When decorating walls modern apartment people are often faced with the question of which wallpaper is better - vinyl or non-woven. Or maybe you should give preference to paper counterparts? Any of these options looks beautiful, aesthetically pleasing and cozy, but each of them has its own distinctive features and benefits.
Regardless of what kind of wallpaper will be used to decorate the walls, you must adhere to the basic rules for choosing them. First of all, you need to take into account such points as the degree of illumination of the room, its size and the purpose of the room.
It is better to cover small rooms with light-colored canvases, which allow you to visually enlarge the space. For rooms with low ceilings, options with vertical stripes are suitable, thanks to them it will be possible to visually raise the ceiling.
When choosing wallpaper, you also need to make sure that the room does not stand out from the overall design of the apartment. It is also necessary to take into account what kind of furniture will be in the room. The high-tech style does not go particularly well with classic wallpaper, and country music will not harmonize with the modern style.
Comparison of wallpapers, their advantages and disadvantages
Paper webs
Paper options are one of the most commonly used and in demand on the market today. This is because they are affordable, beautiful and easy to care for.
Among the main advantages of paper wallpaper are:
- environmental friendliness;
- increasing sound insulation and thermal conductivity of walls;
- affordable price;
- ease of gluing.
One of the serious disadvantages of paper wallpaper is their fragility - they last no more than ten years, after which they begin to lose their original appearance and beauty. Another disadvantage is that they are erased. After some time, you can notice that scuffs have appeared near the switches and sockets.
Disadvantages also include the low light resistance of the paper web. For example, the walls of a room where the sun's rays fall become light and ugly: the drawings fade, and stains appear in their place.
Vinyl coverings
Unlike paper wallpaper, vinyl analogues have a number of advantages and almost no disadvantages. Such coatings appeared on the mass market relatively recently. Previously they were used for finishing luxury apartments and shops. The wild popularity of vinyl canvases is ensured by the fact that they can imitate great amount materials.
The main advantages of vinyl:
- attractive appearance. Vinyl wallpaper is available in a variety of colors, so each person can choose the shade that best suits their home. They can imitate materials such as textiles, stone, plaster, etc.;
- durability – do not lose their attractive appearance for a long time;
- moisture resistance, which allows them to be used in the kitchen or bathroom;
- resistance to sun rays;
- elasticity and resistance to mechanical stress.
Vinyl coverings are very diverse and can imitate mosaic, tile, stone and many other finishing materials On modern market There are several types of vinyl wallpaper:
- One of the most popular is a coating known as “foamed vinyl.” It has a low density and does not boast impressive resistance to moisture. However, such wallpaper is highly breathable and can help hide minor wall defects.
- Silk-screen printing is considered the most attractive and acceptable option for wall decoration. Such coatings harmoniously combine reasonable cost, attractiveness and durability.
- Smooth vinyl is widely used in kitchen decoration. Such wallpapers very often imitate other materials. They are not picky about care and easy to stick.
- Hard vinyl is a modern innovative coating that is resistant to moisture, but at the same time breathable. They cope well with any mechanical damage.
Vinyl wallpaper is not afraid of water and is easy to clean, so it is most often used to decorate the kitchen, hallway and bathroom. A significant disadvantage of vinyl wallpaper is that it emits toxic substances. Therefore, it is not recommended to use them in children's rooms.
Non-woven materials
Non-woven wallpaper is developed on a non-woven base, which includes cellulose fibers and a polymer binder. This gives the product impressive strength and durability.
There are many options for such coating on the market, so you need to decide which wallpaper is called non-woven wallpaper. It is correct to call this only those coatings that are made exclusively from this material. But non-woven wallpaper consists of several layers. The second layer is usually vinyl or paper.
Non-woven fabrics consist of several layers, where the top covering can be made of non-woven fabric, paper, fabric or vinyl Among the main advantages are:
- air transmission, that is, the ability of the walls to “breathe”. However, if vinyl was used as the second layer, then such wallpaper is not breathable;
- They keep their shape perfectly and do not deteriorate over time. In addition, they boast resistance to sunlight and mechanical stress;
- environmental friendliness and safety - they do not emit any toxic substances, so they can even be used in a children's room;
- ease of gluing - thanks to the large width of the roll, they can be glued in a short time and without much difficulty;
- quick removal - the decorative layer is removed in a matter of minutes, without soaking or other manipulations;
- Can be used as a coating for painting. As a result, coloring makes the structure of the wallpaper stronger.
The only one significant drawback non-woven wallpaper is its high cost.
Conclusion
If you have not yet decided which wallpaper to choose for your apartment, then it is better to give preference to non-woven ones. They are strong, durable, have an attractive appearance and stylish design.
In addition, after some time you can paint them a different color and completely update the interior of the room. Choice color shades non-woven fabric is the same as in other cases. If the room is on sunny side, then it is better to give preference to cool shades. At the same time, do not forget that the wallpaper should be in harmony with the furniture and other interior items.
Thus, from the point of view of environmental friendliness, strength and durability, non-woven wallpaper is more preferable. The only difference is that they are not as affordable as vinyl or paper. In this case, you need to start from the planned budget and choose wall coverings based on the thickness of your wallet.
Nowadays, to create beautiful children's rooms, hallways, living rooms, and dining rooms, wallpapers are used that differ not only color solutions, but also the materials used in the manufacturing process. In this article we will look at vinyl wallpapers on paper based and compare them with non-woven ones.
Paper and vinyl - a modern combination
Just 20 years ago, today's variety of wallpapers would have seemed fantastic. However, science fiction has become our reality, and today we have access to not only different colors and shades, but also wallpapers that are completely different in structure. Simple paper products are not that expensive and will always find their buyer.
After all, paper is an environmentally friendly material that does not interfere with air exchange through pasted surfaces. Therefore, you can safely use paper products to decorate any premises, including children’s rooms. But keep in mind that the humidity in them should not be higher than average. Many owners of old houses use this budget option for tidying up their rooms, especially since recently it has appeared a large number of colorful wallpaper with convex patterns.
But, as a rule, such material does not withstand intensive use; repairs have to be done after 3–4 years. There is also a great danger that if high humidity Such wallpaper will begin to peel off and become moldy, and when exposed to sunlight, it will turn yellow and lose its original color.
Somewhat better in this regard is the duplex version of the products, in which two or more layers are connected - unlike single-layer ones, they are stronger, easily tolerate high humidity and ultraviolet rays, and, in addition, have a special protective layer. This wallpaper can even be wiped with a wet cloth. Typically, paper finishing is sold in 10-meter rolls with a width of 55–75 centimeters. In the price option, you can choose both inexpensive domestic and more expensive foreign options.
Paper-based vinyl wallpaper - product types
The use of paper in the production of wallpaper has become possible in combination with another material – polyvinyl chloride. If paper serves as the base, then vinyl is used to make the front layer. Non-woven fabric is also used as a base, which is more durable and less susceptible to stretching.
Thanks to vinyl, wall decoration can be washed with water and used in rooms with a humid climate. Also, given the thickness of the products, they are easy to use when not very smooth walls and hide small defects. True, due to the multi-layer nature of this type of wallpaper, air permeability is very low, especially non-woven wallpaper. However, some manufacturers have overcome this disadvantage and began to produce breathable ones, but this pleasure is not cheap. But their durability and strength can only be envied.
Vinyl wallpaper is divided into the following types:
- Compact vinyl (flat wallpaper) imitates materials such as textiles, stone or standard plaster. Quite convenient to use to hide uneven walls.
- Silk-screen printing is a type of flat wallpaper with a special embossing that imitates a silky texture.
- Foamed vinyl with a pronounced structure is most often embossed. It is characterized by high wear resistance. The surface for gluing such wallpaper should be perfectly leveled, since even minor surface defects will manifest themselves.
- Vinyl wallpaper ready for painting. You can create a flower arrangement yourself or choose a unique shade. Many people use this type thick wallpaper as finishing, because they are not afraid of ultraviolet radiation, in addition, they calmly tolerate moisture and detergents.
- Solid vinyl wallpaper is exposed special type heat treatment. The advantage of this material is that it almost does not cause allergies, in addition, it allows you to imitate any type of coating. During production, different colors are used along with embossing techniques.
Judging by the reviews, consumers increasingly prefer vinyl wallpaper to paper wallpaper. The reason is that they last much longer than their paper counterparts. And even the difference in price is more than compensated for by infrequent repairs. As the owners note vinyl trim, it begins to lose its original appearance only after 10 years.
Non-woven fabric - the basis for non-woven wallpaper
Non-woven wallpaper should be divided into two groups to avoid confusion.
- The first group is the wallpaper itself, entirely made of non-woven material, a non-woven material based on cellulose fibers, bonded with a polymer mass. That is, the main component of non-woven fabric is the same as that of paper, but the strength of the material is an order of magnitude higher.
- The second group of non-woven wallpapers are products in which non-woven wallpaper is used as a lining under the front layer, all made of the same vinyl. Therefore, it is more correct to call them vinyl wallpaper on a non-woven basis. Next, we will talk specifically about the first group, since the second is characterized by all the features of vinyl wallpaper, with the exception of the increased strength that the non-woven base gives to the products.
The difference between non-woven wallpaper and vinyl is its high tensile and tensile strength. This means that this version of the product not only adheres well and easily, but also does not tear when the house structures shrink. This will hide unnecessary cracks in the walls. Products made from non-woven fabric do not support combustion; fungus or mold will not appear on them. They can withstand up to 12 layers of paint.
For those who are working with such products for the first time, it is worth knowing that gluing non-woven wallpaper is done using a method slightly different from the traditional one. In this case, special glue is applied not to the sheets, but to the walls. Then the dry sheets are applied to the area covered with glue and pressed and smoothed.
According to experts, this operating technology avoids the formation of bubbles and the wallpaper moving to the side. This wallpaper can be easily applied to prepared plastered walls, as well as to plasterboard, wood or porous concrete. Such wallpaper does not require preliminary putty. And yet, it is advisable to glue non-woven sheets only end-to-end, without overlapping edges on each other. By color scheme the choice is quite large.
It is also convenient to work with the rolls themselves, which are produced in standard meter widths. The product allows air to pass through perfectly and allows the walls to “breathe,” which helps avoid air stagnation in the rooms. Non-woven fabric does not like water, so if you want to put a washable finish in your kitchen or hallway, then it makes sense to choose vinyl or. But keep in mind that you can paint non-woven wallpaper no earlier than 24 hours after pasting the walls.
Vinyl or non-woven wallpaper - which wallpaper is better?
If we take vinyl and non-woven wallpaper for comparison, the difference is quite significant. Firstly, non-woven ones consist of natural cellulose, while vinyl upper layer- artificial. And although manufacturers talk about their complete safety, it is still not recommended to glue such products in children's rooms.
Secondly, non-woven products have such a parameter as good air permeability, but vinyl products do not always (only expensive products where the layer structure is subjected to special treatment).
As we have already noted, these two types of wallpaper differ significantly in the method of applying glue to the surface. In the case of vinyl, the adhesive mass is applied to the backside, with non-woven ones - on the wall itself. That is, when working with second products, you do not have to look for a place on the floor or on the table to roll out sheets and coat them with glue.
When choosing one of the materials, you should not completely discard the second. Non-woven fabric and vinyl perfectly complement and replace each other in different situations - for example, in the bathroom there is a place for vinyl wallpaper, but in the living room it is better to cover the walls with non-woven material.
The large selection of different types of wallpaper often leads to confusion. The finishing material differs not only in color and texture, but also has completely different properties and performance qualities. Vinyl and non-woven wallpaper, which replaced paper wallpaper, are of particular interest to buyers and greatest number questions. Let's try to understand the difference between these two types of finishing material and find out which wallpaper is better: vinyl or non-woven.
Let's consider both types of wallpaper separately and determine their most significant differences, pros and cons, and then compare them with each other and find out which material is more preferable for finishing an apartment.
Non-woven fabric is a material consisting of fibrous cellulose impregnated with various fastening compounds and synthetic additives. Interlining is sometimes called improved paper. Due to the orderly arrangement of compressed fibers, non-woven fabric is a bit like fabric.
Advantages of non-woven fabric:
- air and vapor permeability of the material, allowing the walls to “breathe” and maintain a favorable microclimate in the room;
- sufficient strength and density, resistance to deformation and stretching, making the material ideal for apartments in new buildings, the walls of which will shrink after some time;
- exceptional ease of gluing, which is ensured by the fact that the glue must be applied to the wall and not to the canvas;
- the ability of the material to reinforce microcracks on the walls, preventing them from spreading and increasing;
- the possibility of reusable painting, even if there is no corresponding mark on this on the roll - paint makes this type of material more resistant to external influences;
- during the next renovation, non-woven wallpaper can be left on the wall without tearing it off, and new sheets can be glued directly onto them;
- enough long term service - up to 10 years.
Minuses:
- insufficient variety of colors, textures and design solutions;
- high price;
- low resistance to mechanical stress;
- the need for careful alignment of the walls;
- inadmissibility of wet cleaning.
The truth about the dangers of non-woven wallpaper
Recently, you can increasingly hear that they are harmful to human health. This information is disseminated by competing manufacturers, as well as by deceived customers who, under the guise of non-woven wallpaper, purchased a low-quality fake.
Real non-woven fabric is made from natural materials, he does not have unpleasant odor and in terms of the level of “harmfulness” it is comparable to paper. Non-woven wallpaper can only be harmful to health if it is fake and unsafe materials were used in its production. This is why experts recommend purchasing products famous brands in specialized stores and when purchasing, check the quality certificate. In addition, you need to carefully consider the choice of wallpaper glue. Harmful additives may be contained therein.
Vinyl wallpapers
- compact vinyl – imitates various natural materials;
- heavy vinyl – has an additional vinyl layer and is highly durable;
- silk-screen printing – has a smooth texture and beautiful shine, suitable for carefully;
- Washable vinyl wallpaper with chemical embossing - perfectly tolerates cleaning with aggressive agents, ideal for the bathroom and kitchen.
Minuses:
- vinyl is impermeable to air and steam;
- some wallpaper may have an unpleasant odor;
- cheap material can emit substances harmful to health.
Advice: if the unpleasant smell after wallpapering does not disappear for a long time, getting rid of it quickly will help ammonia. Add a small amount of ammonia to the water and wipe the covered wall, remembering to open the windows at this time.
Which wallpaper is better?
To summarize, we can say that both types of material have approximately the same number of pros and cons, so it cannot be said that one of them is better and the other worse. The right decision There will be a choice of wallpaper depending on the purpose of the room in which it will be hung.
Without exaggeration, we can say that most often people choose wallpaper only for its aesthetic indicators - color and pattern. This approach is justified if the decoration is purchased for a bedroom, nursery, living room and other rooms intended primarily for relaxation. But if you need to choose, other criteria should come to the fore. In particular, practicality and durability. Which wallpaper is best to choose based on these parameters: paper, non-woven or vinyl? And what are their differences? This is what we will look into further. For your attention General requirements to kitchen wallpaper, the pros and cons of the three most common types of cladding and reviews about them, as well as the basic rules for choosing finishes for specific kitchens.
What should be the wallpaper for the kitchen?
First, let's determine what requirements quality products must meet. kitchen wallpaper. There are five of them.
- Moisture resistance. This parameter is important for two reasons. Firstly, it is a priori impossible to avoid high humidity in the kitchen. Secondly, the wallpaper here quickly becomes dirty due to regular cooking, so the finish must withstand at least the simplest wet cleaning.
Advice. Choose a material marked “wave” - this icon indicates moisture resistance. Even more practical option– wallpaper marked “wave with brush”, which can be rubbed with a brush.
- Breathability. The kitchen is a kind of work shop in living conditions, therefore, to maintain a comfortable microclimate, the finishing must ensure good ventilation of the walls. Breathable wallpaper does not accumulate dampness and is not prone to the formation of fungus.
- Light fastness. Wallpaper must be resistant to ultraviolet rays, otherwise it will fade very quickly and ruin the aesthetics of the entire interior.
- Fire resistance. In the kitchen, as a rule, a variety of technical devices, therefore it is important that the wallpaper is resistant to fire. This requirement concerns not so much practicality as safety, so it should not be ignored.
- Density. The denser the material, the fewer pores it has and, accordingly, the less dust and dirt accumulates in the finish.
Now we will take a closer look at the advantages of the three types of wallpaper that are most often used for finishing kitchen walls: paper, vinyl and non-woven.
Paper wallpaper
The most common type of wallpaper is paper. They are made entirely of paper, without any other impurities. This leads to both serious advantages and serious disadvantages of finishing. Let's start with the advantages:
- low price - much cheaper than any other type of wallpaper;
- breathability – allow the walls to “breathe”;
- environmentally friendly - do not contain toxic components;
- easy gluing - to cover walls with paper wallpaper, it is enough to have minimal skills;
- large selection of colors and patterns - paper finishing has a rich variety of designs, so you can find suitable option wallpaper for any interior. Moreover, due to the low cost of cladding, it can be regularly updated, changing the appearance of the kitchen at will.
The disadvantages are no less significant than the advantages:
- instability to moisture - paper wallpaper cannot be washed;
- fading in the sun - under the influence of ultraviolet rays, the cladding quickly loses its original color and becomes dull;
- rapid absorption of odors;
- prone to fire;
- fragility - due to the above disadvantages, the maximum recommended period of use of paper wallpaper is 5 years.
This finishing material from compressed cellulose fibers. Externally, non-woven fabric is somewhat reminiscent of paper lining, but quality characteristics he is significantly superior to her. Such wallpaper can have both a smooth and textured foam surface.
Advantages of non-woven lining:
- Moisture resistance - the material does not swell when exposed to water, so it can be washed.
- High strength - the finish is resistant to accidental mechanical damage. But this advantage only applies to materials with a smooth surface.
- Resistance to direct sunlight - wallpaper does not fade under the influence of ultraviolet radiation and long years retain their original appearance.
- Air permeability – wallpaper allows air to pass through, which eliminates the appearance of mold under the cladding.
- Fire resistance.
- Possibility of repeated staining.
- Easy to apply - the wallpaper does not move or bubble, so it does not cause any hassle during work. In addition, for pasting you need to apply the adhesive only to the wall, which significantly speeds up and facilitates the process.
Non-woven wallpaper also has disadvantages:
- cladding with a textured surface collects dust and therefore requires careful and regular maintenance;
- non-woven wallpaper costs several times more than paper wallpaper;
- The top layer of textured wallpaper is not resistant to mechanical damage, so dents and scratches may remain on the lining.
Vinyl wallpaper refers to combined canvases with a paper or non-woven base and a front vinyl covering. They can be of several types: foamed, smooth, hard, flat. Of all these options, it is not recommended to use only foam wallpaper in the kitchen, since they cannot be washed. The remaining three types are quite suitable for kitchen premises. And they have many advantages:
- mask unevenness and cracks in walls well;
- Can be easily cleaned with wet water;
- not subject to mechanical damage;
- can be painted up to ten times;
- do not fade in the sun;
- can imitate absolutely any materials - from textiles to snakeskin.
The main disadvantages of vinyl cladding:
- Airtightness - wallpaper does not allow air to pass through, therefore, to ensure a pleasant microclimate in the kitchen, it must be ventilated regularly.
Advice. To prevent mold from growing under such cladding, the wall must first be treated with an antifungal agent before pasting.
- Difficulty in pasting - vinyl wallpaper is much more difficult to glue than non-woven and paper wallpaper: firstly, the adhesive must be applied to both the canvas and the walls; secondly, under the influence of glue, the wallpaper stretches, but after direct gluing it can “sit”, so it is difficult to join the canvases together.
Selecting wallpaper for the kitchen
When choosing a finish, you need to consider not only qualitative indicators wallpaper, but also the features of the kitchen itself.
If you have a small room, avoid dark cladding with a large print - it will make the space even more miniature and constrained. It’s better to pay attention to light-colored canvases with small pattern or drawing.
If your kitchen is very low ceilings, use wallpaper with vertical stripes - they will visually increase the height of the room. But a horizontal strip will help to visually expand the space, as if pushing its walls apart. To prevent you from quickly getting bored with a vertical or horizontal print, choose a low-contrast finish with shades smoothly flowing into each other.
If the kitchen windows face north side, it is better to cover the walls with wallpaper in warm colors to make the space more comfortable. It can be peachy, creamy, light herbaceous.
As you can see, all three types of wallpaper considered - paper, non-woven and vinyl - have their own fundamental differences. And if you want to choose a truly high-quality finish, you should not neglect these features - the functionality and comfort of your kitchen will directly depend on them.
How to choose wallpaper for the kitchen: video
Wallpaper for the kitchen: photo
Types of Wallpaper
All wallpapers are divided into vinyl, non-woven, paper, textile, and natural.
They are the most popular, varied in design and structure. We will describe this type of wallpaper in more detail. Vinyl allows you to create the most amazing designs, textures, effects on the canvas - for example, create, add volume with various patterns, imitate stone of different types. All vinyl wallpaper can be called washable.
The main types of vinyl are foamed vinyl (usually used on budget wallpaper options), and hot-stamped vinyl - used to create various textures and patterns.
This type of wallpaper is divided into vinyl wallpaper on paper and non-woven backing.
The basis of the wallpaper affects the price, the method of applying the glue and the convenience of pasting the walls.
Wallpaper on paper will cost less, but difficulties may arise when adjusting the pattern. In addition, if the walls are prepared poorly, then after pasting the joints will be visible.
Vinyl wallpaper on non-woven fabric
will allow you to avoid troubles with selecting a pattern between the canvases to be pasted and reduce to zero the risk that joints between the canvases will be visible after pasting.
With the disadvantages of this type of wallpaper, not everything is so clear. The common belief is that vinyl wallpapers “do not breathe”, they smell and emit harmful substances- in modern realities is very exaggerated. The fact is that vinyl (PVC) surrounds us everywhere - clothes, gadgets, monitors, keyboards, TV, cars. This list can be continued endlessly. To purchase high-quality wallpaper, choose famous manufacturer, a world-famous factory. Such factories comply with all necessary safety standards and modern technologies in the production of wallpaper for walls.
Paper wallpaper, mainly can be found in collections for children's rooms preschool age. Such wallpapers are considered environmentally friendly. Some manufacturers create budget options very inexpensive collections for various rooms. You must understand that the service life of such wallpaper is short, and when gluing the canvas you may encounter problems with joining the pattern. In addition, if the proportions of water are violated when preparing wallpaper glue, the consequences of saving can have a sad effect on the result.
Non-woven wallpaper- this is the most practical material. Non-woven fabric can not only serve as a basis for other types of wallpaper, but also be used as the main material. The most popular use of non-woven fabric is. The quality of such wallpaper is determined by the density of the non-woven material. Sometimes the price of wallpaper that, at first glance, has the same parameters, can differ significantly precisely because of the density of the non-woven material used in the production of wallpaper. Dense non-woven lining can hide the imperfections of walls; such non-woven lining is called construction or repair lining. Non-woven wallpaper is also considered environmentally friendly for others, since the material itself consists of paper and cellulose fibers. The disadvantages of this type are the price and design, which is limited by the possibility of applying a pattern to the non-woven fabric and the palette of colors.
As a rule, they are produced on non-woven fabric. They belong to heavy types of wallpaper - during production, various woven materials are used, which are applied to a dense non-woven base. The price of such wallpaper will not be in the budget segment. The main advantages of such wallpaper are environmental friendliness, quality and design.