Home Wallpaper Glossary
Faux finish or Trompe l’oeil: Wallpapers that replicate realistic textures like wood, animal skin, porcelain tiles, brick, or concrete. They create a realistic 3D effect that "tricks the eye" into thinking it’s the actual material.
Standard Double Roll / Bolt: Typical residential roll: 33 feet (10.05 meters). Grasscloth and other products come in larger sizes. At Walls Prime: wallpapers sold & priced by double roll.
Standard Single Roll: Standard size: 16.5 feet (5.02 meters). Half the size of a double roll. At most retailers (except Walls Prime), wallpapers sold by double roll but priced by single roll.
Tip: Always compare roll sizes before buying to avoid price confusion.
Border: Narrow strips used like trim.
Colourway: Multiple color options for one pattern.
Commercial Wallcovering: Durable, antibacterial, stain-resistant, wide rolls (50”–54”), sold by sq. ft.
Residential Wallcovering: For homes, mostly paste-the-wall type (except grasscloth & mica).
Wall Mural: Digitally printed, large, like custom art, often for feature walls.
Flock: Raised velvet-like texture (luxurious, trendy).
Glass Bead: Thousands of glass beads creating shimmering effect.
Grasscloth: Woven plant fibers, organic look, visible seams.
Mica: Mineral chip texture, jewel-like effect.
Expanded Vinyl: Heavily textured, paintable, hides wall damage.
Fabric Backed Vinyl: Durable, mostly commercial use.
Lining Paper: Smooths rough walls before wallpapering.
Non-Woven: Easy to install/remove, dry-strippable.
Paper: Printed on paper substrate.
Paper Backed Vinyl: Scrubbable, peelable, harder to remove.
Solid Vinyl: Waterproof, stain-resistant, ideal for kitchens & baths.
Vinyl Coated Wallpaper: Thin acrylic/PVC coating, resistant to grease & moisture.
Paste the Wall: Paste applied to wall, wallpaper applied dry.
Pre-Pasted: Adhesive pre-applied, activated with water.
Un-pasted: Paste applied directly to wallpaper.
Removal Types: Dry Strippable (no residue), Peelable (top peels, bottom stays), Wet Removable (requires moisture).
Seams & Terms: Butt Seam, Double Cut Seam, Dye-Lot, Plumb Line, Railroading, Selvage, Strip, Vinyl over Vinyl Adhesive.
Pattern Matching: Free Match, Straight Match, Offset Match, Drop Match, Reverse Alternate Length.
Water Resistant: Gentle wipe with damp sponge.
Washable: Light cleaning with mild detergent.
Super Washable: Stronger resistance, suitable for kitchens & bathrooms.
Scrubbable: Can withstand scrubbing with brush + detergent.
Levels of fading resistance:
- Moderate Lightfastness
- Satisfactory Lightfastness
- Good Lightfastness
- Very Good Lightfastness
- Excellent Lightfastness
