Wallpaper can do things that paint simply cannot manage. One roll of wallpaper can soften the lines of a room, another roll of wallpaper can hide the defects of imperfect wall, and a third roll of wallpaper can define a color scheme without the people in the room realizing exactly how the wallpaper achieved such a result. However, textured wallpaper is often overlooked despite the fact that it is a powerful decorating medium.
Many people dont appreciate textured wallpaper because they often consider it to be dated or challenging to use in various room of a home. However, textured wallpaper could solve more decorating problems in a home than a fresh coat of paint could do. All one has to do is understand the varieties of textured wallpaper to make informed and satisfying choice for a space within the home.
To use wallpaper effective, one must understand how to match the texture of the wallpaper to the architecture of the room and the life that lives within the room. For example, families with young children and pets may want to choose a wallpaper texture that will allow the marks of their pets to be forgiven. Similarly, a minimalist apartment space may have benefits from choosing a wallpaper texture that does not attempt to draw the eye beyond the architecture of the space.
However, modern manufacturing processes have reproduced classic wallpaper textures using better materials and installation methods. Therefore, people dont have to sacrifice the charm of wallpaper textures for the convenience of modern home. There are numerous varieties of wallpaper textures that have earned their place on the walls of homes for specific reasons.
Popular Varieties of Textured Wallpaper to Consider
1. Grasscloth Wallpaper
Grasscloth wallpaper features a natural texture derived from plant fibers such as hemp, sisal, or jute. These fibers create a soft and organic texture on the walls of a home. Additionally, the natural material absorbs sound more better than smooth paint finishes.
The plant fibers have subtle variations in color that allow each piece of grasscloth wallpaper to be unique in appearance. Moreover, the variation of the fibers allows the texture of the wallpaper to appear three-dimensional when light shines on the walls. This texture is useful for homes that have dining room or home offices.
However, the downside to grasscloth wallpaper is that the natural fibers do not appreciate much moisture. Thus, grasscloth wallpaper must be used in spaces with low humidity and requires more dusting than other texture.
2. Linen Wallpaper
Linen wallpaper mimics the look of fabric but offers the additional benefit of being more durable.
The embosset texture of linen wallpaper helps to disguise the texture of bumps in the walls. Additionally, linen wallpaper is a great texture for bedrooms since the softness of linen wallpaper makes for a calming environment for sleeper. Furthermore, many linen wallpapers contain a vinyl coating that resists fingerprints.
This feature is beneficial in contrast with the weaknesses of other linen wallpaper products that may show the print of fingers on the wallpaper. Additionally, linen wallpaper contains enough sheen to reflect the light into the areas of the room that do not receive much natural light. Finally, using linen wallpaper on one accent wall in a small room can give the illusion of more square footage in the room.
3. Embossed Vinyl Wallpaper
Embossed vinyl wallpaper textures are also call Anaglypta or Supaglypta. These wallpapers have various raised textures that may be more detailed or bold depending on the wallpaper choice. However, the benefit of embossed vinyl wallpaper is that it can be painted over.
Using this texture, one may hang a sheet of off-toned wallpaper and then paint the desired color over it. This type of wallpaper allows people to achieve the look of ornate wall plaster without the weight of the molding that would otherwise be required. This type of wallpaper may be useful in older homes that may have cracked plaster.
Additionally, the vinyl texture of the wallpaper means that it can stand up to the touch of children.
4. Flocked Wallpaper
Flocked wallpaper features a velvet-like texture and was first popular in Victorian homes. However, flocked wallpaper is available in more modern colors and on a smaller scale.
Flocked wallpaper adds a drama to the walls of a home that may otherwise be lacking in texture. It may be a good choice for a powder room or sitting area. However, flocked wallpaper traps dust so it is not a good choice for homes that have heavy pet traffic or individuals with allergy.
However, in homes with fewer pets and allergies, flocked wallpaper can provide a tactile texture that children may enjoy.
5. Cork Wallpaper
Cork wallpaper features a natural material that originates from cork oak trees. The cork wallpaper texture may be of a variety of sizes but naturally dampens sound and regulates the temperature of the room.
Thus, cork wallpaper is a good texture for a home theater room or bedroom that has exterior walls. Additionally, the earth tones used in cork wallpaper allow it to coordinate with rustic or modern furniture. The feature of cork wallpaper is that it may be left in its natural state on the wall or may be given a light wax coating.
Cork wallpaper will forgive imperfections in the walls and will age gracefully over time. However, most cork wallpaper features warm tone like browns and golds so care should be taken when choosing the color of the wallpaper.
6. Metallic Wallpaper
Metallic wallpaper texture includes subtle shimmer that does not look too much like a disco ball.
Additionally, metallic wallpaper texture comes in various shades that feature a gloss-like finish. Using metallic wallpaper texture in a bathroom that may be small will make it appear larger as the metallic textures will reflect light off the walls of the room. Additionally, metallic wallpaper texture will work best for using on one of the walls that is opposite the windows of the room.
Many of the metallic wallpaper textures are available for installation on the feature wall of a home and some of them can be painted over in the future. The metallic texture will work best if preserved in its original state.
7. Raised Stucco or Swirl Textures
Some of the most common types of wallpaper textures are raised stucco or slap brush textures that may be referred to as combed or swirl wallpaper textures.
These textures are meant to mimic the look of old plaster walls and are a great option for homes with damaged walls as they cover the damage and give the wall a three-dimensional look. However, these textures will work best in rooms with natural light to shine on the raised textures of the wallpaper. Many people choose the neutral tone of these textures so that they may focus on the texture as an element of décor rather than the texture competing with the color of the décor.
These textures are permanent once installed in a room and are a commitment to the look that they will provide.
8. Silk and Rayon String Wallpaper
Silk and rayon string wallpaper feature vertical textures of silk or rayon fibers that are adhered to a sheet of paper. These fibers may be in a tight or loose formation to allow for variation in design.
Additionally, the silk or rayon fibers have a sheen that adds luminosity to the colors on the wallpaper. This wallpaper texture may be a good idea for a dressing room or home closet as the texture of the fibers will not make the closet feel like a box. Additionally, silk or rayon string wallpaper will work best in homes with high ceilings as it will draw the eyes of the observers down to the wallpaper.
Installation of string wallpaper can be challenging as the silk or rayon fibers may shift from too much pressure on the wallpaper. However, the final look of the string wallpaper justifies the time and patience that would be required in installing the wallpaper. Each of these types of wallpaper textures can solve problems that flat paint finishes could not solve.
Each type of texture adds depth to a flat room, hides noise in noisy spaces, disguises the imperfections of a wall, and adds a sense of layered personality to a home that is expressed over time. To decorate a space in a home, one should not leave texture to the last minute. Instead, one should walk into each room, examine the look of the walls and the way that the light plays on the surfaces of those walls, and consider how the room may be used to perform certain functions.
Based off all these elements, an individual can make a better choice for the texture that will best suit the needs and features of that specific room. When one finds the best texture for a given room, the walls will become part of the conversation between the residents of that room and the wallpaper will no longer be a forgotten element of the home décor. Instead, the wallpaper will bring as much value to the home décor as any other element of that home.
By choosing the appropriate textures for the various rooms of the home, people will wonder why they ever chose to decorate with plain surfaces when there were so many options for wallpaper textures out there.
