When decorating a room, the appearance of the walls is one of the most prominent aspects to consider. You have a choice between paint and wallpaper, and there are pros and cons to both. One of the advantages wallpaper has over paint, however, is variety and design. There is no denying that wallpaper offers some of the largest design selections in the home decorating world. Modern wallpaper touts an endless array of colors, designs, patterns and art, which can be used to match any vision of your room that you may have. However, upon making the decision to use wallpaper, there are a few things to keep in mind, such as that different types of wallpaper works better in some rooms than in others

The most common types of wallpaper available are: vinyl coated, coated fabric, paper backed vinyl or solid sheet vinyl, and fabric backed vinyl. Vinyl coated wallpaper is not only the most popular type of wallpaper, but is also the most durable type. Because it is treated with vinyl acrylic, it is tough, moisture resistant, and easy to clean. Therefore, it is best suited for any type of room, but is most commonly used in bathrooms, kitchens, and children’s bedrooms.

Often, a more artistic license can be taken with coated fabric wallpaper. This wallpaper is exactly what it sounds like: fabric coated with liquid vinyl. However, be careful with this wallpaper-it is not at all moisture resistant, and is therefore only really appropriate for low-moisture rooms such as libraries, living rooms, or bedrooms, not kitchens or bathrooms.

Paper backed or solid sheet vinyl is another very durable type of wallpaper. It is almost like vinyl coated wallpaper, except that it has a layer of pulp or paper on the back. It is still very moisture-resistant and easy to clean, so it works well in any room. Fabric backed vinyl can be a little more tricky. It is usually more durable than coated fabric, but not necessarily as durable as paper backed or solid sheet, or vinyl coated wallpaper. It consists of fabric with vinyl, but the fabric layer is not always coated. So be careful to fully inspect this type of wallpaper before purchasing it for your decorating job.

There are also other, more specific and unique types of wallpaper. Some of these are flock wallpaper, which is made with wool to give it a velvety feel and an elegant design; grass cloth wallpaper, which is made with different types of grass, and foil wallpaper, made with various metal foils. The disadvantage of these is that they are difficult to work with, and not very durable. Also, foil wallpaper will crease and bend, and highlight any flaw behind the wall that it is put on.

Many people choose to apply wallpaper themselves. Depending upon the type of wallpaper, this can be quite easy. However, most home improvement companies will perform this service if you choose to go that route.

Article originally published at Source by Kimberly L Jones