Paper wallpaper - pros and cons. Pros and cons of paper wallpaper, features of working with them Modern types of paper wallpaper

Paper wallpaper has historically been and remains a popular finishing material, regardless of what level of social status the buyer is at or how much he earns. Prices for these products differ depending on the manufacturing technology, but are always characterized by democratic prices.

Advantages of paper wallpaper

They are based on paper, which is an environmentally friendly material. Simple manufacturing technology using only natural products ensures the environmental safety of the wallpaper. They are also glued with adhesives that do not contain harmful substances. The walls have the ability to breathe, maintaining the necessary oxygen exchange. Therefore, paper wallpaper can be safely used in living rooms, schools and preschool institutions, where increased requirements for sanitation and environmental safety are imposed.
Wallpaper made from paper has a wide variety of colors, patterns, and textures. They can be one- or two-layer, embossed or smooth, colored or plain. Wallpaper designed for impregnation or application of paint is also produced.
wallpaper is simple and accessible to anyone. The paper base can be used for finishing any premises, except damp ones. To obtain a high-quality result, careful preparation of the surface to be glued requires cleaning of dirt, paint, dust, oil stains, leveling and eliminating all irregularities, cracks and protrusions. After applying a layer of glue to the wallpaper, you need to give it 5-10 minutes for the glue to saturate it. When applying the prepared strip to the wall, you should thoroughly smooth it with a dry cloth or rubber roller from the center to the edges to remove excess glue and air bubbles. For fast and high-quality wallpaper stickers, 2 people are enough.
The main advantage of wallpaper, which determines the choice of buyers, is its low cost compared to other finishing materials with high aesthetic appeal.

Video: What is the difference between vinyl and paper wallpaper

Disadvantages of paper wallpaper

The service life under ideal operating conditions does not exceed 10 years. Over time, the appearance of the wallpaper begins to yellow and lose its attractiveness. In addition, they are impractical, get dirty easily and children love to paint them.
Paper wallpapers are intolerant to moisture; they cannot be used in the kitchen, bathroom, shower room, toilet and other rooms where periodic treatment of the walls with sanitary products is required.
The tendency of the wallpaper surface to quickly wear out leads to the fact that in places where it is frequently touched, it darkens and forms unsightly spots. They are especially noticeable around white switches and sockets. To counter this, special plastic linings are used, mounted around these parts, but this does not always look harmonious in the overall interior of the room.
Wallpaper on paper is susceptible to fading when exposed to sunlight. Wallpaper on the side of the room that receives more sunlight will lighten faster. If there is furniture there, then dark shadows are formed that follow the contour of the furniture, which become clearly visible when the furniture is rearranged.
The strength of wallpaper is low; it is easily damaged by accidental contact with hard and sharp objects: a screwdriver, a knife, a table corner, etc. Single-layer smooth wallpaper exactly repeats all the irregularities of the wall.

Types of paper wallpaper

There are wallpapers made entirely of paper, and wallpapers. The latter differ in that their top layer is made of a different material - fabric or polymer. It should be borne in mind that the polymer layer, vinyl, is airtight, so such wallpaper does not allow the walls to “breathe”. Today's building materials market offers consumers the following types of wallpaper:

1. Simplex (single-layer) wallpaper. They are made entirely of paper, have a smooth surface, onto which the design is transferred using a typographic method. To make cheap models, coarse grades of paper are used. More expensive products contain a light-fast primer to protect the paper base from fading. All simplex wallpapers quickly absorb glue and get wet; when applied, they stick tightly to the wall, clearly duplicating the entire relief of its surface. The main advantage of such products is their low price, which makes it possible to inexpensively carry out a good cosmetic renovation of the apartment, which is especially beneficial for rented premises.

2. Duplex (two-layer) wallpaper. They are more durable than simplex wallpaper and consist of two glued layers. The first layer is a flat base, onto which an outer layer with a printed pattern and a relief surface is glued, allowing you to hide various wall defects. Depending on the materials used and the method of forming the outer layer, the following types of two-layer wallpaper are distinguished:

3. Paintable wallpaper on a paper basis, but with a paper, friseline or fiberglass working layer intended for repeated painting with acrylic paint. Depending on their type, such wallpaper can be repainted from 3 to 10 times, which is very convenient for those who like to frequently change the interior of their apartment.

Video: How to make paper wallpaper?

Color and tone of paper wallpaper

When choosing wallpaper, an important factor from the aesthetic side is its color and pattern. When choosing a color, you need to take into account not only aesthetic, but also psychological requirements and recommendations. For example, for the bedroom, soft colors and shades are recommended that help calm the nervous system, causing a feeling of relaxation and tranquility. Bright and contrasting colors can be suitable for a children's room, living room, or office.

You should also take into account the location of the room in terms of its natural illumination during the day. If it is located on the south side and is illuminated by the sun most of the day, then it makes sense to cover the walls with wallpaper in dark tones that absorb excess bright light. If there is not enough natural light, then, on the contrary, you should choose wallpaper in light colors that promote the reflection and dispersion of light. Thus, you can artificially increase the illumination of the room by 1.5-2 times.

The color of the wallpaper also creates a visual effect of increasing or decreasing space. The direction of the pattern and patterns on the wallpaper also have the ability to visually change the size of the room in height and width. Thus, vertical stripes increase the height of the room, and a small pattern of wallpaper visually expands it. To “reduce” a room, wallpaper with a large pattern is suitable. At the same time, the larger the size of the pattern, the softer the tone of the wallpaper should be chosen. It should be remembered that a diagonally directed pattern creates the illusion of a violation of the perpendicularity of the walls and ceiling (floor).

When choosing a product, you need to compare its tonality in artificial and natural light, as the difference can be striking. Usually rolls paper wallpaper They have standard dimensions of 53x1005 cm. In appearance, they are practically no different from their more expensive vinyl counterparts. The peculiarity of the colors of wallpaper models with the same name is that the shade may be different in different batches of goods, so it is important to take them from the same batch. For the same reasons, you need to purchase products with a small reserve, since if there is a shortage of goods, it will be almost impossible to find wallpaper that matches the tone.

Apparently, when evaluating, most people come to the conclusion that the pros are much more significant than the cons. To be convinced of this, it is enough to visit several acquaintances and friends. Worldly wisdom plays an important role in the choice - an old friend is better than two new ones. After all, Russians have been using inexpensive materials for walls for more than 150 years.

Modern types of paper wallpaper

Current types of paper sheets are as similar to their ancestors as a cart is to a modern car.

Manufacturers have filled stores with a variety of models:

Classic single-layer (simplex) with a smooth or embossed surface. The canvases are thin, so they often tear during gluing and under accidental mechanical stress. Fade quickly in sunlight.
Duplex paper wallpaper. Thanks to 2 layers, their strength is higher, but they are also short-lived. They are more expensive than simplex, they can be wiped with a damp cloth, but there is a risk of damage to the front layer after drying.
with a white or single-color surface. With infrequent repainting, the service life is up to 7 years.
Moisture-resistant, varnished or latex-coated. Despite the decent price, there is no texture, but such models can be washed with soap and water.
Three-layer (triplex). Expensive, but otherwise there are only advantages - durable, moisture resistant, resistant to repainting, mask wall defects.
Structural or wood fiber, in which a layer of wood chips is placed between two layers of paper, creating the texture of the outer layer. The cost is decent, but the performance parameters are high with a wealth of decorative solutions.
Paper sheets with acrylic coating, or foam wallpaper, their front layer is spot-treated with acrylic polymers. The result is relief patterns, which allows you to hide minor imperfections in the walls.

The strength of the material by density is indicated on the label. The most durable from 140 g/m2.

Paper wallpaper in interior design

Knowing the features of paper wallpaper, with the right choice of color, pattern, texture, you can create a design that is not inferior to the design using. By choosing the desired color and pattern, you can make the room lighter or darker, visually raise or lower the ceiling, change the size, change the temperature by a few degrees. When choosing a color, you should follow the recommendations of psychologists:

pastel colors create a calm atmosphere;
light beige shades can visually enlarge the space;
to stimulate vigor you need to use yellow or orange flowers;
gold and silver colors will create a festive look, but in moderation;
if the room is poorly lit, bright colors should prevail in it;
the combination of red and pastel colors works well in workplaces and living rooms;
the use of purple color in large rooms visually reduces their size, but, paradoxically, in small rooms it increases it;
blue color and its shades are used not only to visually enlarge the room, but also to create a calm atmosphere;
green color creates conditions for relaxation, as it has a calming effect on the nerves;
The black and white palette is used by people with a reinforced concrete nervous system or completely lacking it.

Despite the fact that the fashion for ornaments changes, spatial and aesthetic laws remain unchanged. Vertical striped paper sheets increase the height of the ceiling, and horizontal stripes increase the width and length of the room. To put it mildly, wallpaper with large or small patterns of flowers will look strange in a small room. Bright colors should be diluted with pastel tones to reduce eye strain. on paper with landscapes will decorate any room.

The larger the drawings, the softer the colors should be.

Paper wallpaper for walls: pros and cons

The secret of the popularity of this coating is explained by the abundance of its advantages:

low price;
environmental Safety;
Possibility of use in any premises;
does not cause allergies;
a wide selection of colors, patterns, textures;
varieties with a protective coating are allowed;
ease of sticker and maintenance;
breathability.

The main disadvantages of paper wallpaper include low strength and wear resistance. Sound insulation and thermal insulation are practically absent. Quick fading and abrasion of the design are also not the best aspects. The service life is usually up to 3 years, but with careful handling and proper care, some models can reach up to 10 years.

Scope of application

The characteristics of the finish allow it to be used not only in all residential areas, but also in offices and hospitals. Since this finishing material is the most environmentally friendly, it is most often used for finishing living rooms, bedrooms, and children's rooms.

Excellent breathability allows you to maintain the microclimate in them at the proper level without additional effort. Even if children use all the available floor space to demonstrate their artistic talents, replacing it will not be a burden on the family budget.

As soon as variations of moisture-resistant wallpaper made from paper appeared, they immediately began to be actively used in bathrooms, hallways, and especially in kitchens. In bathrooms, they are mainly used as a colorful addition to the main decoration. Good breathability of the material prevents mold and mildew from growing. Therefore, there is no unpleasant smell in the kitchen where they like to live.

Since budget organizations and businessmen save money for various reasons, the walls of most of their offices are decorated with paper wallpaper. Cheap and beautiful!

A master, unlike a beginner, knows 1000 little things in his business, so you need to listen to the advice of masters. This will not only allow you to get the job done efficiently, but will also save time and money.

When purchasing wallpaper, you should stock up on a couple of extra rolls. They are useful when replacing damaged or heavily soiled areas.
Paper tends to shrink when it dries, so the canvases are glued overlapping with an overlap of 0.5 cm.
You need to purchase wallpaper glue from reliable sellers, having collected information about the brand and parameters in advance.
So that the paper wallpaper does not have time to become soggy when spreading glue on it, you need to work together.
After gluing 4-5 strips, it is necessary to remove the indents before the glue hardens. It will be difficult to do this later.
You should not cover the corner with a single piece of cloth. It’s easier to cut it lengthwise with an allowance of 2 cm from the bend. On the next wall, 1 strip is glued plumb.
The sticker must be started from the window so that the joints do not create a shadow in daylight.
When gluing new canvases onto old ones, it is necessary to carefully coat the edges of the old canvases with glue. Otherwise, the new ones will not fit tightly and may come off.
To avoid deformation of the freshly glued paper covering in the room, do not open the windows for 2-3 days to prevent drafts.

Today's market is overflowing with various offers. Manufacturers and sellers offer the modern consumer a variety of:

single-layer and multi-layer;
smooth and embossed;
with a pattern or background;
primed (in which the design is printed on painted paper);
unprimed (in which the design is applied to colored or white paper;
not intended for painting.

Beauty is in simplicity

How to choose paper wallpaper

What characteristics of paper wallpaper should be taken into account when choosing? To understand this, let's look at the disadvantages and advantages of paper wallpaper.

Paper wallpaper, oddly enough, is a rather ancient finishing material. In Europe, paper wallpaper appeared relatively recently, in the middle of the second millennium, but in Ancient China they began to be made much earlier, presumably soon after the invention of rice paper, that is, around 200 BC.

Subsequently, when England established trade relations with China, they began to be imported to Europe - Chinese wallpaper, especially hand-painted wallpaper, was always in great demand. Large-scale development began in the 18th century, and soon they practically replaced fabric ones. And even today, in the 21st century, people for the most part prefer paper wallpaper or paper-based wallpaper over all others.

Now we have wallpaper of all kinds at our disposal: fabric, jute, glass fiber, bamboo, non-woven, vinyl, 3D photo wallpaper... And yet, today “ordinary” wallpaper is in demand in the world more than any other - this is a fact , perhaps, says a lot.

Of course, despite the well-known advantages, like any other finishing material, paper wallpaper is not without its drawbacks; they have their downsides. These include fragility, a tendency to burn out, low moisture resistance, and poor sound insulation qualities. It should be noted, however, that not all types of paper wallpaper have these disadvantages. In addition, modern technologies make it possible to produce paper wallpaper with improved characteristics.

Disadvantages of paper wallpaper

Disadvantage one: fragility

Only single-layer wallpapers – they are also called simplex – can be considered truly fragile and short-lived. They are made from plain paper. They are really fragile, easily torn and worn out - but they are very, very cheap, and therefore continue to be in demand. They are advantageous to use in places where there are no high requirements for the quality of finishing and durability is not required, such as country houses, construction trailers, and other temporary premises. Therefore, the cheapest single-layer wallpapers are sometimes made from low-quality recycled paper.

Duplex wallpaper is made from two or more layers of paper, which makes it more durable. (If the top layer is made of non-woven or vinyl, such wallpaper is usually called not paper, but, respectively, non-woven and vinyl.)

The top paper layer is sometimes impregnated with a protective coating.

Disadvantage two: burnout

Paper wallpaper changes color if exposed to sunlight for a long time. However, this is a disadvantage of almost all types of soft wall coverings.

In addition, the protective top layer applied to paper wallpaper also helps to neutralize the harmful effects of light to some extent. This problem can be radically solved if you choose paper wallpaper intended for painting. They can be painted up to three times, thus avoiding the need to glue new ones.

Wallpaper in a nursery can be changed frequently

Disadvantage three: low moisture resistance

Paper wallpaper is considered to be a non-moisture resistant finishing material. Some of them cannot be wet cleaned. They are not recommended for gluing in bathrooms. However, if the kitchen or bathroom is large and well ventilated, it is permissible to stick paper wallpaper, especially wallpaper with a protective coating, on walls where moisture does not regularly enter. Modern manufacturers produce paper wallpaper with a moisture-resistant coating of such good quality that it can be wiped with a damp sponge, sometimes even using detergents. In other words, this lack of paper wallpaper is a thing of the past.

Disadvantage four: poor sound insulation

Paper wallpaper has practically no noise-insulating properties, and this is a rather serious disadvantage. For better sound insulation, it is recommended to use wallpaper containing denser materials. However, their soundproofing effect is actually very small, and if there is really a need for soundproofing, it should be.

Pros of paper wallpaper

Cheapness

Perhaps “cheap” is not entirely true. It would be more accurate to say: a wide price range. Of course, high-quality paper wallpaper with hand-printed designs can be quite expensive, but for a small price you can buy quite good wallpaper: paper with a waterproof coating, corrugated, and other types of paper-based wallpaper. The choice of inexpensive, but high-quality wallpaper is very, very wide.

Easy to stick

Paper wallpaper is probably the easiest finishing coating to use, which is without a doubt a big plus. You don't need any special skills to work with them. It is enough to properly prepare the surface - remove, apply glue to the wall or wallpaper, place the panel on the wall, matching the pattern, and carefully smooth it with a dry cloth or a special spatula. With due diligence, even a person who has no experience in finishing work can cope with such work.

Big choice

One of the reasons why paper wallpaper continues to be in great demand is its huge range. A wide variety of colors, patterns, textures, technical characteristics allows you to decorate a room in any style - from classic to high-tech, and hide (for example, using duplex embossed wallpaper) small defects in the walls. Their range is also huge in terms of consumer class - from elite, expensive varieties with hand-printed designs, to the simplest, literally “disposable” ones.

Endless Variety

Environmental friendliness

This is the same dignity that can outweigh any disadvantage and all of them taken together, at least in the eyes of a person who cares about the health of himself and his family. Paper wallpapers are made from, they do not emit any harmful substances into the air, even when burning; do not have, unlike, say, vinyl, a “chemical” smell; mold or mildew does not grow under them.

Another side of their environmental friendliness is that they are breathable, allowing the walls to “breathe”. In a room where the walls are covered, say, with plastic panels or airtight wallpaper, unpleasant odors may appear, and the air becomes stale if there is insufficient ventilation. Paper wallpaper has no such drawback.

Paper wallpaper “breathes”

When choosing wallpaper, we are sometimes guided only by appearance - we choose a color, pattern, texture that matches our design concept, but no less important are: density, degree of light resistance and moisture resistance, and abrasion resistance. The markings on the packaging will help you choose the right wallpaper - reputable manufacturers place on it information about all the listed properties, as well as the correct method of gluing, and sometimes the method of combining the pattern.

Who among us has not encountered inherited walls with paper wallpaper on them?

Time passed, the design, style, texture changed, but the very essence of paper wallpaper remained the same. And now, you shouldn’t treat them as a relic of the past that you want to get rid of as soon as possible. In fact, the modern construction market offers you such a wide and rich range of paper wallpapers that there is definitely plenty to choose from!

To begin with, let's define what paper wallpaper is, and also consider the main features of paper wallpaper.

Paper wallpaper is a special roll material that is used for wall finishing. The basis of paper wallpapers are different types of paper, and if you look even deeper, different types of wood.

Types of paper wallpapers and some basic ones advantages of paper wallpaper- this is what will be discussed below.

Despite the fact that there is a fairly large number of paper wallpapers, among them we can distinguish the main characteristics by which the classification of paper wallpapers is carried out.

The common element for all varieties is, of course, the structure of the paper wallpaper. According to manufacturing technology, they can be divided into 2 types: simplex - wallpaper and duplex - wallpaper. Simplex is wallpaper that is made with one layer of paper, onto which the design is directly applied. And duplex wallpaper is wallpaper that is made of two or more layers. As a rule, duplex wallpaper, in addition to one main (base) layer, also has an additional coating that protects it from various possible contaminations, defects and other influences. Sometimes, among duplex wallpapers you can find models that have thermal insulation, sound and sound insulation. Also, pay attention to textile wallpapers in the interior, they look very impressive.

Also, simplex paper wallpaper can be divided into: simple and structural. Both of them have certain pros and cons of paper wallpaper.

Plain wallpaper (smooth paper wallpaper) is a type of wallpaper, one layer of which is paper-based; those. On one side they are glued to the wall, and on the other side there is some design or pattern. Such wallpaper is printed in special printing houses. It should be noted that among smooth paper wallpapers, there are those that are hand-painted. Such wallpaper is a product of the highest class, and, of course, costs several times more.

Structural wallpaper- this is wallpaper that is glued to the wall on one side, and on the other side there is a special embossed design or pattern, which is achieved by the fact that the volumetric pattern is achieved using a special rotational screen printing method. After such wallpaper is glued to the wall, in appearance it is somewhat reminiscent of decorative textured plaster, which also has a three-dimensional pattern. Very often, structural simplex wallpaper is produced in regular white color, that is, for painting. Then the imagination and imagination of the owner of the premises comes into play.

As for duplex wallpaper, they are wallpaper that is glued to the wall on one side, and the other side (more precisely, the second top layer) is embossed. Corrugated wallpaper, which is printed using a special flexographic method, will look very rich. Also, it should be noted that duplex wallpaper can also be divided into several types:

Embossed duplex wallpaper
Rough structural duplex - wallpaper
Fibrous duplex - wallpaper

Paper wallpaper: pros and cons

To the main advantages and advantages of paper wallpaper can be attributed:

Ease of manufacture
Relatively low price. In fact, a very important factor, especially when you consider that some people like to frequently change the decor in their home.
A rich assortment of designs and patterns offered, which allows you to choose exactly the color that best suits the rest of the interior details.

Paper wallpaper: cons

The main disadvantages of paper wallpaper include the following:

They quickly fade and lose their freshness.
Fast abrasion
It is impossible to clean them using wet products (only dry cleaning is allowed).

In general, no matter what kind of wallpaper you choose, know that paper wallpaper will fit perfectly into the interior; especially if you think through the future design of the room correctly and competently!

Paper wallpaper is an opportunity to create an interior in any style without significant costs to the budget. The design variability of such canvases is incredible - there are simple and restrained motifs, and there are luxurious canvases created by hand, almost in the same way as artists paint their masterpieces on canvas. It is difficult not to find a suitable pattern in a wide range, but it is important to know which coatings are suitable, how to choose and glue them correctly.

Advantages and disadvantages of paper wallpaper

If you hear, when choosing paper wallpaper, that this is an impractical and low-quality material, do not forget to clarify which manufacturer you were talking about. The thing is that leading German, Italian, and French brands choose paper for many of their designer collections, including children's. And, therefore, these paintings still have certain advantages:

affordable price combined with a stylish appearance;
environmental friendliness - the walls will breathe, which means the room will maintain a wonderful microclimate;
absolute safety;
economical, easy to use.

Of course, there are some drawbacks, and the most important among them is the short service life, amounting to a maximum of 5 years. But if you wish, it can easily be turned into an advantage - for example, for a children’s room you can choose the best paper wallpaper for each period of the child’s growing up, and change the interior without regretting expensive coatings.

Types and characteristics of coatings

You will be surprised, but the characteristics of paper wallpaper may differ significantly, since there are several types of this coating:

smooth, with a typographic pattern on the surface or simplex paper wallpaper. They can be very decorative, but are only suitable for rooms with low humidity. Very thin, but cheap, with good moisture and vapor permeability. They require careful preparation of the base, since they do not hide the original unevenness;
Duplex paper wallpaper is a higher quality and durable option that uses two layers of paper, the top of which is decorated. They are easy to use because the glue does not tear even when wet. Can be smooth or embossed;
embossed paper wallpaper - also double-layered, but the design is applied using the embossing method;
foam wallpaper - with an acrylic “volumetric” top layer. Can be washed as they are waterproof. The acrylic layer is applied “pointwise”, so that the wallpaper will “breathe”;
with a moisture-resistant coating, two-layer paper wallpaper with a special protective layer of varnish or latex, thanks to which the coating can be subjected to wet cleaning;
paper wallpaper on a paper base for painting as one of the varieties of duplex. Designed for repeated staining, but quickly lose their relief.

It is impossible to say how to choose paper wallpaper and how to glue canvases without seeing the interior of the room, without taking into account the area, location of windows and light level. There are only a few universal recommendations regarding coloring - it is advisable to follow them in any case:

soft tones soothe, and bright tones add dynamism, but in large quantities can irritate;
rich dark shades are suitable if the windows in the room are south. These are terracotta, chocolate, coffee and sapphire;
for northern windows, light colors are chosen - green, lilac, yellow;
the smaller the drawing, the further the walls will seem from each other;
if you choose a large pattern, make sure it is soft and not flashy;
To change the feel of a room, use vertical or horizontal stripes.

Don’t forget to also correctly calculate the amount of wallpaper, taking into account the area of the room and the repeat of the pattern. And make sure that all the rolls you purchase belong to the same batch - otherwise, inconsistencies in tone may arise, which will certainly appear on the walls.

Rules for wallpapering with paper

There is nothing difficult about how to glue paper wallpaper correctly. The main thing is to purchase glue for light wallpaper and prepare it in accordance with standard requirements - 5-7 liters of water per pack of dry glue. The glue is thoroughly mixed and left until it swells, making sure that there are no lumps left in the mixture.
The canvases are glued onto a previously leveled and primed surface. Do not forget that the paper gets wet, and therefore all work is carried out extremely carefully. To coat the strip, use a brush or roller.
Do not forget that paper wallpaper “shrinks” when dry, so the canvases must be glued overlapping, with an allowance of up to 5 mm. The sequence of work is as follows:
. the walls are covered with canvases in the direction from the window to the door;
. at the next stage, areas near the window, door, and under the windowsill are covered.
And do not forget to control the coincidence of the pattern, and also do not allow a draft until the coating is completely dry.

By following the gluing rules and carefully combining the pattern, you will get the perfect result!

Caring for paper wallpaper

Before washing paper wallpaper, you need to make sure that the coating belongs to the moisture-resistant “family”. If there is a protective coating on its surface, then dirt can be wiped off with a damp sponge with foam, but do not allow drips to occur.
Grease stains can only be removed from the surface if they are fresh. Therefore, in places where there is frequent contact with hands - for example, near switches, protective pads are used. You can try to erase other stains with a regular eraser. But do not forget that you still will not ensure the particular durability of these coatings - sometimes it is advisable to completely replace the wallpaper rather than try to wash it.