Already very much in vogue in the first half of the last century, wall coverings had a very important role (at least until the beginning of the 90s) within the furnishing of a space, the arrangement of the furnishing volumes, the needs and the emotions that this wants to convey, based on the chosen style.
The evolution of technologies has led to many improvements in the field of construction and also affecting the world of wall coverings, which has seen many companies specialize in production through the use of new materials with very high yield and high quality compared to their predecessors.
Let’s start this journey with the discovery of the different types of wall coverings.
The wallpaper
It is the wall covering consisting in the printing of a decorative design on a paper, vinyl or non-woven support, to be applied with glue to the walls. The application of this coating, as indeed for all the others, can completely change the appearance of an environment. Using wallpaper to decorate gives style and personality to your space, evoking emotions and gives to your home an extra touch.
Compared to the past, today there is the tendency to cover a single wall with large and scenographic designs, and there’s also the tendency to cover all the walls with material wall covering where the attention of the design of the paper rests on the product, on the play of light and on the texture of the surface.
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Depending on the type of wallpaper, all the characteristics and the installation methods change.
Traditional papers are in pure cellulose and have the advantage of having more vivid and deeper colors and of being the most natural; on the other hand, in addition to being more delicate to washing, they require the intervention of a professional for installation; moreover its removal is particularly difficult when you need to replace it.
Vinyl wallpapers (on the other hand) are printed on a plastic support, easy to wash, easy to lay, and easy to remove; these, however, have the defect of having less lively tones and less defined designs, while presenting an excellent rendering in modern designs on cold tones.
Finally, non-woven wallpapers combine the advantages of both types of wall tiles, they have bright colors and well-defined designs and the installation is relatively simple for a professional upholsterer.
Specific wallpapers can also be used in humid environments or to cover external walls of buildings. Not only are they able to resist water, but they prevent also the water’s passage into the underlying layer, guaranteeing waterproofing of the treated surfaces in humid environments such as bathrooms, spas, shower stalls, gyms and kitchens.
The wall covering
The wall covering is something more than a simple wallpaper, the wall covering is what the experts define as a real decorative revolution.
It can be a complex texture made up of different materials and particular manufacturing techniques with motifs that can often be the texture of the material itself.
Raffia is an example: it is inspired by the traditional vegetable raffia, yet it is composed of interweaving of bright metallic yarns with cotton and polyester yarns (it is therefore a fabric) subsequently applied on a non-woven fabric that will be glued to the wall.
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The wall covering can also be made with thermo-pressed foam to create embossed motifs, or it can be a single large design divided into several sectors printed to measure.
The use of a wood or metal wall covering provides numerous meanings to the workspaces.
The synthesis between commercial and residential, industrial and rural is also reflected in the design of home offices, which seek to combine home comforts with the quality of office work.
