Modern kitchen wallpaper is a great option for finishing walls in the kitchen. But only if you choose the right type of coating. How to choose wallpaper for the kitchen? What to pay attention to when buying? What should be taken into account when choosing wallpaper for the kitchen? How to correct the shortcomings of the kitchen space with their help? Designer tips, what wallpaper to choose for the kitchen – in this article.
General rules and recommendations
When choosing wallpaper for the kitchen there are general rules and recommendations. Quality kitchen wallpaper should be durable, dense, water-resistant and resistant to sunlight. It is good if they can be washed and, if necessary, repainted. Therefore, when choosing wallpaper for the kitchen, it is not enough to be guided by design, pattern and texture: the properties and qualities of the material come to the fore.
Before buying carefully study the information on the package. Pay special attention to these characteristics:
- Moisture resistance and wear resistance. Look for wallpaper that will withstand regular washing. Depending on the method of manufacture, you can gently wipe the wallpaper with a damp cloth (moisture-resistant wallpaper of fleece), wash with a sponge and a mild soap solution (superwashable hot-embossed vinyl wallpaper, so-called compact vinyl), and some – clean with a soft brush (labeled “friction-resistant”).
The need for pattern matching. Some types of wallpaper can be glued without offset. With a complex ornament, you will have to pick up a report with the trimming of the canvases and fitting the pattern to the height specified by the manufacturer.
Lightfastness. If the kitchen overlooks the south side and is often flooded with sunlight, look at the resistance of the wallpaper to ultraviolet light. This is especially important for dark and bright wallpaper: they fade faster.
Types of wallpaper for the kitchen
Fliselin wallpaper
Fleece is a material made of pressed cellulose fibers with the addition of polyester and viscose. It “breathes”, so despite the constant humidity in the kitchen, mold will not settle under the wallpaper.
There are many variations in fleece kitchen wallpaper: with a pattern or monochrome under painting, smooth, embossed, combined, matte or with a slight glossy sheen. It is not difficult to glue them. They are easy to smooth out, do not deform when wet. Instead of wallpaper glue is applied to the wall surface, as a result, it is easier and faster to glue them.
Most wallpaper for painting are made of this material. Usually they can be repainted 6-7 times with a quality paint – water-based emulsion or latex acrylic-based paint.
Vinyl wallpaper
Sturdy, moisture-resistant and affordable. Washable vinyl wallpaper is excellent for finishing kitchens and other rooms with high resistance to moisture – bathrooms, hallways, corridors.
Even if the kitchen repair budget is limited, it is worth giving preference to wallpaper with vinyl on a non-woven base. Overpayment will pay off with convenience. They are easier to glue, they lie more evenly on the wall, better hide surface defects.
Vinyl wallpaper imitates other finishing materials: brick, decorative plaster, fabric, mat, plant fibers. But it is important to strike a balance between beauty and convenience: in a room where people are constantly cooking, smooth surface is more practical than embossed.
Many people fear that vinyl wallpaper does not “breathe”. This is true only for cheap coverings. Higher-quality and expensive have micro pores that let air in and evaporate moisture. To be guaranteed to avoid the appearance of mold, treat the walls with an antifungal composition before pasting.
Silkscreen
One of the types of wallpaper vinyl hot stamping, with a top layer imitating silk. Unpretentious in care, long time will not fade in the sun. Walls, lined with silk-screening, can safely be washed.
Glass wallpaper
Robust, durable, fire-resistant fiberglass wallpaper is by all characteristics excellent for damp rooms like the kitchen. They are traditionally white, because they are designed for painting: they can easily endure 10-15 cycles without damaging the appearance.
Glass wallpaper reinforces walls, masks cracks and prevents the appearance of new ones, they are air-permeable, and fungi do not grow under them.
Natural wallpaper
Not all variants of natural wallpaper can be used in kitchens, but bamboo, cork, jute, sisal wallpaper will do the job. In order for heavy cloths to hold firmly on the walls, you need to use a special adhesive.
Photo wallpaper
Wallpaper with photo prints you will not only refresh the interior, but also add volume to a small room. Achieve the desired effect in a small room will help panoramic images with a perspective: views of the city, landscapes, window imitations. Instead of paper wallpaper recommend looking at non-woven and vandal-resistant photo wallpaper for the kitchen with a special protective coating.
What is the best wallpaper for the kitchen – designer tips
The main commandment in the design of the kitchen with wallpaper of any size – do not overload the interior: make an emphasis either on the wallpaper or on the kitchen furniture.
If one wall is bright or decorated with photo wallpaper, leave the other three walls calm, monochrome.
Do not use paper and pastel wallpaper for the kitchen. Even with moisture resistant impregnation they will not last long in difficult kitchen conditions.
Combine designs, use companion wallpaper from collections of the same manufacturer. Vertical stripes will visually raise a low ceiling. Transverse lines will make the room lower, but “widen” the walls.
If the kitchen is to the north/west, consider wallpaper in warm tones: yellow, cream, grassy green, peach. When the windows face the south, it is better to choose gentle blue, light green, blue, silver.
