Top 5 Myths About Wallpaper

Many people new to wallpaper have fears about the process.  They are intrigued by wallpaper and briefly imagine a fantastic pattern in their room, but they don’t make the leap for a variety of reasons.  The sad thing is that several of these reasons are actually untrue!  Here are the top five most common myths about wallpaper:

1.  “Wallpaper is permanent.”  It’s not!  There are a variety of ways to remove wallpaper, and you can always change it up.  And after a while, in my opinion, you really should change the paper.  Keep your living space fresh.

2. “Wallpaper is too expensive.”  Two words:  ACCENT WALLS.  It’s true that wallpapering costs can add up quickly, but the best way to reduce your spending is to cut down your wall-space.  Choose a graphic pattern and one wall to paper.  It will add punch to the room and give your space a more high-end attitude. Plus, you can get real bang for buck by using your wallpaper scraps for creative projects.

3. “Wallpaper will ruin your walls.”  If the wall was smoothed and treated with a primer before installation, the wallpaper will come off with steam, water, and a scraper– and the walls will be fine. Even an old wall with multiple layers of paper and paint can be salvaged, so don’t be discouraged if you’re applying wallpaper for the first time.
4.  “Wallpaper is out of date.”  Totally untrue.  Wallpaper — especially graphic patters — is in style right now and shows no sign of letting up.  Just look at Cavern!

5.  “Wallpaper does not work for renters.”  If your landlord won’t allow you to wallpaper, take a trip to the lumber store and get some “luan.”  Luan is a cheap plasterboard perfect for wallpapering.  Just drill the wood into your wall, wallpaper as normal, and when you’re ready to move on, you can take your panels with you.  You’ll just have a few holes in the wall to spackle.

Am I missing anything?  E-mail me any comments; I’d love to hear.  stephen@cavernhome.com