FAQs : Using wallpaper in your kitchen

Answers to Your Questions About Kitchen Wallpaper

Clearly, when choosing wallpaper for kitchen spaces, the main thing to keep in mind is the conditions it will be subjected to. Choose a wallpaper that can withstand humidity, grease and heat well – washable and vinyl wallpapers are usually a good fit for this. Additionally, it needs to be possible to clean it easily, so that your kitchen stays hygienic – maintenance and ease-of-installation are two of the major things to consider when making any home décor upgrades. Secondary, but equally important to practicality, is your kitchen wallpaper design.

Below we’ll look into each of these aspects in more detail.

Want to go bold? Pick a single (relatively uncluttered) wall to be your statement wall and a busy, extravagant pattern (that may be overwhelming if used over a large surface area) is now an excellent choice. As an added upside, even with slightly pricier wallpaper options, a smaller space to cover means that it’s quite possible to change it out every few years and keep your kitchen looking fresh and on trend.

2. Planning the Room: Where to Use Wallpaper for Kitchen Spaces

Creating a statement wall is a great choice if you simply want to add a focal point in your kitchen. But with the many options of modern kitchen wallpaper available today, you can think a little more out-of-the-box if you wish. Back open shelves with different wallpapers in similar patterns or complementary colours to create a quirky and vibrant look, or paper the inside walls of your glass-fronted cabinets for a more chic and unique feel. You can even swap out wallpaper for kitchen tiles on your backsplash – just pick a washable option that has minimal texture so it’s easier to keep clean.

Wallpaper gives you a very versatile and practical way to add a touch of personality into your space, just make sure that you’re keeping your overall look and colour scheme in mind.

Avoid thinner wallpapers as these are more likely to absorb unpleasant odours, and in general fabric-based or overly textured options aren’t the best idea – fabric wallpapers aren’t moisture resistant and embossed or heavily textured ones are prone to collecting dirt and grime within the details and crevices.

4. Keeping the Sparkle: Maintaining Your Kitchen Wallpaper

While modern wallpaper for kitchen wall use is built to withstand the rougher environment, regular maintenance is still a must if you want to keep your kitchen looking magazine-ready. Make sure to choose wallpapers that are “extra washable”, “scrubbable” or “highly scrubbable” as these are the most suited to kitchen conditions. With care and minimal effort, you can keep your kitchen wallpaper looking good for a long time:

• Switch on your chimney while cooking to channel oil fumes, steam and heat out of your kitchen and prevent dirt from settling on your surfaces.
• Make sure to regularly vacuum the wallpaper surface with a soft brush attachment. 
• Wipe them down with a moist cloth after your vacuum. 
• Clean cobwebs as soon as you notice them. 
• Pay attention to the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions.

This will also help you avoid a confused clash of too many different colours, patterns and textures.

Match more intricately patterned wallpaper with cabinetry in simple, neutral colours; wallpapers with a more basic or plain pattern could be paired with bold and vibrant yet complimentary shades. An alternative that can help tie the whole look together is to pick a single colour within your wallpaper pattern and repeat that in your cabinet shutters or hardware – keep in mind that the star of your wallpaper is always either the colour or pattern and by highlighting this with your other décor choices you create more of a statement.
 

Wrapping Up: The Basics of Kitchen Wallpaper

• Do your due diligence on the latest wallpaper patterns, designs and types that are available. 
• When picking your wallpaper trending patterns can be a great choice, but try to select designs that help tie your overall décor together. 
• Installing wallpaper for kitchen backsplash or behind shelving allows you to change out the pattern with minimal expense and effort when needed.
• Creating a statement wall with your wallpaper can add a unique twist to the room.
• Choose complementary colours for your other kitchen décor to help elevate your wallpaper.
• When cleaning your wallpaper:
  -    Always work from the top down, to prevent streaks and dirt staying on the already cleaned surfaces.
  -    While modern kitchen wallpaper can be very easy to keep clean, make sure not to use abrasive cleaners or hard
        scouring/scrubbing pads.
  -    Wash your walls immediately after vacuuming, since the top layer of dust will already be removed.
  -    Pat dry your walls with a towel once you have finished washing them.
  -    Avoid loosening the wallpaper sheets by making sure your sponge/wiping cloth is only damp and not wet, so that water
        doesn’t get under the seams.
  -    Always wipe along the direction of the vertical seams and not horizontally, as this could also loosen or open up the seams.

And most crucial of all, remember that your taste is the most important factor. Given the wide range of beautiful colours, patterns and textures that are available in kitchen wallpaper, you have free reign to indulge your sense of style and make your kitchen a showpiece in your home.