Selecting the perfect wallpaper is not the only thing you need to do to keep your walls looking lovely and your home feeling comfortable. It all comes down to knowing how to shield it from normal wear and tear. Although wallpaper can give your room character and charm, it can also deteriorate over time.
There are various things that can shorten the life of your wallpaper, such as spills and dings and scratches. Thankfully, there are doable actions you can take to protect it and make sure it looks good for an extended period of time.
Whether you’re looking to extend the life of your current wallpaper or have recently redecorated, knowing these precautionary measures can really help. Let’s look at some practical ways to protect your wallpaper so that your walls continue to be an asset to your house.
Use washable wallpapers that can withstand mild cleaning without damage. | Regularly dust or vacuum the wallpapered walls to prevent dust buildup. |
Avoid placing furniture or objects that could scratch or tear the wallpaper. | Consider using wallpaper protectors or guards in high-traffic areas. |
- Methods of protection
- From cats and dogs
- From abrasion by the bed
- From wiping with a chair
- Near the table in the kitchen
- Around the switch
- From the dirt
- Protecting the outer corner of the wall
- Additional measures
- Is it possible to apply varnish to paper material??
- Video on the topic
- 26 cool ideas on how to save space and keep your home tidy
- Choose wallpaper that sticks without joints using our guide via the link in the profile 🙌🏻 #wallpaper
- With this wallpaper you won"t worry about joints! #wallpaper #living room wallpaper #interior #wallpaper #renovation
Methods of protection
Let’s examine some advice on safeguarding your wall covering.
From cats and dogs
Without our cherished dogs and cats, life would be very difficult to bear. cute, poignant, and humorous. They make us feel a lot of good things. But occasionally, they are overpriced. Biting, gnawing, and scratching are normal behaviors and needs of our pets. You need to accept this fact. However, we can minimize these procedures or lessen their discomfort for all involved, providing a comfortable existence for animals while also learning to be kinder to ourselves.
Techniques for shielding wallpaper from tearing dogs and cats:
- Be sure to buy a scratching post. It’s best to hang it (if it’s on the wall) or put it (if it’s on the floor) exactly where the cat has already chosen a place for itself and where they’re already sharpening their claws. They should be taught this device from birth. If he starts to tear up the wallpaper, then patiently guide him to the scratching post. Perhaps not right away, but everything will work out, and your pet will get used to it.
- Use protective caps on claws. They can be purchased at any veterinary clinic.
- Trim cats" claws at least once a month.
- Use different types of wallpaper:
- Vinyl anti-vandal – very dense, therefore resistant to scratches and friction (what are the features of gluing vinyl wallpaper?).
- Fiberglass wallpaper is practically not interesting for pets. In addition, glass wallpaper can be periodically repainted in new color shades.
- Liquid wallpaper is not so practical. But light restoration will always help get rid of defects (read about what liquid wallpaper is, how to dilute and apply it correctly, here).
We’d like you to watch this video to learn how to keep cats away from wallpaper:
From abrasion by the bed
At the headboard or along the bed, the wallpaper progressively starts to get soiled and frayed. This is avoidable:
- If space allows, place the furniture so that it does not touch the walls of the room.
- Buy a bed model with a stationary headboard. If it is not provided, then choose high-quality silk-screen printing as wall decoration. Such wallpaper looks very rich and is not scary to wash with a brush and soap.
- Make your own or buy hanging decorative headboards, such as hanging pillows, tapestry, carpet, curtains, panels, etc. d.
- Arrange shelves or niches. It"s convenient and functional. Just use lightweight structures and do not overload them.
From wiping with a chair
Construct a personalized bumper board for walls out of chairs based on each person’s dimensions. You can experiment with contrast in addition to selecting a color based on the wall design’s tone. After all, a fender board serves as both decoration and protection for the property, keeping it free from contamination and damage. To ensure that the chair doesn’t touch the wall next to it, place a board on the floor to act as a plinth.
Near the table in the kitchen
If your dining room table is against the wall, you are probably aware of the issue with the wall next to it being unclean all the time. Yes, it’s unpleasant to have a dirty wall in front of you while eating lunch. You should give careful consideration to how the kitchen’s walls are decorated in order to prevent these awkward situations.
- If you decide that you will have wallpaper in the kitchen, then, definitely, you need to choose washable, liquid, vinyl or glass wallpaper. Paper wallpaper is not suitable for you. They get dirty easily, absorb odors and fade quickly (how to choose the right wallpaper for the kitchen?).
- A simple, cheap and effective way is painting (what kind of wallpaper is suitable for painting?). The paint must be environmentally friendly. Water-based paint is ideal. And if acrylic is added to it, it will give your walls a velvety feel (how to glue and paint wallpaper correctly?).
- Non-traditional option – decorative plaster, panels or brick. All this is quite appropriate in the kitchen. It is possible to finish only the area near the table with these materials. The main thing is that the overall picture matches the chosen style.
- An unusual and original method of decorating a dining area is to hang a mirror next to the table.
Around the switch
Every day, we flip the switches multiple times. Naturally, the wallpaper surrounding them becomes unclean very quickly. How to keep these areas stain-free:
- Install plastic covers. They are sold in hardware stores and are presented in huge quantities: any style and to suit any interior; any color, shape, size. It won"t be difficult for you to install them. The cover will become not just a protective element, but also a real decoration, both for the light switch keys and for the entire interior as a whole.
- Place a mosaic around the switch. It will be original and beautiful.
- Paint the area around the switch with clear varnish.
From the dirt
Consider applying varnish to the wallpaper if your wall is subjected to outside influences on a regular basis.
Of course! The following is a succinct main thesis statement for your paper: It’s crucial to maintain gorgeous walls and long-lasting comfort in our homes. This article examines doable strategies for preventing damage to wallpaper, providing easy-to-use advice that works for everyone. Learn how to preserve the charm of your walls while establishing a comfortable space that lasts, from simple maintenance routines to astute decorating decisions.
Protecting the outer corner of the wall
The outer corners of the walls should be shielded if you have small children or animals. They are exposed to pollution and destruction more frequently than not.
A lot of people don’t give this enough thought. but ineffective. While making repairs, cutting corners is a crucial and responsible step.
Techniques of protection:
- Installation of corners. They can be plastic, wood, polystyrene foam, etc.
- The use of natural or artificial decorative stone. A very popular method of protecting corners today (how to glue decorative stone to wallpaper?).
- Using drywall. Allows you to straighten the most difficult corners.
We recommend watching this video to learn how to prevent damage to the wallpaper’s corner:
Additional measures
The task of shielding wallpaper from dirt can be effectively performed by a specific type of varnish. The task can be completed by you. Here are some advice from experienced builders:
- Glue the wallpaper to the walls and wait until the glue dries completely.
- You can apply a transparent primer to the wallpaper before varnishing. If there is no primer, then the work can be done without it.
- The varnish coating must be applied in several layers (2-3). Each layer must dry thoroughly.
- When varnishing is complete and the varnish has completely dried, you can lightly polish it with a soft cloth. This will give the walls an intricate shine.
You will undoubtedly receive a "5+" rating for this work, and your varnished wallpaper will be prepared for long-term use.
Benefits of applying varnish:
- the varnish coating is not afraid of moisture, you can wash the wall at any time;
- the wallpaper will not fade;
- the protective layer can protect the wallpaper from mechanical damage.
The drawbacks of varnishing
- even minor defects that were made when leveling the walls can come out;
- additional costs are possible during repairs – physical (application) and material (purchase);
- sometimes, after drying, the varnish tightens the material, and the joints between the canvases diverge (how to repair wallpaper and joints if they diverge?).
Is it possible to apply varnish to paper material??
Paper wallpaper is typically covered with a protective layer because it is more prone to contamination and damage. Different formulations are applied. Acrylic varnish with a water base is widely used and thought to be efficient. It will preserve the aesthetic appeal of your walls while shielding them from dirt and moisture. It won’t take up much of your time to paint.
Do not buy thin white paper wallpaper to paint over. The canvases will start to show through and the concrete wall will show through if you choose to varnish them.
To keep your home comfortable and aesthetically pleasing, you must protect your wallpaper. You can prolong the life of your wallpaper and maintain the original appearance of your walls for many years by following a few easy steps.
To start with, routine upkeep is essential. Wallpaper can gradually lose its color and texture due to dust and dirt accumulation. Dust your wallpapered walls sparingly once a week with a soft cloth or a vacuum attachment fitted with a brush to avoid this. This tactful method prevents damage while maintaining the integrity of the wallpaper surface.
Second, pay attention to the amount of moisture in your house. Overly damp conditions can eventually cause wallpaper to peel or distort. If required, use a dehumidifier, particularly in places like kitchens and bathrooms where there is a tendency for high humidity. The life of your wallpaper can be considerably increased by taking this easy step.
Furthermore, be cautious when cleaning walls covered in wallpaper. Steer clear of using abrasive cleaning supplies or strong chemicals as they may cause the wallpaper to tear or scratch. Instead, use gentle cleaning solutions and a soft sponge or cloth to dab at stains or marks. To make sure a cleaning technique doesn’t harm the wallpaper, always test it on a tiny, discrete section of it first.
Finally, for extra durability, think about covering your wallpaper with a protective coating. There are specialist wallpaper sealers on the market that can offer stain and moisture resistance. Applying these sealers is simple, and they can greatly simplify the process of cleaning and maintaining your wallpapered walls.
You can preserve the aesthetic appeal of your wallpaper and make your home a more comfortable place to live by adopting these habits into your daily life. Your wallpaper can add years to the décor of your room if you give it the right maintenance.