Everything you've always wanted to know about textile wall coverings

As was already the case with wallpaper, textile wall coverings are back in fashion, dressing interiors of different styles to which they bring an undeniable elegance.

Dressing up the walls of your home is more than just applying a coat of paint with the latest color. It is to give them a unique personality, turning them into allies of the attractiveness of the rooms. In this task, the chromatic palette is important, but so are the materials on which it will be settled. Textiles are an alternative that is gaining popularity and we tell you why.

To begin with we must be clear about what this type of coatings are. Basically we are talking about a solution based on a layer of high quality textile fiber that not only decorates the surface in question, but also serves as protection for the walls it covers.

While it is true that this type of materials lived its peak of splendor in the 60's or 70's, today they are back with force. If you are looking to renew the image of your home without too many reforms but with great results, this may be the best option to achieve it.

The contribution of textile wall coverings to the attractiveness of any setting is intimately related to their very nature. Beyond decorating and protecting, these materials boast a multitude of virtues that are worth knowing. To begin with, they absorb noise and improve the acoustics of rooms or, in other words, they are great allies of the acoustic insulation of spaces.

In addition to adding color and texture to walls, they give spaces an unquestionable warmth and elegance. Some versions also boast great fire resistance and, in terms of design, there is a whole universe to discover.

Maintenance and price are the main handicaps of textile wall coverings which, however, are an excellent acoustic insulator and can have a long service life.

Another of the benefits of this type of materials is that they are ideal for practically any room. However, in bathrooms and kitchens they can be more problematic due to the special conditions of humidity or the typical threats of this type of rooms (grease, fumes, splashes...) to their condition.

Another interesting point to note is that there are different types of textile coatings. The differences lie basically in the technique used for their manufacture or the type of fabric.

In the first case, we can distinguish between yarn-by-yarn processing and woven fabrics. In the former, the wool, silk or linen fibers, fundamentally, are vertically joined to a paper wall. In the case of woven fabrics, there is a fusion of different types of fibers on a non-woven base.

But there are also different types of textile wall coverings depending on the material used and in this case, the range is wide. The most popular are those made of natural fibers. In this chapter we find proposals in raffia, silk, linen, wool... Although there are also very attractive versions of synthetic fibers in viscose, nylon or polyester.

The new proposals introduce recycled materials and there are even those who dare to use metal fabrics -based on stainless steel, copper, brass...- and even flakes with different compounds mixed with water or glue.

Beyond knowing the main advantages and disadvantages of this type of coatings, when choosing them you must take into account other issues. It is important to consider that their price is usually higher and their installation more complex than, for example, a simple coat of paint or even wallpaper.

It is also important that the walls are in good condition, clean, dry and smooth for the expected quality. As far as maintenance is concerned, vacuum the surface once a fortnight. If they are stained, clean the area with a damp cloth with water and neutral soap.