What's the Difference Between the Wallpaper Types?

What's the Difference Between the Wallpaper Types?

A quick guide to choosing between our four materials

Every design comes on a choice of four materials. They print the same design, but they differ in three things that matter: how you hang it, how much moisture it can handle, and the finish. Here is a simple guide to each, and which to choose for your room.

The quick answer

If you want the classic, cost-effective option for a dry room like a bedroom or living room, choose Traditional Wallpaper. If you rent or like to change your look and want a mess-free, no-paste install, choose Removable Wallpaper. If your room is busy or a little damp, like a kitchen or bathroom wall, choose the water-resistant Heavy-Grade Wallpaper. And if you need a fully waterproof, wipe-clean finish — or your walls are lightly textured — choose Removable Vinyl.

Traditional Wallpaper

This is the classic option: a paste-the-wall paper with a super-matte finish, FSC-approved and PVC-free. You apply paste to the wall and hang the paper dry. It gives a beautiful, hard-wearing finish and is the most cost-effective choice, making it ideal for dry, everyday rooms like bedrooms, living rooms and hallways where it will not be exposed to moisture.

Removable Wallpaper

This is our peel-and-stick paper — self-adhesive, with a mess-free installation and no paste needed. It has the same super-matte finish, and it is FSC-approved, PFAS-approved and PVC-free. Because it repositions easily as you hang and peels away cleanly later without damaging the wall, it is the best choice for renters, for anyone who likes to redecorate often, and for rooms where you want a quick, fuss-free result. It suits the same dry rooms as Traditional, with the added convenience of peel-and-stick.

Heavy-Grade Wallpaper

This is a tougher paste-the-wall option: an extra-durable paper with a water-resistant, textured vinyl coating. It handles the steam, humidity and general wear of busier rooms far better than a standard paper, and it wipes clean. Choose it for kitchens, bathroom walls away from direct water, and any high-traffic space where you want a hard-wearing, wipeable surface that lasts.

Removable Vinyl

This is our most hard-working material: a peel-and-stick vinyl that is fully waterproof and durable, with a wipe-clean crystal-matte finish. It has two standout advantages. First, it is genuinely waterproof, so it is the best choice for the dampest spots and for a fully wipe-clean surface. Second, it works on lightly textured walls, where other papers might struggle. Being peel-and-stick, it also installs without paste and comes away cleanly. Choose it for bathrooms, kitchens, high-traffic areas, and any wall with a light texture.

Comparing the four at a glance

The two things that separate them are how they hang and how much moisture they take.

On hanging: Traditional and Heavy-Grade are paste-the-wall, for a permanent, hard-wearing finish. Removable Wallpaper and Removable Vinyl are peel-and-stick, for a mess-free, no-paste install that removes cleanly — ideal for renters.

On moisture: Traditional and Removable Wallpaper are best for dry rooms. Heavy-Grade is water-resistant for damp and busy rooms. Removable Vinyl is fully waterproof for the wettest spots.

On finish: Traditional, Removable Wallpaper and Heavy-Grade are super-matte; Removable Vinyl has a crystal-matte finish. All four are wipeable to some degree, with Heavy-Grade and Removable Vinyl the most wipe-clean.

On walls: all four suit smooth walls; Removable Vinyl is the one designed to work on lightly textured walls too.

Which should I choose, by room

Bedroom or living room: Traditional Wallpaper, or Removable Wallpaper if you rent or like to change your look.

Kitchen: Heavy-Grade for a wipe-clean, water-resistant wall, or Removable Vinyl for a fully waterproof finish.

Bathroom: Removable Vinyl for the most waterproof option, or Heavy-Grade for walls away from direct water. Keep the wettest zones, like inside a shower, tiled.

Nursery or child's room: Removable Wallpaper — mess-free to fit, clean to remove, and PFAS-approved.

Lightly textured wall: Removable Vinyl, which is made to work on light texture.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Our Wallpaper Types

What is the difference between paste-the-wall and peel-and-stick?

Paste-the-wall (Traditional and Heavy-Grade) means you apply paste to the wall and hang the paper dry, for a permanent, hard-wearing finish. Peel-and-stick (Removable Wallpaper and Removable Vinyl) is self-adhesive, installs with no paste and no mess, and peels away cleanly later — ideal for renters.

Which material is waterproof?

Removable Vinyl is fully waterproof, and Heavy-Grade is water-resistant. Both are suited to bathrooms and kitchens; Removable Vinyl is the one for the dampest spots.

Which material works on textured walls?

Removable Vinyl is designed to work on lightly textured walls. For heavily textured surfaces, smooth or line the wall first.

Which is best for renting?

Removable Wallpaper or Removable Vinyl — both are peel-and-stick, so they go up without paste and come away cleanly when you move.

Do all four use the same design and print quality?

Yes — every design prints on all four materials to the same quality. You are choosing the backing and finish to suit your room, not a different image.