Wallcoverings | Functional beauty

Traditionally, wallpapers have been made from paper and wallcoverings can be constructed with anything from silk to cork, sisal, bamboo, or even seashells. However, modern wallpapers are often composed of an uncoated non-woven paper substrate composed of a combination of natural fibres (cellulose obtained from wood) and synthetic fibres, which are also used to make coffee filters and teabags. Non-woven substrates can also be coated with PVC, becoming what we refer to as Vinyl.

Wallpapers are sold by the roll (generally 53cm or 70cm wide x 10m long) and wallcoverings are sold by the metre (varying in width from 90cm to 140cm). Wallpapers and wallcoverings are constructed through many different processes, and therefore vary greatly in pricing.

We use the term ‘wallcoverings’ when discussing wallpapers and wallcoverings in a general sense.

Wallcoverings are an efficient way to add colour, texture, and acoustic properties to walls. Professional installers can cover large areas with great speed, reducing project timelines and limiting disruptions to business in commercial spaces. Due to technological advancements, modern wallpapers are 40% faster to install than their historic counterparts.

Although paint can be applied fairly quickly, because multiple coats and long periods of drying time are required between layers entire floors are required to be closed. Wallpaper, however, can be applied room by room, reducing the downturn in revenue for hotels and the overall cost of employing tradespeople.

Whilst wall preparation is an essential part of achieving a quality installation, wallpapers can also hide minor imperfections in the wall and protect walls from future damage without the need to repaint.

The extra weight of vinyl wallcoverings makes them particularly easy to hang and remove when the time comes to redecorate. The peelable PVC layer can be pulled off in large pieces or an entire strip, and the backing can be made wet and easily removed.

In addition to furnishing textiles, such as drapery and upholstered furniture, wallcoverings can vastly improve the acoustic performance of a room by absorbing up to 20% of the sound waves.

Whilst hard, flat surfaces cause sound waves to bounce around – often creating an extended echo between parallel walls – softer, less uniform surfaces reduce a sound’s ability to reverberate. Installing fabric or textured wallcoverings will effectively reduce the reverberations; greatly increasing the tranquillity of hotel rooms, restaurants, and learning and working spaces where the ability to focus is essential.

When considering longevity in your projects, especially in public spaces or moist environments, vinyl wallcoverings are an ideal choice.

Vinyl wallpapers are constructed from the same fibrous non-woven backing as uncoated paper, they are then coated in a very smooth layer of PVC which ensures a reasonable level of protection against moisture. Vinyl wallcoverings also protect walls from finger marks and general wear and tear, however, they are unlikely to withstand solvent based or fatty stains, such as inks, paints, oil, or peanut butter.

Heavy vinyl wallpapers consist of a heavy fibrous backing with a soft, flexible PVC coating laid on top. Being constructed from two layers, and therefore being much heavy than standard options, these papers offer significant advantages when it comes to performance on the wall. Resisting occurrences of accidental impact when rearranging furniture, cleaning equipment, or wheeling suitcases where paint or finer wallpapers cannot.

Vinyls are easy to clean – simply by gently wiping with soap and water – increasing their longevity as opposed to paint, which is likely to chip and fade over time. Resulting in the time and financial cost of repainting and touching-up.

In commercial spaces like hotels and restaurants, which need to remain fresh and contemporary to stay competitive, wallcoverings are an effortless and cost-effective solution for updating lobbies, rooms, and dining spaces.

In addition to the impact and moisture resistant properties of vinyl wallcoverings, they also generally offer enhanced fire retardancy. Thus, making them and ideal choice for commercial spaces, or those shared with children and pets.

Due to the seemingly endless array of wallcoverings, from luxurious textiles to natural seashells and immersive scenes, there is no question of their ability to enliven an interior space.

Large scale wall panels and panoramas can transform residential spaces and draw customers into commercial ones. Stretching from wall-to-wall, these designs can create memorable moments and reinforce branding, influencing a customer’s mood or experience without the expense of employing a mural artist.

Our expansive offering of designer wallcoverings contributes the beauty of artworks, whilst withstanding general wear and tear, accidental bumps, and sun exposure within your spaces. With textures, colours, styles, and captivating scenes to meet any brief, our wallcoverings can increase the ambiance of any home or commercial environments.