Wallpaper Brings Your Room Alive!
Although wallpaper started off as a cheap substitute to wood panelling and intricate tapestries, now they are pieces of art in themselves. We have all come across different wall papers ranging from lively renditions of nursery rhymes for nurseries to elegant designs for the sitting room. Before our very own eyes, we have seen rooms come alive when wallpapers hug the walls.
The first wallpapers in England were introduced by Flemish craftsmen and were used to decorate wood panels. These were pieces of papers on which the design was printed by wooden blocks, and then colours filled in by hand. The earliest known wallpapers portrayed floral designs and began to gain popularity in the Elizabethan era because of their capacity to withstand humidity and fireplace smoke.
Earlier, most wallpapers were designed in the same way as tapestries and in many homes, they were hung rather than pasted, just as in the manner of tapestries. Now, as our aesthetics have evolved, so have our walls. Retro designs and abstract patterns are in vogue. We have moved away from the classic English pastel grandeur of drawing rooms and incorporated some dynamic colours in wallpapers today. Of course, period décor still demands the ‘classic’ look that wallpapers perfectly provide even now.
There are many types of wallpapers available today ranging from durable and easy to clean vinyl wallpapers that can withstand humidity to coated fabric wallpapers. These wallpapers comprise a layer of fabric coated with a layer of liquid vinyl. This type best suits rooms where there is low humidity. A ‘scrubbable’ and ‘peelable’ type of wallpaper is the Paper Backed Vinyl wallpaper, which is moisture, grease and stain resistant.
An interesting type is the grass wallpaper. As the name suggests, these are actually made up of grasses and make for an exquisite wall covering, however, they do not stand up to wear and tear as well as other papers. Another exquisite variety is the flocked wallpaper, which has raised velvet patterns on it. Needless to say, it makes for a great decorative addition to any room.
Wallpapers need not be stoic pieces. They can be found in textured forms, for example, granulated and embossed designs that add warmth to the design of the wallpaper and to the ambience of the room.