Guide 03
Choosing the Right Wallpaper Material
Choosing the right wallpaper is one of the most important parts of a successful project. The beauty of the design matters — but material type, backing, texture, weight, finish, and room conditions are just as important.
At Parfait, we help clients, designers, and builders understand which materials are best suited for each space.
Common Wallpaper Types
Traditional wallpaper
A classic option for many residential spaces — bedrooms, dining rooms, powder rooms, hallways, and feature walls.
Grasscloth and natural wallcoverings
Beautiful and highly textured, but more delicate. Natural variations, paneling, seams, and shading are part of the material's character.
Vinyl wallcovering
A durable option often used in commercial spaces, bathrooms, high-traffic areas, hospitality projects, and areas that require additional performance.
Murals and panel sets
Murals require careful layout planning because image placement, scale, and panel sequence are critical to the final result.
Specialty wallcoverings
Silk, linen, cork, wood veneer, metallic, handmade, embossed, or highly textured materials often require additional review, careful handling, and more detailed installation planning.
Peel-and-Stick and Specialty Adhesives
Peel-and-stick wallpaper is not part of our standard showroom offering. For premium residential and designer projects, we typically recommend traditional wallpaper or professional wallcoverings because they provide a cleaner, more refined, and longer-lasting result.
That said, Parfait has professional experience with specialty adhesive materials, including signage and architectural films — and includes 3M Preferred Installer experience for certain specialty applications. Each material must be reviewed before installation is confirmed.
Room Conditions Matter
Before selecting wallpaper, consider:
- Moisture level
- Ventilation
- Wall texture
- Sun exposure
- Traffic and durability needs
- Residential vs. commercial
- Walls, ceilings, or specialty surfaces
Special Considerations
Powder rooms, bathrooms, ceilings, stairways, textured walls, high-traffic spaces, and commercial areas often require extra review. Some wallpapers may not be recommended for high-humidity environments, difficult surfaces, or heavy-use areas. Delicate, handmade, untrimmed, textured, custom-printed, or specialty materials may require additional planning.
Our Recommendation
Before purchasing wallpaper, send us the brand, pattern name, material specifications, roll size, and installation area. Our team can help review whether the material is appropriate for the space and calculate the recommended quantity.