Some borders are used in conjunction with one or two wood chair rails. Borders with fruit and vegetable patterns are popular in kitchens, in addition to what Krumenauer calls vintage country and Americana themes. More than 50 percent of wallpapers are prepasted, in which a person immerses the paper in water before hanging. Wallpaper that isn't prepasted generally is fabric with a vinyl backing and is often used in commercial buildings. It's much thicker, its colors won't fade and it will last between 30 and 35 years, Krumenauer said.
Homeowners generally choose between vinyl-coated and solid vinyl wallpaper.
Vinyl-coated wallpaper is actual paper that's coated with vinyl. It isn't recommended for areas that receive any steam or moisture because rubbing it with a cloth will eventually cause the pattern to fade. If grease or water splashes onto solid vinyl wallpaper, it can simply be cleaned with a sponge without harming the paper. However, solid vinyl isn't the best if a person wants vibrant colors. Some materials have changed in the past 15 years to make it faster to hang wallpaper.