Material guide

What each material is, and where it fails.

General information about wallpaper materials, written for a hot, humid, high-sunlight climate. It applies to wallpaper in general, not to one product. Check the specifics for your own room before you order.

Non-woven

Also called: Non-woven fabric wallpaper

General standard

What it is

A sheet made from pressed natural and synthetic fibres, not from paper pulp alone.

Cleaning

Wipe with a dry or barely damp cloth. Do not soak it.

Hung by

Paste the wall

Works well for

Living rooms and bedrooms
Rented homes, since it often strips off the wall in one piece
Rooms you may want to repaint or repaper later

Watch out for

Less wipeable than vinyl-coated types
Printed colour can fade faster in strong direct sun than vinyl-coated types

Vinyl wallcovering

Also called: Vinyl wallpaper

Varies by product

What it is

A vinyl face on a paper, non-woven or fabric backing; texture and construction vary by product.

Cleaning

Wipe with a damp cloth and mild soap.

Hung by

Varies by product. Check the roll label for paste-the-wall or paste-the-paper.

Works well for

Hallways and living rooms with everyday wear
Homes with children or pets, since the surface wipes clean
Rooms where you want a raised or fabric-like texture

Watch out for

Less breathable than non-woven, so moisture can get trapped behind it
Not meant for areas with constant direct water, such as inside a shower

Heavyweight vinyl wallcovering

Also called: Heavy-duty vinyl

Varies by product

What it is

A heavier vinyl wallcovering whose backing, construction and hanging method depend on the product sheet.

Cleaning

Scrubbable with mild soap and water.

Hung by

Varies by product. Check the roll label.

Works well for

High-traffic areas in shops or offices
Kitchens, away from direct water contact
Walls that need firm scrubbing to stay clean

Watch out for

Heavier and less flexible, so corners need a skilled hand
Among the least breathable common wallpaper types

Grasscloth / natural fibre

Also called: Natural fibre wallpaper, such as jute, sisal or seagrass weave

Varies by product

What it is

A natural-fibre face, such as jute, sisal or seagrass, fixed to a product-specific backing.

Cleaning

Dust only, with a dry soft brush or a vacuum brush attachment.

Hung by

Backing and adhesive method vary. Follow the manufacturer instructions and take extra care at each seam.

Works well for

Feature walls in dry rooms
Studies and formal living rooms
A rough, natural-looking texture

Watch out for

Stains easily and cannot be cleaned with water
Seams between rolls are usually visible. This is normal for the material, not a fitting fault
Colour can vary slightly between rolls, since the fibre is a natural material

Fabric-backed / textile

Also called: Textile wallpaper

Varies by product

What it is

A decorative textile face fixed onto a paper or non-woven backing.

Cleaning

Dust only. Do not use water or solvents.

Hung by

Varies by product. Always check the manufacturer notes before starting.

Works well for

Formal rooms with low daily contact
A soft, textile look on one feature wall

Watch out for

Absorbs odours and moisture
Not washable
Not suited to humid rooms or strong direct sun, which can weaken the bond over time

Peel-and-stick

Also called: Self-adhesive or removable wallpaper

Varies by product

What it is

A vinyl or fabric sheet with adhesive already applied, covered by a peel-off liner.

Cleaning

Wipe with a dry or lightly damp cloth.

Hung by

Peel and stick. No separate paste is needed.

Works well for

Rented homes
Small feature areas or furniture
Short-term or trial use

Watch out for

Adhesive can lift on textured, uneven, or freshly painted walls
Performs poorly in high humidity or on a damp wall
Long-term hold in heat is less predictable than paste-applied types

Washable-coated paper

General standard

What it is

A paper base with a thin protective coating that resists light moisture.

Cleaning

Wipe gently with a barely damp cloth. Do not scrub.

Hung by

Varies by product. Check the roll label.

Works well for

Kitchens, away from direct splashing
Children's rooms, for easier wipe-downs

Watch out for

The coating resists light wiping, not soaking or scrubbing
Still a paper base underneath, so it is less durable in wet conditions than vinyl

Mural or custom-print panels

Varies by product

What it is

A large image or design printed across joined panels or one continuous sheet.

Cleaning

Follow the specific product instructions. Printed inks respond to cleaning differently by product.

Hung by

Panel and adhesive methods vary. Follow the supplied product instructions and panel sequence.

Works well for

One feature wall as a focal point
A specific image, map, or artwork sized to the wall

Watch out for

Panel alignment needs a flat, even wall
A reprint to replace one damaged panel later can show a slight colour difference from the original print run
Direct sun fades printed colour over years, as with any printed surface

Vocabulary

Words you will hear on site.

If someone uses one of these and you are not sure what they mean, ask. It usually matters.

Pattern repeat: The vertical (or sometimes horizontal) distance before a printed pattern repeats itself along the roll.
Straight match: A pattern that lines up straight across from one roll to the next, at the same height.
Offset match (drop match): A pattern that only lines up correctly when the next roll is shifted up or down by a set amount.
Free match: A pattern with no need to align rolls to each other, since the design repeats randomly or has no clear repeat point.
Drop: One cut length of wallpaper, sized to the wall height plus a trim allowance.
Batch or lot number: A code printed on the roll label showing which production run it came from. Colour can vary slightly between batches.
GSM: Grams per square metre, a measure of how heavy and thick the material is.
Non-woven: A material made of pressed natural and synthetic fibres, rather than woven cloth or pulped paper.
Sizing / primer: A coating applied to a wall before papering, to even out absorption and help later removal.
Butt seam: Where two wallpaper edges meet edge to edge, without overlapping.
Overlap-and-double-cut: A technique where two edges are overlapped, then cut through both layers together, for a tight, close-to-invisible join.
Lining paper: A plain paper hung first to even out a rough or uneven wall, before the final wallpaper goes on.
Breathable: A material that lets moisture vapour pass through it, rather than sealing the wall completely.
Washable vs scrubbable: Washable tolerates a gentle wipe with a damp cloth. Scrubbable tolerates firmer cleaning with a brush or sponge.

Not sure which one suits your wall?

The wall condition decides more than the design does. The sequence below explains what gets checked and when.

How a job runs Catalogue