Wallpaper can transform the look of a room unlike any other decorative element. By understanding the impact of pattern, color, and design, one can make a room appear larger, more intimate, or just more stylish. You may want to consult with an interior designer for guidance in creating your desired effect.
Vinyl and Vinyl-Coated Wallpapers
are the most common since they provide the most durable and water-resistant surfaces.And even though vinyl is thought of as a shiny material, vinyl and vinyl-coated papers now come in a variety of textures.
Washable and Scrubbable Wallpapers
Wallcoverings vary in how much cleaning they can withstand. Some can be scrubbed every day, but others can't stand even a light sponging.
If a wallpaper is described as washable on the label, that means it can be sponged occasionally with soap and warm water.
Scrubbable wallpapers, on the other hand, are strong enough for washing with a soft brush if need be, especially in the kitchen.
Plain and Patterned Wallpaper
Things to consider when choosing wallpaper:
A plain wallpaper with little or no pattern to match at the seams and the ceiling will always result in the least amount of wasted wallpaper.
Among the patterned wallpapers, a small repeating pattern will result in less waste than a large repeating pattern, which also poses difficulties in a room with lots of windows or doors interrupting the layout.
A pattern with a horizontal match (matching on every column of paper) will waste less paper than one with a drop or alternate match (matching on every other column).
Foils and Mylars are wallcoverings with a highly reflective, thin metal coating, which show any surface flaws.
Paintable wallcoverings are neutral colors and are manufactured to be painted after application.
Grasscloths are highly textured wallcoverings woven from natural fibers.
Flocked wallcoverings have raised fiber patterns that look like velvet.
Embossed wallcoverings are papers stamped to create a 3-D effect.
Finish Paints
Finish paints are categorized by the amount of surface shine they produce when
dry. Terms like "gloss" and "flat" often dictate where such paints are
used in the home.
High-Gloss Paints often referred to as "enamels," are the shiniest
and most reflective paints. They produce the hardest, most water-resistant
and most washable surface coating, so they're most often used on wood
trim, in the kitchen, bath and on playroom walls. Surface flaws show most
when covered with high-gloss paint.
Semi-Gloss Paints also known as "eggshell," "velvet," or "satin"
paints, produce a shinier surface than a flat paint but less reflective
than a high-gloss surface. They resist moisture better than a flat paint,
so they're more washable and serve well on walls in hallways, kitchens,
baths, and children's rooms.
Flat Paints leave a "dull" or "matte" finish, with no gloss, shine
or reflectivity. They work best on irregular wall surfaces where you want
to hide the imperfections as much as possible. Flat is usually used on
ceilings, in living rooms, and dining rooms over sheetrock surfaces.
Double-Hung Windows consist of two sashes that slide vertically along
side jambs with the bottom sash closing down on the sill and the top sash
closing up against the top jamb. These provide moderate ventilation and
can be difficult to clean unless the sash tilts in.
Slide-By Windows or Slider Windows function like double-hung windows
turned sideways.
Casement Windows usually consist of one sash hinged to a side jamb,
they usually open outward from the sill by crank handle or slider bar.
Casement windows provide good ventilation and are fairly easy to clean,
but they are a bit more expensive because of the operating hardware.
Awning Windows consist of a sash hinged to the top jamb or the
sill, which tilts out when it's opened using hardware similar to casement
windows.
Transom Windows generally consist of short awning windows or fixed
sashes mounted over normal sized casement or double-hung windows. They
can be ordered as separate windows then set in the proper configuration
during installation. Or they can be custom ordered as a single unit, combining
short and tall windows into a single frame at the factory.
Bay Windows consist of one or more center sashes framed to protrude
beyond a wall with angled or perpendicular side sashes running back to
the wall.
Bow Windows are similar to bays, but the windows are framed to
form a gradual arc instead of the sharp angles of a bay.
Multi-Wide Units result when you order two or more sashes in a
single unit or frame. They're joined at the factory with mullions separating
the sashes.
Doors
Interior vs. Exterior
At the risk of stating the obvious, your first consideration will be whether you need Interior Doors or Exterior Doors. Their function, performance, appearance and construction are totally different because of the requirements and standards set for each.
As an example, both are expected to look good, but exterior doors must also have weather-resistant and insulating qualities, extra durability and extra strength. So while many manufacturers make both interior and exterior doors, they're often treated as totally separate product lines.
Hinged/Swinging vs. Sliding
Hinged doors are the most common types of door, since they're appropriate for virtually every interior and exterior door application.
They can open inward or outward, and they can be used in single door units, as french doors (with two doors sashes hinged on the side jambs and meeting in the middle) or as terrace doors (with a fixed sash on one side and a swinging sash hinged to a mullion in the center).
Sliding Doors are most commonly used as entry doors leading to a patio, deck or closet. Patio Doors consist of two full glass sections, one fixed and the other sliding open and closed in upper and/or lower tracks separate from the tracks holding the fixed door.
Sliding Closet Doors are usually hung from a different track system, with both allowed to move for full access to the closet interior.
Flush vs. Panel
Flush doors are smooth-surfaced and generally cost less than panel doors. Panel doors have inset panel pieces that give a more elaborate, sectional look.
Personal taste and price often dictate what kind of door surface to choose. Panel doors generally cost more than comparable flush doors because there's more wood and labor involved in making them.
Solid Wood vs. Hollow & Solid-Core (Interior)
Solid wood doors are made of all-wood construction and can be made with or without panel inserts. They're sturdy, but require maintenance.
Solid-core doors are made of particleboard or steel centers covered by wood or fiberglass veneer to give a durable finish.
Hollow-core doors have cardboard baffle centers covered by veneer. They're inexpensive, and are used only inside.
Solid wood or solid-core interior doors offer sound control properties and good looks. If you want a quality solid wood door, it could cost a couple hundred dollars compared to a $50 hollow-core.
Paint vs. Stain Finishes (Interior)
Painting is an easy way to compliment a room's colors. Cheap hollow-core doors with wood that looks marred/flawed and old doors with paint that resists strippers are candidates for painting.
Painting can become more work than staining because of drips -- especially when painting panel doors.
Staining a door allows the wood grain to be seen, giving the door character that usually provides more detail to the room. Matching stain to existing trim can be difficult, and some wood fillers used to cover nailheads don't stain well.
Porous wood may require several applications, and once stained, changing your mind to switch colors and stripping the door can be a difficult process.
Wood vs. Steel or Fiberglass (Exterior)
All exterior doors are made to resist wear from the elements. A high quality wood door may outperform a cheap steel door, but there are some general differences.
All-wood doors have solid wood or solid-cores. R-values vary with the quality and amount of window glass, and wood doors are prone to warping and require periodic painting.
Exterior wood doors are heavy and tend to sag over time. But, they can be trimmed to fit an existing opening and are good at controlling sound.
Insulation-filled steel doors can have high R-values, up to an R-15 because the steel frame is filled with polyurethane foam.
Steel doors can be difficult to install. Frames must be plumb/square for the door to fit properly and fastening hardware may require a few carbide-tipped drill bits.
Insulated fiber glass doors have up to an R-11 rating, are paintable, stainable and come in many styles. Some wood doors are reinforced with fiber glass to resist expansion/contraction.
