Wallpaper is a great way to transform a room from drab to fabulous! With a wide variety of patterns, colours and textures on the market, there is a style to suit everybody. We take a look at how to properly apply wallpaper, the myths and misconceptions surrounding it and the hottest prints to make any room come to life. 1. This funky wallpaper is from the Communication Collection, available at Scandinavian Wallpaper & Decor. Visit www.wallpaperdecor.com.au 2. This grey stone-looking wallpaper is from the Communication Collection, available at Scandinavian Wallpaper & Decor. Visit www.wallpaperdecor.com.au 3. Carte Blanche by Eijffinger, $258 per roll, Verve Designer Collections. 4. Suzani by Eijffinger, $258 per roll, Verve Designer Collections. 5. Japanese Bamboo by Florence Broadhurst in White Sand on Lime Silk Slub from the Blueprints Collection, $280 per roll, Signature Prints. 6. This bold design is perfect for a feature wall! Vertigo wallpaper in the Very Special Collection, $180 per roll, from Ferm Living. Jarek Jasinski from Eurowalls debunks some common myths surrounding wallpaper… Myth 1. Wallpaper belongs in old ladies’ sitting rooms, period! What comes to mind when most people think ‘wallpaper’ tends to be floral repeats on pastels or boring stripes in outdated colour schemes, but today you can find designs to suit all tastes. With the advent of digital printing, there’s a wallpaper design out there for everyone – even if grandma chic is your cup of tea! Myth 2. Wallpaper is a pain to put up and a nightmare to remove. Today there are so many different types of wallpaper on the market – paper, vinyl-coated paper, paper-backed vinyl, fabric-backed vinyl, silks, fabrics, grass cloths and foils – just to name a few! But the type that gets everyone excited is non-woven. Made from cellulose fibres, a non-woven wall covering is the easiest to install, remove and maintain. It goes up in minutes with a water-based adhesive, lasts for years, stands up to daily abuse, and when you finally want to replace it, it will come off your wall in one big sheet. Myth 3. Wallpaper ruins walls! Wallpaper doesn’t ruin walls, people ruin walls! Non-wovens and water-based adhesives won’t affect your wall in the slightest – in fact, they’ll protect them. If you have old wallpaper in your home, chances are it’s paper and it has been applied using starch-based glue. If that’s the case, your best plan of attack will involve the traditional method of getting a steamer to loosen the glue, or a chemical solvent if it’s woven or vinyl wallpaper, then carefully peeling the paper from the wall. If done properly, your wall will survive unscathed. Myth 4. Wallpaper is expensive. If you compare one gallon of paint to one roll of wallpaper, yes wallpaper is typically more expensive. But, when you add in the primer, multiple coats, materials and lifespan, wallpaper is the smarter choice. With the high durability of materials today, especially non-wovens, it will last longer and wear far better than paint. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, don’t forget that you don’t have to wallpaper the entire room. Choose a non-woven that you can apply yourself and create a feature wall.