Wallpaper by Material

Wallpaper by material: what the surface decides

The design is what you notice from the doorway; the material is what you live with. It settles how the covering goes on, whether the finish throws light back or holds it, and how the wall behaves after a monsoon. The grid above is the whole wallpaper range, not one material's shelf, so start from what the surface must do.

Where each material works

Non-woven suits a bedroom or living room on sound brick and concrete. Metallic shifts between quiet and bright as the light comes round, which suits a foyer, stairwell or dining wall. Faux leather, 3D and embroidery are close-range finishes for a headboard or study; magnetic is a wall build, not a paper. Damp plaster takes none of them, and the splashback behind the hob and a bathroom's wet zone stay bare.

How it is sized and fitted

Wallpaper is sold by the square foot, cut to your wall rather than bought as fixed rolls, from Rs 129 per square foot. Prints arrive in two to four foot sections with a half to one inch overlap at the joins, varying with texture. Installation is free over Rs 5,000 on walls up to 10 feet in major cities; taller walls, ceilings and curved surfaces can cost extra.

Care

Most of the result is settled before anything goes up: the wall should be clean, smooth, oil-primed and dry, since whatever is left underneath reads through the print, and an unprepared site can attract a visiting fee. Afterwards keep water off the surface and dust it rather than scrub it. The prints are PVC-free and non-toxic.

Choosing a material: common questions

Which wallpaper material suits Indian homes?

Non-woven, for most walls. It holds its size as humidity swings through the year and strips away cleanly years later. Choose against it only when the wall has a particular job: a lease to honour, texture at arm's length, or magnets to carry.

Can I put wallpaper up in a rented flat?

Yes, if you choose a finish that comes off again. A peel-and-stick finish sits on cured paint instead of being pasted to plaster, which is kinder on a lease. Let new paint cure first, since fresh or heavily textured walls hold self-adhesive film poorly.

How is wallpaper priced if not by the roll?

By area. Designs start at Rs 129 per square foot and you pay for the wall you actually cover, so a narrow alcove costs alcove money, not a roll and a half. Since it is cut to your measurements, order the whole wall at once.

Everything here is printed to order in India.