Eco-friendly wallpapers: the basics of choosing, an overview of the range, suitable options and what to avoid. What wallpaper for walls are considered environmentally friendly: selection and definition parameters, purchase and gluing features Are vinyl wallpapers harmful to health?

Correctly selected wallpapers can amazingly transform the space, add depth, expressiveness, and create the necessary atmosphere. However, when choosing wallpaper, it is worth considering not only their external characteristics, especially for rooms in which people with allergies and children will be. Their non-toxicity and safety for humans are also very important. Also, due to the depletion of natural resources and the constant growth of environmental pollution, wallpaper made from materials made from renewable resources is more preferable. wallpapers are now available in a large assortment and it is quite easy to find them if you know what to look for.

Guide to how to choose an eco-friendly wallpaper

What to look for:

Paper wallpaper made with recycled paper or FSC certified paper. Using recycled paper reduces environmental pollution and energy consumption compared to making paper from new material. 3D wallpaper made of recycled paper has good acoustic properties and can be painted (however, I have not seen any information on the sale of such wallpaper in Russia). FSC-certified wallpapers are made from trees grown in special, controlled forests. The FSC certificate is issued by an international organization called the Forest Stewardship council (FSC). Paper wallpapers allow walls to "breathe" and are usually not very expensive. Their disadvantages include low wear resistance, ability to absorb odors, lack of moisture resistance and fading.

Wallpaper made of natural fibers. While this wallpaper is not recommended when there are cats in the house, it is fine in all other cases. These wallpapers are made from rapidly renewable materials such as seaweed, bamboo and reed, straw, linen, silk. Natural fiber wallpapers are very beautiful, they add warmth and naturalness to any room. They can be found in all kinds of colors and patterns. These wallpapers allow the walls to "breathe", they are quite durable, have high sound and heat insulation, but their cost is usually high and they tend to fade.

Cork wallpaper. These are eco-friendly wallpapers that are not afraid of the sun, moisture and fungus, have good sound and heat insulation, they are wear-resistant, elastic and hypoallergenic, have a natural color.

Dyes on wallpaper should be water-based without chlorine and other harmful substances. You can find hand-painted wallpapers, such wallpapers can make any room special, but they also cost much more.

What to avoid:

Vinyl (PVC)- a favorite of the wallpaper industry. Due to its strength characteristics and the surface, which can be smooth or embossed, hiding the imperfections of the walls, vinyl wallpaper has dominated the market for many decades. Unfortunately, PVC coating has significant drawbacks. Vinyl production is a process with significant environmental costs. Even wall-mounted vinyl wallpaper releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other pollutants into the air. Some scientists have linked vinyl wallpaper to diseases such as asthma and cancer. But the greatest danger of PVC lies in its decomposition products: chlorine, dioxins (highly toxic substances) and phthalates. When burning and the temperature rises above 220 ° C, organochlorine compounds and heavy metals contained in PVC stabilizers are released, which can lead to human poisoning. Vinyl wallpapers are non-breathable, which encourages mold to build up between the wall and the wall in damp areas such as bathrooms.

Fire Resistant Wallpaper- you should not buy wallpaper with substances that prevent combustion (with the exception of wallpaper with borates, natural minerals), since these substances are released into the air over time.

VOC- can stand out for several years after gluing. Look for wallpaper that is low VOC or VOC free. Also, wallpaper glue should be low or VOC free.

Heavy metals- contained in some dyes, become a real problem when they end up in a landfill. From there, they can get into groundwater and then return back to us. By giving preference to wallpaper without heavy metals, you reduce the factors of deterioration in the quality of drinking water for yourself and future generations.

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What is the best wallpaper for a child's room? There is no single criterion: someone prefers high-quality and wear-resistant materials, for others the aesthetic component is more important.

Try to combine the maximum of preferred criteria in the material for the walls - and you will get a nursery that will not be perceived negatively and will become comfortable for a child of any age.

Texture and composition of materials

Among the variety of options for wallpaper for walls it is better to choose coatings that would withstand the maximum impact of external factors... The nursery is the place where the child spends most of his free time: the wallpaper in such a room will get dirty, torn, deteriorate from paints and pencils.

Do not forget that some materials attract dust, and when moisture gets in, they not only deform, but also become an environment for the formation of mold and mildew.

So what is the best wallpaper to glue in the children's room to minimize the negative impact? Let's figure it out.

One of the simplest options is. The undoubted advantages of such materials include ease of gluing, and low cost.

Although paper wallpapers are not very durable or durable, they are perfect for those who plan to update the design of the room as the child grows. And the simplest composition of paper materials does not harm the microclimate of the room and the health of children.

What kind of wallpaper is as safe to glue in the nursery as paper? Materials are the second choice for consumers. Despite the fact that this type of wallpaper is not entirely environmentally friendly, they do not cause significant damage to health, but they have a higher quality compared to paper counterparts.

For many happy parents, the choice of finishing materials for a children's room becomes the most difficult task of all renovation. Indeed, it is necessary to cover a whole range of nuances that all materials must meet. In this article we will talk about which wallpaper to choose for the nursery, and what you need to be guided by when making a decision.

The modern building materials market is full of all kinds of wallpapers. From simple paper, to large-format, with a photo or any kind of drawing.

It is not surprising to get confused in all this variety, and if, for example, for a living room or kitchen, you can only be guided by personal preferences and practicality, then for a children's room, there are much more nuances.

The more versatile the drawing, the better.... Children grow up quickly, and their tastes change more often than you can re-glue the wallpaper. Try to choose wallpaper with such a pattern so that the child does not lose interest in them for at least a few years.
Resistant to dirt... Everyone, even the cleanest children, will sooner or later get to the wallpaper. It is important that they are as resistant to dirt and mechanical stress as possible.
Ease of cleaning... One way or another, but the wallpaper will have to be washed, and they must endure it firmly. Moreover, some contaminants cannot be removed simply with water, so they will have to be washed with strong detergents.
Safety and environmental friendliness... The child's body is very susceptible to all kinds of harmful materials that can cause an allergic reaction or even illness. That is why it is so important that the wallpaper for the nursery is made of natural materials and completely harmless.
Color spectrum... A very important aspect that must not be forgotten. Anyone is very sensitive to the colors that surround him. They can affect the psyche and change the emotional background, which is why it is so important that there are no annoying or overly gloomy shades in the children's room.

Important! When deciding what color to choose wallpaper for a nursery, be sure to consult with experts in the field of the child's psyche, who will tell you what shades it is advisable to avoid in the child's room.

Natural wallpaper

Natural wallpapers are all those that are made without the use of synthetic materials.

The main group includes the following types:

Non-woven. Fabric wallpaper, which may differ in base material. An expensive type of wallpaper with a relatively low resistance to dirt and mechanical damage.
Paper. The most once common type of wallpaper. Their main advantage can be considered a relatively low cost, but the general technical indicators will also be low.
Cork wallpaper. A heavy and expensive look, characterized by increased resistance.

It is believed that wallpaper made from natural materials (see How to glue natural wallpaper: doing it right) is the most environmentally friendly. This is partly true, but do not forget that almost every type is made with the addition of synthetic materials to the composition, which improve the quality characteristics.

So, for example, non-woven wallpaper, most often has a vinyl base, and it is thanks to him that they can be wiped with a damp cloth.

Modern paper wallpapers also cannot be fully called natural, since synthetic types of glue are added to their composition, which make the material more stable and durable compared to ordinary paper. Another question is that it is unnecessary to be afraid of the word vinyl or synthetics, it is not necessary that they are harmful to health, especially since without their use, any natural material becomes fragile and unreliable.

As for the question of which wallpaper for a children's room to choose, it is natural materials that experts advise to bypass. Yes, they look very attractive, but they quickly deteriorate. Moreover, if the child begins to show artistic inclinations, and draw on them with paints or even more so with felt-tip pens.

The liquid wallpaper

We deliberately put this type of wallpaper in a separate sub-heading, since they are radically different from all other options. First of all, this is the way of their application, that is, the wallpaper is not glued to the wall in the form of a canvas, but is applied in liquid form with a spatula or trowel.

The main advantage of this type of wallpaper is the fact that in case of damage or heavy pollution, you do not have to peel the whole room, but just soak the desired area with water, remove the old coating and apply a new one in its place. But it is precisely the fact that liquid wallpaper (see Finishing with liquid wallpaper: choose and apply correctly) easily dissolves in water and is their main disadvantage, since you can forget about wet cleaning, and even more so washing.

It is impossible not to mention the fact that it is quite possible to create any drawings from liquid wallpaper (see Liquid wallpaper and drawings: application technology), which simply gives endless opportunities for the manifestation of your imagination.

Advice! If you decide to use liquid wallpaper in a nursery, be sure to watch thematic videos before gluing, or read articles on the Internet, where detailed instructions will be described. The process is quite simple, but you still need to know some of the nuances, especially if the gluing is done by hand.

It should be noted that liquid wallpaper is quite easily damaged, but there is a way to significantly increase its strength - to apply a layer of colorless protective varnish over the wallpaper. Such a coating is much more difficult to damage, but we must not forget that it will be much more difficult to restore it later.

Unnatural wallpaper

When deciding which wallpaper to choose for a children's room, more and more people prefer this particular option. In particular, we are now talking about vinyl-based wallpaper.

Several years ago, the very word vinyl, or even more so polyvinyl chloride, scared off potential buyers, and the point here is not in the low quality of the material or its harmfulness, but rather in elementary ignorance. Modern vinyl is, of course, a product of the chemical industry, but, despite this, it is completely safe for health, and moreover, it is approved by the regulatory authorities for use in children's institutions.

Unfortunately, this material is not perfect, and has both advantages and disadvantages. In order not to mislead anyone and not paint idealistic pictures, let's just tell you about the most characteristic qualities of vinyl wallpaper.

pros

Vinyl wallpaper is very thick, due to which, it is very difficult to damage them in any way, and this is true even for casual contacts with sharp objects.
By itself, the wallpaper is hard to stain as most of them have a protective coating on the surface that repels dust. But even if contamination has occurred, the wallpaper can be safely washed using strong detergents.
Vinyl wallpaper textures and patterns, can rightfully be considered the most diverse. The production technology allows you to apply any patterns to the surface, and even make wallpaper with a textured print, which makes it possible to choose exactly the option that will meet all the requirements.
Relatively low cost... The price of vinyl wallpaper is several times lower than that of non-woven, or, even more so, cork.

Interesting! Many types of so-called natural wallpapers have a vinyl base, which provides more reliable adhesion to the surface, so they cannot be called completely natural, but rather a marketing ploy.

Minuses

Vinyl, by itself, is a dense material that does not allow moisture to pass through at all, therefore the wallpaper is considered "non-breathable", therefore it is necessary to ventilate the room more often, and carefully treat the wall with special antiseptics before gluing.
By themselves, vinyl wallpaper is a non-combustible material, and does not support combustion, but when melted, they begin to emit toxic gases that can significantly harm health.
Vinyl is a dense and heavy material that puts additional stress on walls. This fact must be taken into account when choosing glue.
It will be very difficult to remove vinyl wallpaper if necessary. Unlike fabric or paper types, vinyl will not soak when exposed to water and soapy water.

As you can see, the quality characteristics of vinyl wallpaper are quite controversial, but one thing can be said with complete certainty, if your child shows artistic inclinations and most often chooses walls for his creativity, then this is exactly the option that you need.

In this case, you can easily remove not only watercolors, but also complex felt-tip pen drawings.

Wallpaper

When deciding which wallpaper to choose for the nursery, we strongly recommend that you pay attention to this option. Wall murals are attractive for their variety, you can pick up absolutely any thematic drawing, and even if nothing suitable was found in the stores, there is an opportunity to make a print to order, in any studio dealing with large-format printing.

Wall murals can decorate any interior, and become its key element, and it is noticed that a child often loses the desire to spoil such wallpapers precisely because of their visual appeal.

The main difficulty in the question of which wallpaper to choose for a nursery is to decide on the theme of the drawing, because, as we said above, children grow up very quickly, and cartoon characters that are interesting for a very small child will become irrelevant in a couple of years.

That is why it is necessary to select something neutral for photo wallpaper, for example, photo wallpaper with the image of natural landscapes will look very interesting and relevant, they will not get bored for a long time, and will constantly tune the child to positive thinking, which is very important in our age of computer games and films with violent scenes ...

In addition to natural landscapes, prints with images of all kinds of animals will harmoniously look in the children's room. These can be both peaceful horses (see Horses photo wallpaper: how to use in the interior), and lions or tigers. In any case, in the modern world we really lack contact with nature, and similar photowall-paper, albeit partially, but compensates for this lack.

And before choosing a wallpaper for a children's room with photo printing, be sure to read the list below, which will help you to fit them into the interior as harmoniously as possible.

Try to avoid images with large objects. Such wallpapers will put pressure on the psyche and make the interior uncomfortable.
A minimum of aggressive colors if we are talking about thematic drawings. With images of nature, there will be no such problems, since all shades there are soft and non-irritating, which is why the choice of consumers most often falls on them.
Wall murals visually expand the space of the room, but despite this, you should not glue them on all walls, since the resulting visual illusion will only disorient the child in space and introduce a certain dissonance into the interior.
If the child is over 4 years old, do not try to impose your opinion on him in choosing a pattern for photo wallpaper, this will only cause negative. Try to come to a common opinion, taking into account the wishes of the baby and consulting with him.

Summing up all of the above, we can conclude that wallpaper for a nursery is an excellent choice with which you can kill two birds with one stone: create a truly original interior, and bring positive notes into it that will form the correct perception in the child the surrounding world.

And in conclusion

We hope that we were able to fully answer the question of which wallpaper for the nursery to choose. Then it's up to you, and most importantly, remember that wallpaper for a child should not only look interesting, but also carry the right emotional mood. Everything else is already the technical side of the issue, which, of course, can only be solved by adults.

Everyone dreams that the apartment is cozy, the wallpaper is not only pleasing to the eye, but also absolutely safe for our health. Today I want to talk about environmentally friendly wallpaper.

What kind of wallpaper is better to choose so that it meets the criteria of environmental friendliness? Let's take a look at the most sustainable wallpapers.

How to choose paper wallpaper?

When choosing wallpaper, you should take into account their ability to pass air. Paper wallpaper in this case is a win-win option. But there are also pluses of such wallpaper.

Good air exchange between the wall and the room air, mold and mildew do not form on the walls.

The low price of single-layer wallpaper makes it possible to change the decor in the apartment every three years.

But recently, consumers have made their choice in favor of expensive multilayer imported wallpapers with high-quality patterns and photo printing. The price of such wallpapers is high, they are glued for a long time. Excessive requirements are imposed on the quality of such wallpapers.

Modern photowall-paper on a dense paper basis, high quality, maximally and realistically conveying the image. Nature, cities, various natural textures are especially popular.

The end walls are pasted over with subject wallpaper. If you apply the wallpaper correctly and successfully, the room will appear taller and wider, as if an additional volume of air appears.

The main disadvantages of paper wallpaper:

odor absorption;
fear of moisture.

Therefore, it is better not to use such wallpaper for the kitchen and bathroom.

Try to choose a thicker wallpaper, they accumulate less dust, respectively, less harm to health.

Choose wallpaper that can be cleaned. For example, paper washable wallpaper with a glossy layer.

Nonwoven is a non-woven fabric made from cellulose and wood fibers.

High-quality non-woven wallpaper consists of:

natural cellulose - about 70%;
textile or wood fibers - 24%;
natural adhesives - only one percent.

The embossing method is used for the production of such wallpapers; a canvas is created from pure non-woven fabric.

There are no harmful components in this non-woven wallpaper:

polyvinyl chloride;
vinyl;
fiberglass;
formaldehyde;
solvents.

The main advantages of such wallpaper.

Excellent vapor and air permeability. It is even higher than that of paper wallpaper.
They allow air to pass well to the walls, creating good air exchange. This is what distinguishes them from vinyl wallpaper. Non-woven wallpaper is well suited for a nursery, pasting a bedroom, apartments where allergy sufferers live, people with bronchial diseases.
Another advantage is the ability to stabilize the structure of the wall covering. Therefore, it is a good choice for new buildings, where the walls have not yet settled, there is a risk of microcracking.
The dense non-woven fabric is form-stable and restrains microcracks on the walls.
Moisture for such wallpapers is not terrible, they do not leave when pasting rooms with high humidity (kitchen). But you cannot wash unpainted wallpaper.
It is very simple to glue such wallpapers. Glue is applied to the wall, not wallpaper. If you don't like how you glued, you can tear off and glue again.

Several years ago in stores you could find wallpaper of the same color made of pure non-woven fabric for painting. The material withstood 5 repaints, it was possible to change the interior several times without investment.

If you want to get ready-made walls right away, choose colored wallpaper. But here you need to be more careful, many sellers issue combined wallpapers for non-woven, that is, vinyl on a non-woven basis.

If you choose wallpaper for tint, then know that they will lose their ability to breathe. The property of air permeability is lost. If you want to maintain this property, choose single-layer and multi-layer pure non-woven wallpaper.

To make sure of the correct choice, you need to tear the edge of the sheet. If the canvas is paper, you will not notice the fibrous structure, but take away the jagged structure at the break. If the base is non-woven, the gap will be stretched, and non-woven fibers will be visible at the edges.

How to choose non-woven wallpaper? First, read the packaging, if it says: on a non-woven basis, ask the sales assistant for a certificate, which states that the wallpaper is non-woven.

Another type of safe wallpaper is textile, consisting of paper and woven layers. The top layer is made of cotton, linen or man-made fibers.

Pros of textile wallpaper:

do not require the selection of a pattern;
protect from extraneous sounds, noises;
provide good air exchange.

it is inconvenient to glue them;
inconvenient to care for;
are expensive.

More expensive versions of such wallpaper are covered with dust and dirt-repellent coating.

Cork wallpaper is easy to use. They are easy to clean, do not fade, do not electrify.

You can find two types of such wallpapers.

With a base. When a thin cork layer is applied to a paper base.
No base. This is pressed bark of cork oak with various decorative additives.

Such wallpapers are becoming more and more popular. Buyers really like the texture of the coating. Vegetable wallpapers created by nature are unique and inimitable.

To choose such wallpaper, it is necessary to take into account that even in the same batch there may be wallpapers of different color, texture, pattern.

For the manufacture of wallpaper from plant fibers, natural materials are used:

bamboo;
jute;
papyrus;
cane;
other materials.

Absolutely safe.
They are characterized by high environmental friendliness.
Recommended for allergy sufferers, small children, asthmatics.
Used for pasting walls, ceilings, furniture.
They retain heat well and absorb noise, creating coziness in the apartment.
They are highly durable.
They have a long service life.

The top layer cannot be scratched. Therefore, in the hallway, in the nursery, it is better not to use such wallpapers.
Plant fibers absorb odors; such wallpapers are not suitable for the kitchen.
Noticeable joints between the canvases. From you can beat and arrange additionally.

How to choose a plant wallpaper? Pay attention to the following characteristics: the possibility of wet cleaning, processing with protective agents, resistance to fading.

Conclusion: now you know which wallpaper is better to choose. Safety, environmental friendliness, cleanliness are the main factors when choosing wallpaper.

Given the pace at which our planet's natural resources are being depleted, and some are disappearing altogether, it becomes more and more important every day to preserve what we have and make the best choices when purchasing goods for everyday life.

By avoiding clichés, being interested in novelties and exploring different alternatives, we can decorate our homes with impeccable style and without compromising valuable resources of the environment. The choice of eco-friendly wallpaper is an important area where subtle taste and eco-awareness can come together.

Why is this becoming more and more important?

Since the mid-twentieth century, wallpaper manufacturers have begun to add so-called "enhancements" to their products: vinyl or PVC, formaldehyde, chemical dyes, fungicides and powerful adhesives. Thanks to these additives, the wallpaper acquired amazing properties: high strength, light and water resistance, durability, etc.

Unfortunately, with all this, there are by-products - volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These are toxic gases that are emitted from various solvents, plastics, paints and adhesives contained in wallpaper. They can cause recurrent headaches, dizziness, visual disturbances, memory impairment, respiratory problems, and even liver or kidney problems. Carelessly choosing different materials for your home can cause serious damage not only to the environment, but also to your health.

How to choose an environmentally friendly wallpaper

If the main criterion for choosing wallpaper for you is environmental friendliness, then first of all, consider wallpaper without a vinyl layer. Vinyl wall coverings can not only emit harmful gases, but they can also contribute to the growth of mold on the walls. The harmful effects of PVC materials on the environment do not end even when they end up in a landfill.

Mold under the wallpaper that does not breathe

But even wallpaper made from natural resources can be unsafe and emit VOCs. Before purchasing them, make sure that the manufacturer uses only natural water-based paints for finishing. You may be pleasantly surprised at how beautiful plant dyes can be. In addition, heavy metals, which are found in some artificial paints, are becoming a real problem for groundwater due to their increasing presence in landfills. By choosing wallpapers that do not contain heavy metals, you are making a personal contribution to the best drinking water for yourself and future generations.

Types of eco-friendly wallpaper

Bamboo and Grasscloth

Bamboo, sisal, reed and some other plants are the most popular materials for making sustainable wallpapers. The woven texture and uneven coloring of the plant fibers give the walls a soft warmth that cannot be conveyed with any other wall covering.

Wallpaper from natural materials. Manufacturer - Omexco

The popularity of bamboo wallpaper is gaining in popularity especially. Bamboo is an extremely resilient material, and because it is a herb that grows and ripens very quickly, it can be actively used to make everything for the home, from flooring and furniture to fabrics and wallpaper. Undoubtedly, this material is the most promising for the production of eco-friendly decorative materials.

From wood

Typically, such wallpaper is a very thin layer of natural wood, such as paulownia, which is so flexible that it can easily roll and bend at an angle.

Whatever type of wood is used to make these wall coverings, it comes from specially grown and rapidly renewable sources. The finished wallpaper is finished with fine carving or hand-inlaid, and sometimes even painted with natural dyes.

Wood wallpaper. Manufacturer - Maya Romanoff

Wood wallpaper is an excellent choice for allergy sufferers. In addition, they look very rich on the walls, giving them the look of a luxurious finish with artsy wood paneling.

Paper

Handcrafted paper, parchment and rice paper are available today in every pattern or color imaginable. But when choosing modern paper wallpaper, you should definitely check their composition. It should contain only water-based paints, no formaldehyde, no heavy metals, no PVC or vinyl backing.

Wallpaper with a pattern with water-based paints. Manufacturer - Graham & Brown

For the environment, it is best to opt for paper that is certified under the Forest Stewardship Council scheme. If you order imported wallpaper, it must have the FSC logo (“tree with a check mark”) to ensure that the wood used to make the paper for this wallpaper is harvested from responsibly managed forests.

Wallpaper from FSC certified paper. Manufacturer - Little Greene

Avoid using paper wallpaper in wet areas. The mold that can form is a fungus that releases harmful spores into the atmosphere. Not only are they airborne to settle and germinate in a new location, but they can also cause allergies and other health problems.

Made from recycled materials

Recycled paper is an excellent safe wall covering option that is becoming more common in today's market. Discarded clothes and books are the main post-consumer materials most often used to produce these innovative wallpapers.

Although it is impossible to say with certainty that such wallpapers are 100% natural, nevertheless, they do not pose a threat to your health and, moreover, reduce the amount of waste. To be absolutely sure they do not emit VOCs, check with the manufacturer.

Textile

Usually, the composition of woven wallpaper is mixed, in which natural threads are intertwined with polyester, polyamide, rayon and other artificial materials that increase the strength and other quality characteristics of the fabric. But sometimes manufacturers also produce wall coverings from 100% pure linen, cotton or silk, which, although they are high in cost, are environmentally friendly, provided that their dyes are also of natural origin.

Non-woven (non-woven)

Non-woven wallpapers are made from a special blend of natural and synthetic fibers, which makes them particularly wash-resistant and breathable. You can find interlining in many household products, such as tea bags or coffee machine filters. This material, which is highly breathable, is the best solution for bathrooms and other areas with high humidity.

A common misconception is that only 100% natural wallpaper (linen, sisal, etc.) can be environmentally friendly. In fact, the main criteria for choosing wallpaper that are safe for health and the environment are as follows:

no vinyl or PVC;
absence of heavy metals;
lack of formaldehyde;
the use of adhesives and dyes is exclusively water-based.

As you can see, finding environmentally friendly wall coverings for your home is not at all difficult: they are generally available, and their choice is extremely wide and diverse.

Eco-friendly wallpaper for the bedroom and more updated: July 11, 2015 by the author: Margarita Glushko