Wallpaper Types and Styles
If you’re ready to give your walls a new look, wallpaper is a versatile option. In this guide we’ll help you discover which wallpaper type is right for you, and give you all the info you need to consider before you start the job.
Types of wallpaper
When deciding on what wallpaper best suits your style and requirements, there are a few things to take into consideration. We’ve pulled together the different wallpapers you could come across in your search for a new look.
Vinyl wallpaper
Hardwearing and washable, vinyl wallpaper is especially suitable for kitchens and bathrooms due to its moisture-resistance. Featuring a printed skin of vinyl on top of a layer of paper, vinyl wallpaper is available in a range of thicknesses for added durability but cannot be painted on. Similar to anaglypta or embossed paper, blown vinyl wallpaper has a coloured and raised design that cannot be painted over.
Lining paper
This plain paper is the perfect in-between layer for covering imperfections and dark colours on your wall before applying your final look. It’s available in a variety of grades (AKA thicknesses), and the thicker lining paper is, the easier it is to hang, the less chance it has of tearing, and better coverage it offers. Lining paper is hung horizontally – unless you are planning on painting it - to prevent the joins matching up when you hang your wallpaper of choice on top.
Woodchip wallpaper
Woodchip wallpaper – also known as ingrain wallpaper – is made with small chips of wood within the paper and is a budget friendly way of covering imperfect surfaces. Like lining paper, woodchip wallpaper is available in a variety of grades (thickness) with the thicker options offering more coverage and ease when hanging.
Polystyrene sheeting
For warmer walls and to help reduce condensation in room, using rolls of thin polystyrene sheeting as a wallpaper lining is a great option. This polystyrene veneer is also helpful in bathrooms, kitchens and bedrooms that are more likely to have a build-up of condensation. When using this option, try to avoid high-traffic areas as it can easily be dented and marked.
Flocked wallpaper
Made with a velvet-like fibre patterning, traditional flocked wallpaper provides a high-end look and luxurious feel to your walls. Flocked wallpaper can be tricky to hang due to stray wallpaper paste causing marks on the design.
Anaglypta or embossed wallpaper
Thick and durable, anaglypta wallpaper is available in a wide variety of embossed designs and . usually comes in a neutral shade that you can easily paint over with your chosen emulsion paint. Embossed paper is usually made from high grade (thick) material that can help cover slight imperfections on your walls. Take care when hanging this type of wallpaper as it can be prone to stretching.
Supaglypta wallpaper
Similar in design to anaglypta, supaglypta is made with cotton fibres to produce its complex embossed patterns. These fibres make the wallpaper durable and long-lasting making it suitable for high-traffic areas like your hallway and stairways.
Washable wallpaper
Printed with water-resistant ink and finished with a transparent layer of plastic, washable wallpaper is designed to handle being cleaned. Ideal for kitchens, bathroom and kids’ rooms, washable wallpaper can be easily wiped down to remove grease, dirt and marks.
Foil wallpaper
Foil wallpaper is designed with a reflective pattern that can bring an attractive and modern statement to your walls. When hanging foil wallpaper, be sure that your wall surface is as smooth as possible with help from lining paper to prevent bumps from showing. Due to excess paste potentially effecting the reflective coating, this type of wallpaper is usually a ‘paste the wall’ paper to make hanging easier.
Types of wallpaper application
When it comes to applying wallpaper, our range can be divided into 3 groups. You might find some easier to apply than others, but they’ll all give the same effect once they’re up.
Styles of wallpaper
Plain
Keep it simple - Let the colour do the talking with everything from bold pops of colours to neutral, minimalistic tones.
Floral
Say hello to walls forever in bloom with beautiful floral patterns in colours to suit every space.
Glitter & Metallic
If you fancy adding a touch of glitz to your look, choosing a glitter or metallic finish is a perfect choice.
Damask
Roll out a new look by creating opulent impact with intricate damask designs. Ideal for statement and feature walls.
Geometrics
Stylish, sophisticated, and just the ticket for modern statement walls, choose geometric patterns for a fun edge.
Striped
Wonderfully bold to calming neutrals, striped wallpaper is a stylish and versatile look for every room.
3D
For the look that comes to life with the WOW factor, 3D wallpaper is so intricately detailed it reaches out to you.
How to choose wallpaper
Colours and patterns will always be a personal matter, but we can help you choose the right type of wallpaper for your room with some practical advice.
Can I wallpaper my kitchen or bathroom?
Yes, however we recommend you use washable wallpaper for bathrooms and kitchens as they are better suited to these environments. Both rooms are regularly exposed to moisture whether it’s accidental splashes or steam and condensation, so a vinyl wallpaper will be much more robust. You should also check your adhesive can handle prolonged moisture.
How will light affect my wallpaper?
Before you commit, you should think about the kind of light your room gets, both naturally and artificially. Sunshine and ceiling lights will give very different looks, so we recommend attaching some wallpaper samples to your walls to see if your chosen design will look as good as you hope.
Will a feature wall work for me?
If you have a wall that is the natural focus of the room, then you have a prime candidate for a feature wall. Your focal wall is usually where you have a fireplace, mantel, TV, or headboard, so you’re using the wallpaper to further highlight and enhance the area your eye is naturally drawn to.
Which wallpaper suits the size of my room?
Your wallpaper choice can make a space seem larger or smaller than before, which is great if you want to give the illusion of broader walls and taller ceilings or bring things closer for a cosier feeling. Choose lighter colours to make a room feel bigger, darker colours and large prints to make a room feel smaller, vertical stripes to add height, or horizontal stripes to lengthen walls.
The advantages of wallpaper
The amount of looks and finishes to choose from is one of the greatest advantages of wallpaper but there’s a lot more going for it too.
Durable
A quality wallpaper will outlast paint by years, giving you the same consistent finish for up to 15-20 years if you take care of it.
Washable
Lots of wallpapers are washable, making them ideal for any room especially kitchens, bathrooms and kids’ areas were splashes and marks are more likely to be made.
Cover imperfections
Wallpaper can help to hide minor blemishes like small dents and cracks, so if your surfaces are less than perfect this could be the perfect solution.
Do it yourself
It doesn’t matter how handy you are, wallpapering can be done by anyone (with a little patience) and gives a lot of look for your money.
Peel & Stick options
If you don’t want to commit to something long term or you’re living in rented accommodation, our Peel & Stick wallpaper is ideal. Easy to install, looks just as good as other wallpaper types, and easy to take down when you’re done with it.
Frequently asked questions
How to measure your room for wallpaper?
Follow our step-by-step instructions on how to measure your room to calculate how many rolls of wallpaper you need for your home wallpapering project.
Use our fail-safe guide to ensure you get the right number of wallpaper rolls for your home wallpapering project.
- Start by measuring the width of each wall. This includes the windows and doors.
- Then work out the height from the floor (or the top of the skirting board) to the ceiling.
- Note down the height of the room or area, in metres and centimetres.
- Apply your measurements to our calculator below and it’ll do the work for you.
How many drops do you get from one roll?
In an average sized home, with walls approximately 2.4m high, a wallpaper with no repeat pattern should give you four drops. If your room has unusually high or low ceilings, you will need fewer or more rolls but use this as an average baseline to work from. A wallpaper with a pattern repeat will also give you fewer drops as there’s trimming and wastage from matching the pattern. If you have a pattern repeat of up to 64 cm, you should get three drops from a roll.
How wide is a roll of wallpaper?
The average width and length of a wallpaper roll depends on many factors, including the type of wallpaper, the design of the pattern, and the texture of the paper. However, most of our rolls have a width of 52cm and length of 10.05m.
Does the wallpaper calculator account for trimming?
Our wallpaper calculator provides measurements that allow for trimming, based on a standard room layout.
How much wallpaper do I need if I have a complex room layout?
For complex room shapes we recommend buying extra to cover all eventualities and to ensure batch continuity.
Does the calculator accommodate pattern repeats?
Our calculator does account for wallpaper with pattern repeats. Simply enter your measurements into our calculator, select the correct “with pattern repeat” option and it’ll work out exactly how many rolls you require.
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