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How do I Choose the Best Kitchen Wallpaper?

Felicia Dye
Felicia Dye

Allow yourself adequate time to choose the best kitchen wallpaper. Acquaint yourself with the various types, the manner of installation for each one, and the results when they are removed. As you narrow down your options, remember to consider the theme of your kitchen and its size.

Avoid making a hasty decision due to fatigue or anxiousness. You may find that your options are far greater than you expected them to be and making a good choice is likely to take some time. If you are shopping for kitchen wallpaper and you get tired, leave the task for another day.

It may be wise to choose kitchen wallpaper that is grease-resistant.
It may be wise to choose kitchen wallpaper that is grease-resistant.

You may be able to narrow your search significantly if you are aware that there are different types of wallpaper. There are some that are likely to be considered more suitable for a kitchen than others. For example, paper-backed vinyl wallpaper and fabric-backed wallpaper are sturdy and can generally withstand the cleaning likely to be required of a kitchen wall. Fabric-backed paper is even grease-resistant, which is an important feature when considering kitchen wallpaper.

Many wallpaper suppliers provide swatches for customers to try out.
Many wallpaper suppliers provide swatches for customers to try out.

Another reason you should be aware of the type of wallpaper you choose is because of the differences in installing them. The first thing you need to think about is whether the person doing the job will be able to work with the materials you choose. Then, you need to think about whether you plan to leave the wallpaper up for an extended period of time. If, for example, you are renting an apartment, you may want to consider fabric-backed paper because most of the paste will come off the wall when it is removed.

If your kitchen is very theme driven, you may want to take that into account when choosing your wallpaper. Otherwise, you may choose something that is attractive when standing alone, but which is unappealing when added to the walls. When considering this, do not limit your focus solely to color, also carefully scrutinize the wallpaper's texture.

You may want to avoid extreme designs or colors. If you plan to sell your home in the future, your kitchen wallpaper could impact your chances. Remember, that the kitchen is one of the major selling points in residential real estate. Even if you are not selling, you may want to resist the urge to follow interior design fads. Like other types of fads, after a short while the enthusiasm may fade and you may experience feelings of disappointment.

Interior designers commonly advise people to consider room size when choosing wall coverings. The designs on kitchen wallpaper are likely to have different effects in different size rooms. Paper with small designs is usually not the best choice for a large room. Likewise, if your kitchen is small and you put up wallpaper that has large designs, you may find that it attracts the wrong type of attention.

Discussion Comments

Wisedly33

My friend's parents had avocado green appliances and wallpaper with little teapots on it. Can you say 1973? I thought you could.

Anyway, when they put the house on the market, they had to remove all that wallpaper. It was a major pain. At least they didn't have to replace the appliances!

I'd say a neutral stripe or something along those lines would be about as much as I'd want for a kitchen. You might get by with leaving that if you sell the house. At the very least, you'd have to be able to clean it without ruining it.

Scrbblchick

I'm just not sure I like wallpaper in a kitchen. If you do put up wallpaper, chances are very good you'll have to take it down and paint if you ever sell the house. Painting a nice, neutral color is much easier to cover, and an easier sell.

I would choose a scrubbable paint for my kitchen. You're bound to get grease or food stains on it, and it's just easier to get some that you can wash. This may be more expensive, but it's worth the money. Take my word for it -- it's worth it. You'll be glad you made the investment.

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    • It may be wise to choose kitchen wallpaper that is grease-resistant.
      By: 3desc
      It may be wise to choose kitchen wallpaper that is grease-resistant.
    • Many wallpaper suppliers provide swatches for customers to try out.
      By: phaendin
      Many wallpaper suppliers provide swatches for customers to try out.