The right choice of wallpaper for painting: types of materials and painting technology

Paintable wallpaper: features

It is believed that wallpaper is the most popular material for wall decoration. This is due to their low cost, ease of use, and ease of maintenance. Well, those that could be repainted in different colors are a real find. In most cases, this material is completely white, and only in 3-5% of cases do manufacturers produce colored specimens. As a rule, they all have an interesting structured pattern, which allows them to look great in the interior.

This material looks great in design due to its texture.

All products of this type can be repainted several times. It is very comfortable. Tired of one color or decide to update your furniture? Cosmetic repairs and complete renovation of the room will not be difficult.

Types of wall coverings

Since painting wallpaper can be done in different rooms, choose materials that suit the conditions of such rooms. For example, wallpaper in the kitchen or bathroom should have moisture-resistant properties, and painting of wallpaper in the nursery should be carried out taking into account environmental friendliness and health safety.

Most wallpapers for painting are produced in the following forms:

• paper ones are safe for health, easy to stick to walls, but have low strength. Thanks to special impregnation, they calmly react to moisture;
• non-woven wallpaper is more durable, has high elasticity and allows you to correct imperfections and uneven walls;
• Glass wallpaper is the most durable coating for painting; it is produced exclusively in the form of textured rolls and can be repainted about 20 times.

Advice: when purchasing wallpaper for painting, give preference to well-known brands. For example, wallpaper brands Erismann, Eijffinger, Marburg, Rasch, AS Creation, Arte, Erfurt and others are successful in the market.

What types of wallpaper can be painted: pros and cons

On the shelves of hardware stores you can find several types of materials for painting:

• non-woven base;
• fiberglass wallpaper;
• paper based;
• vinyl wallpapers.

They all differ from each other in the material of manufacture. In addition, there are wallpapers with and without texture, smooth. Anti-vandal specimens occupy a special niche.

There is a wide choice on store shelves

Non-woven wallpaper for painting

This type, along with fiberglass specimens, is most often found on the market. They are made from non-woven material, which is based on cellulose and synthetic fibers. The texture of the wallpaper is thin; in most cases, foamed vinyl is applied to the material.

Non-woven roll

Fiberglass wallpaper for painting

This material is particularly durable. It is made from several components:

• caustic soda;
• quartz sand;
• dolomite;
• lime.

The result is fiberglass that is resistant to external influences.

This is what fiberglass looks like

Advice! The question of what is better for painting, glass wallpaper or non-woven wallpaper, cannot be answered unequivocally. We advise you to choose fiberglass-based material for children's and living rooms, and in other cases be guided by your own taste and financial capabilities.

Paper models

This option will suit those who want to save a lot on cosmetic repairs. Paper ones were widespread in our parents' apartments. They consist of two layers of paper. In order for the wallpaper to have texture, an embossing method using wood chips is used.

Paper based roll

Paintable vinyl wallpaper on non-woven backing

As we said earlier, the most common coating for non-woven backing is vinyl. This material itself is fragile; over time it dries out and crumbles. That is why such wallpapers must be painted. Paint creates not only color, but also a protective layer.

Vinyl is a coating made from polyvinyl chloride. It is also applied to a paper base. Vinyl can be easily wiped clean with a damp cloth. The service life of such material is up to 6 years.

Smooth wallpaper without a pattern for painting

If you want to visually align the walls of the room and cover them with your favorite shade, choose paintable wallpaper without texture. They are smooth and have no embossing. As a rule, the choice falls on this material if the owner wants to decorate the room in a minimalist style. The same option is acceptable for Scandinavian classics, where any details on the walls will be superfluous.

After pasting, smooth wallpaper is simply painted with a roller

Structural wallpaper for painting

Most products have a pattern and structure. The more interesting the structure of the sheet, the more original it will look in the interior after painting.

Expert's point of view

Dmitry Kholodok

Technical director of repair and construction

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“Paintable wallpaper can be repainted several times, but the texture is lost with each painting. Glass wallpaper can be painted most often, up to 10 times.”

A wide selection of structures will allow the room to sparkle with new colors, and this will also make it unique. They are as easy to wash as smooth ones.

Structural wallpaper for children's rooms

Anti-vandal wallpaper for painting

Separately, I would like to talk about wallpaper that has anti-vandal properties. Their advantage is that they are able to withstand mechanical stress. Such material will come in handy in homes where there are small children or pets.

This property is ensured by a special dense vinyl layer. The possibility of repeated repainting is an additional advantage of the material. An example of high European quality is the German anti-vandal paintable wallpaper Erfurt. They also have an interesting texture.

Erfurt wallpaper in the interior

Related article:

Wallpaper for walls: catalog of photos of interesting solutions for the living room, bedroom, children's room, kitchen and corridor. Read our review for basic rules for selecting canvases and designers’ recommendations.

How to choose wallpaper for painting and what you need to pay attention to when buying it

Method of pasting walls

In the case of paper wallpaper, glue is applied to the canvas itself, and then it is glued to the wall. Non-woven and glass wallpaper do not require the application of adhesive to the canvas, so it is easier to work with them.

Photo: squarespace.com

Dye

Non-woven and paper wallpapers are best painted with water-based paint (glossy or matte). For vinyl and glass wallpaper, it is better to use latex and acrylic paints that form a smooth surface.

You should not use alkyd or oil paints for painting, as they have a viscous, dense structure - an excessively thick layer is formed, which leads to a decrease in the attractiveness of the appearance and environmental friendliness.

Photo: amazon.com

Roll size

Wallpaper for painting is usually produced in the form of wide and often long rolls (compared to the standard size of 0.53 x 10 m). The most common wallpaper is 1.06 meters wide. Gluing them is quite convenient, and this width reduces the number of joints between the strips. The roll can be either standard length (10 meters) or extended (15, 20, 25 or even 100 meters). The longer the length, the less scraps left from the roll. You should choose a standard width of 1.06 meters, since this is the optimal size for classic rooms.

Photo: homewowdecor.com

Purpose of the room

A variety of wallpapers allows you to choose the most convenient coatings in terms of resistance to stains, environmental safety, durability and other properties. For example, an important criterion for choosing wallpaper for a kitchen is moisture resistance, and for a corridor - strength.

Photo: amazon.com

Price

Paper wallpaper has the most attractive price for consumers; moreover, this type is safe for residential premises and can be easily replaced if necessary.

However, painting such wallpaper is advisable only if you do not expect long-term results. Be sure to remember the price-quality ratio.

Photo: architonic.com

Appearance

As we already mentioned, wallpaper comes in two types: smooth and structured. Both are stylish decorative elements. However, which wallpaper is better to give preference to?

Structural wallpaper:

• will provide additional protection for the walls (if there are animals in the apartment, their marks on the walls will be practically invisible);
• will help hide uneven walls due to a convex pattern, as can be seen in the photo below, or imitation of a finishing material, such as plaster.

With smooth wallpaper the story is completely opposite:

• they require perfectly smooth walls, since the slightest flaw will be visible through the wallpaper;
• they are subject to mechanical stress (depending on the type of wallpaper, not only scratches from animal claws, but even traces from your hands will be visible on them).

Photo: gharpedia.com

Strength

If you want to ensure sufficient strength and durability of the wallpaper even after several paintings, give preference to two-layer or multi-layer coatings. But keep in mind that the process of painting such coatings will be more complicated.

Photo: amazon.com

Cleaning

Whether the wallpaper can be washed or not - this information is contained on the packaging. Therefore, be sure to check the characteristics of the selected wallpaper before purchasing. If they are not intended for washing and you use the wrong paint, the wallpaper will become unusable.

Photo: architonic.com

Drawing

If the wallpaper does not have a pattern, it will be much easier to work with than with those that have some kind of pattern. Why is it easier? Because you won't have to adjust the edges to match the design. You will save both time and effort. Another undeniable plus: there will be a minimal amount of waste after repairs.

Photo: plejadatapet.pl

Which wallpaper for painting is better to choose?

The choice of finishing material is difficult, even when it comes to wallpaper. When purchasing, you should pay attention to the following details:

• price;
• strength;
• roll width;
• appearance.

Breathable materials are chosen for children's rooms and living rooms; for walkways, especially hallways, materials with a durable surface are chosen. If anti-vandal wallpaper seems expensive to you, feel free to choose fiberglass, which has proven itself well in use. The paper-based material will last the least, followed by the classic non-woven ones. The most durable options are considered to be fiberglass, as well as anti-vandal wallpaper, which have no competition. Today, meter-wide rolls are increasingly used, which are used to cover walls faster, and besides, the design looks perfect, because in this case there are fewer joints.

Textured vinyl foam material

Tips for choosing wallpaper

It is very difficult to choose wallpaper for painting in the interior. When purchasing, you should consider the width of the roll, appearance, and strength of the material.

For residential premises, wallpaper with good air permeability. For walk-through rooms and hallways, the main thing is strength. If you can’t afford anti-vandal ones, then at least take fiberglass.

If you decide to save money and buy paper wallpaper, keep in mind that very soon they will lose their appearance and will have to be re-glued, so there is no question of saving.

It is best to choose meter rolls. This width is convenient to work with, there will be fewer joints, so the wall will look more beautiful.

How to glue wallpaper for painting: progress and nuances

We will tell you and clearly show you how to glue non-woven wallpaper for painting. Using their example, you can learn about the nuances of work. The first step is to close all the windows and preferably even the doors, since they are afraid of drafts. For work you will need the following materials and tools:

• glue (special or PVA);
• wallpaper;
• pencil;
• primer;
• roulette;
• sharp knife;
• wallpaper smoother;
• wide brush for primer and glue;
• long ruler.

There is no need to specifically level the walls for painting. We will show photos of the interior below. The paint will hide all the little things. Before starting work, the surface is thoroughly primed. To do this, choose a high-quality primer. You can walk 2-3 times to improve adhesion. We also dilute the glue, it should be thicker than usual.

There are two types of wallpaper:

• without selecting a pattern;
• with a selection of designs.

If working with the first option is not difficult, then the second makes a person think. In fact, choosing a pattern should not be difficult. Take a look at the packaging; in addition to dry information, it contains a fitting map. It also indicates after what number of centimeters the pattern is repeated again. When cutting, you just have to shift the new sheet onto this segment. In a separate publication you can find a convenient online calculator for calculating the required amount of wallpaper.

Material marking

Table 1. How to glue wallpaper for painting

Video on how to properly glue wallpaper:

Related article:

How to put wallpaper on wallpaper. In this publication, we will look at options for gluing non-woven, liquid and vinyl coverings, which glue is best to use, how to prepare the surface, how to glue the canvas to the ceiling, and methods for processing corners.

Pros and cons of coatings in different rooms

After familiarizing yourself with the different finishes and color options, you need to study the features of the premises.

Original solutions for the living room

The main rule when decorating such a room is the comfort that guests and all family members should feel. To modernize the design of the living room, the wallpaper texture is selected correctly, which will provide a comfortable environment. Coverings should serve as a background without distracting from significant details.

Solutions with a chaotic pattern are suitable for a modern style; a coating with a geometric pattern is suitable for a strict design. Coatings with a three-dimensional effect that imitates volume also look original. It is advisable not to use very bright or dark shades .

The second option will hide space, having a depressing effect on the person’s condition. Bright colors can only be used for accents or design additions. A very colorful space has a tiring effect, quickly becoming boring and causing negative emotions.

Housing should become a source of peace for a person and bring him rest. In this case, provocative colors should be avoided.

Tip When choosing wall decoration, you need to remember that large patterns can be used in spacious rooms. It is better to decorate small areas with chaotic patterns.

Creating comfort in the bedroom

In the bedroom, all elements are carried out according to personal wishes. After all, a person rests and spends most of his time in this room. It should bring joy, comfort and calm.

Advice To do this, it is better to choose soothing pastel shades, think through all the details in detail and treat the repair more diligently. If necessary, the color scheme can be easily changed.

A variety of offers from manufacturing companies allow you to choose the best option. If you initially turn your bedroom into a designer creation, then you need to opt for non-woven and paper coverings.

Choose non-aggressive shades

Choosing wallpaper for a children's room

In the children's room, bright designs are allowed, which gives room for imagination. The safest is water-based paint, which can be easily mixed with a variety of colors and create an original color design. It is easy to apply to wallpaper.

Affordability and practicality in kitchen design

In the kitchen, the main details are durability, practicality, reliability, resistance to humidity and temperatures. Therefore, choosing wallpaper is not easy. Attention is paid to aesthetics and practicality, so it is better to protect walls by painting. A special coloring agent with a water-repellent effect will allow you to wash the wallpaper surface many times. Frequent changes of colors give the room uniqueness and originality.

In the kitchen, the main details are durability, practicality, reliability

For small kitchens, dark colors should not be used. In this case, light colors are recommended. For rooms with low ceilings, a vertical pattern is suitable.

Inexpensive choice for the hallway

In this room, important factors are the moisture resistance and wear resistance of the finishing used. The hallway should make the first impression of the home, so a lot depends on the design. In addition to design style, practicality is taken into account, so vinyl wallpaper for painting would be suitable. An important advantage is also the ease of modernizing the design by changing the shade . If the surface becomes dirty, it can be cleaned with soap and water, easily washed or repainted.

For a hallway, such a covering should be durable, and the color scheme should match the colors of the furniture. Combinations of light and dark look good.

The main thing in the hallway is the moisture resistance and wear resistance of the finishing used.

The buyer himself must select the types and colors of wallpaper. But you need to take into account the quality of building materials and the correctness of painting.

Which wallpaper paint is better for painting?

For each type of material, its own paint is selected. All of them belong to the category of water-dispersed. Its color is the client’s desire:

• for paper and non-woven bases - water-based paint;
• for glass wallpaper - acrylic or latex, to choose from.

This rule is not fundamental. The most popular paint is acrylic. It should be noted that it can also be used to paint non-woven material. Its main advantage is the absence of fear of moisture. The downside of acrylic paint is the dullness of the shades. It will not be possible to make the surface glossy.

Color is chosen with care. It must match the texture and purpose of the room. We also advise you to pay attention to the paint base, its composition and characteristics.

Wallpaper paint Dali

A good paint should have the following parameters:

• high density;
• moisture resistance;
• environmental friendliness;
• short drying period;
• lack of odor or have a slight odor;
• vapor permeability.

Latex paint protects the vinyl texture well. It can also be used for non-woven bases. Alkyd paint will reliably protect the surface, but it will not allow the walls to breathe and is unsuitable for use in bathrooms, children's rooms and living rooms.

How to decorate the interior using such wallpaper with your own hands?

There is nothing in the world that cannot be done with your own hands. This also applies to decorating a room yourself using paintable wallpaper. Moreover, gluing wallpaper for painting yourself has a very significant advantage: the repair team, working with wallpaper for painting, takes double payment - separately for gluing and separately for painting.

Paintable wallpaper is glued in the same way as regular wallpaper. How to glue wallpaper correctly - watch the video below.

For painting you will need: a roller, a ditch (or any container in which the roller is placed), brushes, masking tape, containers for diluting paints and polyethylene (to protect furniture and other objects).

When choosing paint, remember that it is different for each type of wallpaper. It is better to paint paper wallpaper and non-woven wallpaper with water-based paint. For fiberglass-based wallpaper, acrylic or latex paint is suitable.

The need to wash wallpaper in the future should be considered at the stage of choosing paint.

The first time, the wallpaper must be painted twice with an interval of at least 60 minutes.

The more painting your wallpaper has gone through, the less noticeable its texture will be.

If you combine 2 or more colors, then decorate the borders of the colors with a brush.

The optimal temperature for painting is from 17 to 22 degrees Celsius.

More recommendations on how to paint wallpaper are below.

How to properly paint wallpaper for painting

It's time to start painting. This process is simple, but has a number of important nuances. The doors and windows are first covered with masking tape, and the floor is covered. For painting, use a velor roller of any convenient width. It will ensure the correct consumption of material.

Table 2. How to paint wallpaper for painting

Video to familiarize yourself with the work technique:

Related article:

Painting walls in an apartment: design, photo gallery. The most fashionable and stylish colors, the basics of combining shades, criteria for choosing paint, the nuances of preparing a surface for painting, advice from experts - read in the publication.

How to choose a wallpaper texture

The texture of wallpaper is raised bulges and grooves that form a certain pattern on it. Choosing the right texture is extremely important, since you can change the color, but the pattern will decorate your walls for a very long time.

The pattern can be chaotic or ordered, repeating. The first one, in some cases, can look quite rough and even sloppy. Wallpaper for painting in the interior, if chosen incorrectly, can produce a monotonous impression and cause boredom. If you decide to choose a finishing material with a chaotic pattern, keep in mind that finer texture and more rounded lines are perceived much better. A repeating pattern will not get boring too quickly if the lines of the pattern are smooth and curved, and the elements of the pattern have a complex, intricate shape. If you want to achieve a strict interior, choose a simple, correct, repeating pattern.

The texture of the wallpaper material can imitate plaster and even cracked paint. Such wallpaper can look impressive, but do not forget to match the chosen interior style. In any case, be guided by your own preferences; it’s up to you to decide which wallpaper to choose. The size of the pattern also matters - a large pattern makes the wall noticeable, conspicuous, and attracts attention; a small pattern creates the background, the background of your interior. In addition, you need to keep in mind that a large repeating pattern on the walls makes the room visually smaller. If the room for which you are choosing wallpaper to paint is small, give preference to a smooth material or a canvas with a fine texture.

USEFUL INFORMATION: How to level the walls in an apartment with wallpaper with your own hands (video)

If you can’t settle on a certain texture or are afraid that any pattern on the walls will quickly get boring, choose smooth wallpaper for painting. Don't pay attention to the fact that they don't look very interesting in the store, in fact they have many advantages:

• smooth fabric is easier to paint;
• wallpaper without relief is a blank canvas for any designs and experiments;

• they allow for more variety and are suitable for creative people.

Where to buy wallpaper for painting: price review

Construction markets and stores offer a wide selection of wallpaper for painting, the price per roll of which can vary significantly. Our editors have compiled a list of the most popular products with prices.

Selecting paint

Wallpaper paint for painting must be of high quality. It is also important to choose the desired shades. In the store, it is important to determine which brand of paint is better; to do this, you should pay attention to the composition - it must clearly indicate the coloring pigment.

Paintable wallpaper Marburg and other similar options can only be painted with oil paint. Wallpaper paint for painting in other cases can be water-based.

Most often, white wallpaper is chosen, so the color for painting wallpaper is not too saturated - most often it is pastel or cool colors.

Wallpaper paints for painting must not only cover the surface well, but also meet several basic requirements:

• The painted area should not be exposed to sunlight, that is, fade.

• Do not change the color effect due to exposure to chemical detergents.

• A good guarantor of quality and environmental friendliness.

In order for all these properties to be observed, wallpaper paint for painting must be latex-based. Such components are used to protect the surface of the finishing material from mechanical damage.

Related article: Tips for decorating a small room with photo wallpaper - how to “pull apart” the walls

Reviews of wallpaper for painting from consumers

Buyers share their experiences and emotions after renovation using such wallpaper. Here are some of them:

Review of wallpaper for painting:

More details on IRecommend:

Review of wallpaper “Marburg Patent Decor Laser 9230”:

More details on IRecommend:

Advantages and disadvantages

Paintable wallpaper, the pros and cons of which can be immediately determined, meets certain criteria. First, about the pros:

• Quick and easy installation, which can be completed in just a few days.

• Fast and trouble-free dismantling.

• Huge selection of colors, patterns, materials. Wallpaper for painting in a palette shades the entire spectrum of colors, but they are mainly presented in pastel colors.

• Thanks to the specific coating they have a lot of additional properties.

• Thanks to soft color schemes, you can combine different wallpapers for painting.

Related article: Boy's room: decorating with wallpaper

There are also certain disadvantages:

• Double cost of finishing work, since both painting and gluing are taken into account here.

• They require special materials for installation, for example, special wallpaper glue.

• Not very comfortable secondary finishing.

In most cases, wallpaper for walls is chosen exactly those that can be painted in the future. So, you can save on the frequency of repairs.

Wallpaper for painting: photos in the interior

We invite you to look at the gallery to see how different types of painted wallpaper look in the interior.

Paintable wallpaper is an ideal solution for uneven walls; they will last a long time and will delight the owners with their favorite colors. This material is practical and looks harmonious in the interior.

If you have any questions for the author of the article, ask them below in the comments. Our editors will be happy to receive feedback.

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Types of paints for different types of wallpaper

Wallpaper paints can be divided into three types: water-based, acrylic and latex. Each type of wall covering for painting has its own recommendations for choosing paint.

Let's consider the options:

Among the popular manufacturers of interior wallpaper paints are the following:

• Dulux . Belongs to the expensive segment. The paints are available in a variety of colors, apply well and last a long time.
• Beckers . Certified coatings are environmentally safe and resistant to environmental factors.
• Tikkurila . Wide selection of colors for all types of wallpaper. They retain color for a long time and favorably emphasize the relief pattern.
• Alpina . Excellent application on wallpaper, dries quickly. A large selection of matte shades allows you to choose paint for any interior.
• Dufa . Russian-made paint. Safe for interior work, not afraid of moisture.

Experimentally, in the video, wallpaper is painted with different colors, comparing expensive ones with cheap ones.