carefully.

When the glue is ready, be sure to leave it for a couple of hours to infuse, then it will stick much better. And don’t forget to choose the type that exactly matches the type of wallpaper you have. Do you have any doubts? Consult with the seller rather than buying at random.