This term sounds utilitarian that it denies the tremendous soul lifting these coverings can do for a room. The types available are wallpaper, vinyl-coated fabric, self-adhesive plastic sheeting and fabric. The colors and patterns are fabulous and multitudinous. Using wall coverings, you can convert a cell of a bathroom to an oasis.
Wallpaper
For years, the manufacturers offered the dreariest or cutesiest colors and designs. Depending on your age, you may remember when all bathroom, for instance, had to have an aquatic theme. This usually meant water lilies, coral, seaweed, water-addicted birds and fish. It’s little wonder the painted wall won out. At least over paint, you could put up your own meaningful bad stuff rather than some character’s idea of tallyho, the fox, or a hammered-out texture.
Today’s paper is wondrously changed. Besides having marvelous designs, almost all are coated to give them at the least a wipe-able surface and one that makes the paper sturdy enough so that you don’t stick your thumb through it when you out it up.
Although some wallpapers now claim a removable quality, most of them are somewhat messy. If you rent, try to sell the next tenant on your taste, or be prepared to get some complaints from the landlord. There is a removing liquid which you dilute with water and apply with a wide brush, let soak and then scrape off the paper with a putty knife. It works better than just plain water, but it still takes time and more than the promised “one application does it” if there’s more than one layer of paper. Don’t even think of renting a steamer. Lose part of your security deposit if need be. It’s worth it if you’ve enjoyed your walls.
Vinyl-coated Fabric
This, too, is miles ahead of the old oil-cloth school. In many ways, this is what you should use as your first try at hanging. It stands up under early, clumsy handling – much pushing and pulling to adjust and fit. Paste and grubby fingerprints wipe right off. It’s truly scrub-able. Best of all, for renters, it will pull down with no difficulty. Start at one corner and pull diagonally. Off she comes.
Self-adhesive Plastic Sheeting
This is the same great stuff you use to line cupboards and drawers. The manufacturers think it’s great for walls, too. I don’t. It’s maddening to handle in longer lengths. I once did one kitchen wall, floor to ceiling, in a Scotch-plaid pattern. Never again in lengths like those in any pattern! It sticks before you want it to, and if you pull it up for a better match or to get rid of large bubbles, it stretches. My advice is to forget it unless you only have a small area where you can handle it much like the lining operation.
Fabric
If you choose to do a wall, a folding screen or window shades in oriental silk, you’re on your own. I’m really a cotton or burlap type. If the material you use will shrink, wash, and dry it first. Buy cellulose paste at a hardware or wall-covering store.
Here we go again with the bathtub. Mix the paste there. This gives you plenty of elbowroom to immerse the lengths of fabric. Measure and cut the fabric, allowing a couple of inches leeway. Submerge the strip in the paste and proceed as you would for the other past-needing wall coverings. Interestingly enough, when the paste dries it acts as a dirt protector on the fabric surface.
