7 Things Every Interior Designer Hates About Wallpaper

Not all designers are smitten by wallpapers. In fact, some would rather break the walls than hang some to decorate them. Others who make allowance for wallpaper hanging are not completely free from its inconveniences.

After talking to the Brazilian architect and interior designer Juliana Pippi, here are some of the biggest pet hates faced by designers when dealing with wallpapers.

“Nowadays more than ever people are focused on their physical and emotional well being, and their relationship with their "home" is directly related to this. The home is always a place to recharge one's energies and reinvigorate, so my work is all geared towards the well being of my clients.” (Juliana Pippi for Mineheart, 2021)

And why not steal the look from one of Juliana’s amazing projects? Here is the inspiring “Cobertura Jurerê PD” Project designed by the architect herself in Florianópolis, Brazil.

1. Hydrophobia 

Sadly, you should not hang wallpapers all over the house. Some rooms, such as bathrooms, kitchens and laundries, will not favour this technique, for humidity may deteriorate the material faster. Hence: “wet or damp areas are unsuitable for wallpaper application”, says Juliana.

Luckily, new wallpapers already have enough technology to resist moisture and dampness.

For example, this Delft Baroque Wallpaper - Blue was a perfect fit for this romantic toilet decoration.

2. Surplus material 

Perhaps you were obliged to purchase a second or third roll of wallpaper to fully cover the wall area required. However, you used just a small section of that last roll, leaving you with a large leftover material. What an annoying waste! Is there anything to be done? Some people give it a new and creative direction, by doing craftwork.

Here are illustrated two of the amazing and easy ways to reuse that leftover. On the left side, a beautiful costumed notebook cover (photo byDee @ Copper and Wild) and next to it, a charming wallpaper gift box idea (photo byMia Golic)

3. Slicing

The need for more than one roll also entails the arduous process of joining them. Juliana admits that “splicing the wallpaper rolls is always a challenge”. According to the specialist, “thequality of the material and the applicator” are very important variables influencing how difficult this task may be.

“The second strip is harder than the first as you can't just measure and stick it up, you need to match up the pattern”, advice from Melanie Lissack Interiors. (Photo taken from Pinterest)

4. Costlier than paint

Despite saving you money in the long run, the initial investment of wallpaper application can weigh on your pocket. At first, painting is cheaper, however, that calculus excludes posterior retouches to repair paint cracks that appear through time.

“I believe that everything is a matter of what is intended with each project. Many times the client invests in a wallpaper that is the protagonist of the space and can save on paintings or works of art, for example. There are no rules in this respect.” That is Juliana’s view on making expenditure decisions, especially for those who tend to think it's too hard or too costly to make interior changes.

Consider the long run costs, like people say, haste makes waste, right? (photo byMicheile Henderson onUnsplash)

5. Air quality impact 

Indoor air can be affected by many different sources, which forces designers to exclude certain types of material. And wallpapers are no exception, because some of them can emit detrimental substances creating an unsafe and even poisonous environment for the residents. As explained by Brian Weakley, some chemical compounds known asVOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) stem from these products.

In addition to that, wallpapers might hide the evolution of mold and other fungi. In Weakley’s words: “Older wallpaper can start to break down and release tiny particles into the air that are easily inhaled into the lungs. All of these things can lead to poor indoor air quality and potential health issues for you and your family.” So beware of product specifications at all times.

Attention to the hazardous effects of certain elements inside a closed room. (photo byBrittany Colette onUnsplash)

6. Material quality 

Not every wallpaper in the market will ensure great durability and satisfying results. That is why careful research and professional guidance are essential for getting the best out of the wallpaper endeavour. A cheaper, more accessible choice at first, could give you a headache over time with higher repair costs.

7. Difficult replacement

Suppose one of your clients adores their current wallpaper pattern. They are not willing to change any aspect of it. It can be extremely hard to find the perfect substitute in this scenario, since much like fashion fads, wallpaper styles come and go.

Also, what could happen in the innovation process of an interior environment is that some of the material could be accidentally damaged, and depending on the motif chosen – mainly if it belongs to an older collection store – you may not find the same one afterwards. So you might run out of wallpapers that match your design.

More: for an opposite view

In case you would like to make a more detailed decision, feel free to compare these disadvantages presented with some of the benefits of wallpaper.