What wallpaper is best to choose for the kitchen? Design ideas and 49 photos

When the average person decides to change their wallpaper, they are most often guided by the pattern, design or texture. But, such options are acceptable for the bedroom and living room. For the kitchen, the selection criterion is completely different, of course, if you want the new renovation to last a long time.

Absolutely not suitable for the kitchen:

paper wallpaper. Even with moisture-resistant impregnation, they do not like moisture and strongly absorb odors and fat. So in a couple of years you will have to go back for repairs.
made from natural materials (except bamboo and cork). Such wallpaper does not like moisture and odors, so the result will be similar to paper wallpaper.
acrylic wallpaper with a relief pattern. Such material is easy to damage, and the relief will quickly become covered with a coating that is difficult to remove.

So what wallpaper is best to choose for the kitchen? Wallpaper that is not afraid of dampness and temperature changes, easy to care for, that can be washed, and that can be repainted several times will be suitable. Of course, most would already like to choose modern wallpaper for the kitchen 2020.

If you don’t know what wallpaper to choose for your kitchen, then you need to decide what you want. If you want practicality and for the wallpaper to be washed or just to look beautiful, it is better to re-glue it after a couple of years. To do this, you can choose non-woven wallpaper with a vinyl coating. Before purchasing, ask the seller what washability class this or that wallpaper belongs to: washable, waterproof, abrasion resistant or super waterproof. If you still can’t choose, then there are many photos of wallpaper for the kitchen on the Internet.

Also, the selection criterion is that you want wallpaper with a ready-made pattern or for painting, or a combination of all options. Paintable wallpaper is sold mostly in white and can be easily painted many times with regular water-based paint or acrylic paint.

Read: Modular kitchens - 150 photos of the best kitchen innovations in the kitchen interior

Types of wallpaper for the kitchen

When choosing wallpaper for the kitchen, you need to consider some factors that will help you decide on the most suitable option. Let's look at some of them.

Vinyl wallpapers. The most popular type. They have such an important property for the kitchen as moisture resistance. Do not fade under the influence of sunlight. They are easy to glue and at the same time mask uneven wall surfaces well. Resistant to mold and mildew. The disadvantage is the inability to pass air. The kitchen should be ventilated frequently.

Texture wallpaper. They are also called compact vinyl. Their main purpose is to imitate stones, brickwork, and plaster. Easy to clean and not scratched. Available in a wide variety of designs and colors. The main disadvantage of such wallpaper is the high price.

Wallpaper that can be painted. This type of wallpaper is based on vinyl. It tolerates sunlight well and prevents color fading. It also tolerates moisture and temperature changes well. Wallpaper can be repainted several times.

Non-woven wallpaper. A significant advantage of such wallpaper is the fact that you do not need to apply glue to them, but only to the walls. They do not wrinkle or tear when gluing. They also do a good job of masking uneven walls. They are made from cellulose fibers, so they are quite environmentally friendly. They allow air to pass through well and tolerate moisture. The disadvantage is the high price. Dust also collects on the textured layer, which will have to be vacuumed from time to time.

The modern type of wallpaper is glass wallpaper. They have a number of advantages: they tolerate moisture and temperature changes well, are fireproof, resistant to fungus, and do not deteriorate when exposed to various acids.

Regular wallpaper made from pre-impregnated paper. Their main advantage is low price. The quality leaves much to be desired: they wrinkle, tear, fade, and are not resistant to water and alkalis. However, it is a fairly environmentally friendly option, as it allows air to pass easily.

Washable wallpaper for the kitchen: varieties

Washable wallpaper for the kitchen comes in two types: paper-based and non-woven. The former are notable for their low price, but have a short service life. But the cost of the second ones “bites”, but they cannot be demolished.

Before you buy non-woven washable wallpaper for your kitchen, answer yourself the question: can you withstand the same design for 12-15 years? Agree that even the most sophisticated interior becomes boring over time and you want something fresh.

As an option, you can consider washable ones:

inexpensive foam wallpaper (or acrylic wallpaper). Just like in this photo. They consist of two layers of paper and a base on which a polymer layer is applied. There is no need to rub them persistently with a brush. It is better to wipe off dirt with a damp sponge;
Vinyl wallpaper for the kitchen is an impeccable option. They do not fade, do not get wet, and remain in their original form for a long time. The advantages of finishing include the excellent ability to imitate various textures (leather, wood, plaster, stone);
vinyl wallpaper for painting. Ideal for those who cannot stand one color scheme for a long time. This wallpaper can be repainted 5-7 times.
glass wallpaper (there are one- and two-layer). Also a good option. This wallpaper is highly hygienic, durable, hypoallergenic, and easy to clean using abrasives.
cork wallpaper with wax coating. The idea is not bad, but it will not be cheap.

Liquid wallpaper allows you to decorate your kitchen space in a stylish and original way. This finish is not afraid of prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures and is not prone to mechanical damage. However, not all of these wallpapers can be washed - only those labeled “moisture resistant.”

It is better to decorate a work area where there is an increased risk of contamination with tiles. And the dining room can be done with liquid wallpaper. Like in these photos.

What type of wallpaper should you avoid?

The kitchen is the place for preparing and eating food. Therefore, fat, moisture, and high temperatures constantly affect the wallpaper. The most unsuitable solution for the kitchen would be paper wallpaper. They quickly deteriorate due to the impossibility of cleaning or painting them.

You should also avoid wallpaper made from natural materials: linen, cotton, silk, bamboo, wood. They quickly and permanently absorb all kinds of odors and smoke.

Wallpaper with a relief pattern will not look very practical in the kitchen. The corrugated layer will quickly collect all the dust and dirt, and it will be impossible to wash it without causing damage to the design.

Which color to choose

Color plays an important role in the perception of the entire interior. It also helps hide some imperfections. The most suitable color scheme for wallpaper would be yellow and all its shades. But it’s worth remembering about the rest of the kitchen style. Everyone has their own preferred color: country and Provence love green and other colors of nature, modern – white, black.

For large kitchen areas, any wallpaper color is suitable. Even dark shades that visually reduce will look very impressive. But with a small kitchen, it is best to give preference to light tones of wallpaper. On the contrary, they will visually enlarge the room.

Now let's look at some colors and their effect on humans.

Yellow, light beige, orange, and gold stimulate the appetite. The person feels at home. All this is conducive to sincere conversations. However, everything is in moderation. Too much of this color can tire the eye.

Red color and its shades. In addition to increasing appetite, they can also act as an irritant to the nervous system.

The blue hue of the wallpaper reduces appetite. An excellent option for those who are watching their figure and are afraid of overeating.

Blue color has a calming effect. Looks great in nautical-themed interior design. You should not glue such wallpaper in countries with cold climates. This will create even more coolness.

Green , like yellow, is conducive to communication. A great option for those who love nature. This color can calm and create a friendly atmosphere.

White color. Gives the kitchen some airiness. However, a perfectly white kitchen will look more like a hospital ward. Therefore, this color is diluted with bright objects.

Black and purple colors are not welcome in the kitchen.

Drawing on wallpaper

Not everyone likes plain wallpaper. Some people prefer to glue wallpaper with a relief or other pattern. Here are some tips when choosing such wallpaper:

It is better to wallpaper a kitchen with a low ceiling with wallpaper with a vertical or diagonal pattern. This option will significantly increase the height of the ceilings and give the room a larger area.
If the kitchen furniture is without any bright features, then it is better to choose wallpaper with a wild pattern that will attract all the attention.
For small kitchen areas, it is better to avoid any pattern on the wallpaper. This will visually make the kitchen even smaller.
As for the design itself on kitchen wallpaper, it can be very diverse: geometric patterns, animals and plants, birds, hieroglyphs, stripes, and so on.

Washable wallpaper for the kitchen Leroy Merlin: pros and cons

Washable wallpaper for the kitchen Leroy Merlin is a proven brand that you can trust. Specialized hypermarkets have a large selection of wallpaper in color and texture. In the Leroy Merlin chain of stores you can choose a variety of washable wallpaper for the kitchen:

paper (simplex, duplex, triplex);
vinyl;
non-woven;
for painting;
liquid.

A pleasant surprise for you will be the low price of washable wallpaper for the kitchen in Leroy catalogs. And here are photos of interiors where this wallpaper was used.

Photo wallpaper

Many people still associate photo wallpapers with those that existed back in Soviet times: poor quality, quick fading, heavy sticking, small assortment. However, now modern technologies make it possible to create photo wallpapers of amazing beauty and high quality.

For the kitchen, you should choose a special type of photo wallpaper that can withstand moisture, grease, and temperature changes. Therefore, the most suitable photo wallpaper for the kitchen area will be vinyl or non-woven.

They are impregnated with a special solution that protects them from fading and dirt, and allows repeated cleaning with water. If photo wallpaper is placed in front of the working kitchen area, then you should definitely protect such wallpaper with an additional layer of glass or a water-repellent coating.

Photo wallpaper is a separate element of the interior. Therefore, they should be placed on a free wall, away from the food preparation area. You should not choose wallpaper that is too bright. This can quickly lead to eye fatigue.

If desired, you can paste over not only the walls, but also doors and other elements of kitchen furniture. This will create a “deeper” interior. For small kitchens, photo wallpaper with a picture of a window will serve as an excellent decorative element.

How to glue?

What glue is best for gluing?

Considering that most washable wallpaper is heavy, it is worth choosing the appropriate adhesive. There is a special glue for heavy types of wallpaper. When choosing a washable vinyl covering, you should choose an antiseptic adhesive with fungicides. Regardless of what type of washable wallpaper you choose, the adhesive composition must be moisture resistant.

Step-by-step gluing instructions

Finishing work with washable wallpaper is not much different from ordinary wallpaper. There is a certain procedure that will help you perform gluing consistently and efficiently.

Preparing the walls. To do this, you need to remove the old finish, remove uneven areas and plaster the walls.
Treatment with antifungal liquid.
Primer of walls.
Marking. Using a plumb line or level, a vertical line is drawn on the wall. It will become a guide for gluing and will help to avoid “collapsing” of the strip.
Preparation of material. Cut the wallpaper into strips of the required length with a margin of 5-10 cm.
Depending on the type of material, glue is applied, after which the strip is applied to the wall.
The trapped air is smoothed out from the center to the edge using a roller.

Excess glue is removed immediately. Upon completion of the work, the wallpaper is cut to the same length.

Video

Combined wallpaper

There is no more suitable place for combined wallpaper than the kitchen. This is a great opportunity to designate a work area and an area for eating and relaxing in this way. More and more often, designers are resorting to this option for wallpapering. To make everything look beautiful and harmonious, you should follow some tips:

All wallpapers must be of the same quality and price segment. Their main difference will be in color and texture.
The thickness of the combined wallpaper should be the same. This will avoid difficulties when gluing and joining the wallpaper.
If some wallpapers are plain, then others should be chosen with a bright pattern.
Bright colors go well with neutrals.

The most common option when combining wallpaper is the vertical division of kitchen walls. It can be symmetrical, when wallpaper with wide stripes but different colors is glued to two opposite walls.

This technique allows you to make the room more square. The asymmetrical option means that one wall is covered with wallpaper with wide stripes of one color, and the opposite wall with narrow stripes of a different color. Such gluing will shorten the kitchen, but at the same time give it volume in width.

General recommendations for selection

Choosing washable wallpaper requires attention to detail.
After familiarizing yourself with the typology of washable wallpaper, you can start looking for the ones that are suitable for your kitchen . We recommend using our tips - they will help you find the ideal option and not be disappointed in your purchase:

Whatever type of washable wallpaper you like, always ask the sellers for quality certificates. In addition to the labeling, they must indicate the composition and care recommendations. If there is no certificate, it is quite possible that they are offering you a fake.
Contact only trusted stores that value their reputation. Their service life largely depends on proper storage of wallpaper in a warehouse.
Check each roll: if any part of the wallpaper is deformed, this will affect not only its appearance, but also its properties, which means you will soon have to make a new repair.

When studying certificates, pay attention to the following parameters :

Vapor tightness. The presence of such a mark means that under the influence of steam the wallpaper will not deform and will not peel off from the wall. This is very important, especially if you plan to glue them directly above the stove or hob.
Light resistance. The higher this indicator, the better the wallpaper tolerates direct sunlight. Pay special attention to this parameter if your windows face the sunny side. Otherwise, within a month the colors will begin to fade and the kitchen will lose its appearance.
Density. Perhaps the most important selection criterion for washable wallpaper. It is very important that this indicator be as high as possible - the lower they are, the less resistance to damage. In addition, wallpaper with low density must be washed very carefully and it wears out faster.
Possibility of painting. This is not a mandatory option, but its presence will greatly help you if you want to update your interior. With this option, you can change the look of your kitchen in a matter of hours.

We hope our advice will help you make the right choice. In addition, we recommend taking into account the style of your kitchen - the right wallpaper can set the tone for the entire room.

Modern wallpaper for the kitchen

With all the variety of wallpaper, there are modern trends that are worth taking into account, since kitchen renovations are not done for one year. Today, kitchens are decorated in a modern style: modern, high-tech.

This option involves the use of minimalism and rigor. Therefore, the wallpaper should be moderately bright in order to attract the main attention, but at the same time be discreet in order to fit into the entire style of the interior.

More and more preference is given to wallpaper in light shades or just white. This option allows you to expand the kitchen, add airiness and severity. You can also choose plain light wallpaper with bright motifs or patterns.

Since much attention is now paid to quality, the best option for the kitchen would be to choose glass or vinyl wallpaper. It is also possible to combine different wallpapers according to color scheme. As for style, oriental motifs have been very popular lately. And for lovers of home comfort, modern wallpaper with a plant-themed pattern will suit you.

The latest trend of the year is wallpaper with a pattern in the form of decorative plates. Various stickers are still in fashion. They will perfectly complement wallpaper in any style, but the main thing here is to choose everything correctly to avoid pretentiousness.

Correct combination of wallpaper

Combining wallpaper allows you to highlight certain functional areas, making the kitchen interior more unique and original. When choosing a material, try to choose wallpaper with the same density that matches each other in patterns or color palette.

You can combine wallpaper vertically or horizontally, thereby adjusting the space. An accent wall with patterns will look impressive against the background of other plain coverings.

Take note that you cannot combine two patterns that are different in style (for example, floral prints with geometric shapes). The same applies to the use of more than three types of patterns and textures in the interior. If you wallpaper your kitchen with different wallpapers like flowers, checks and polka dots, you will get a real pun.

Wallpaper for a small kitchen

As mentioned earlier, the smaller the room, the more light shades should be present in the interior. This will help visually increase the area. However, you should not create a purely white kitchen. This will create the illusion of being in a hospital room, and will also create the need for frequent and very thorough cleaning.

The best option for a small kitchen would be wallpaper in bed colors with a very small pattern. If you choose photo wallpaper or a 3D design, then you need to glue them on a free wall, which serves as a dining space. This will create a bright accent.

When choosing wallpaper, you should also focus on the entire kitchen interior. So, for example, if the furniture has a glossy shine, then you should choose glossy wallpaper. The color should be neutral.

As for quality, wallpaper for a kitchen, especially a small one, must be washable and well withstand sudden changes in temperature, as well as steam.

How to choose washable wallpaper for the kitchen? Catalogs with photos

Before purchasing washable wallpaper for your kitchen, first of all pay attention to the markings on the label:

one wave. Can be wiped with a damp cloth;
two - you can wash it “more boldly”, using detergent (for example, for washing dishes);
three waves is a “super wash”. Abrasive detergents can be used. But do not overdo it - the decor will not survive “whiteness” and other extreme substances;
two waves and a brush - can be washed and cleaned. This is “aerobatics” in terms of stability. However, as you understand, you will have to pay exorbitant prices for such pleasure. For this reason, the demand for such washable wallpaper for the kitchen is low.

Next, when looking through options from photos in catalogs, focus on color. Dark wallpaper will make a small, cramped kitchen even smaller. Therefore, light wallpaper with small prints are more suitable.

For a spacious room, feel free to choose rich, rich shades. Which ones do you like best? Here, for example, are interesting photos.

The ideal shades that will serve as an excellent backdrop for a kitchen interior are:

beige;
pale pink;
cream;
light green;
baby blue;
lactic.

Consider the type of furniture. Refresh simple, laconic lines and restrained colors of the kitchen set with bright wallpaper. And vice versa, if the furniture itself is bright and designer, then it will need a neutral background.