Wallpaper Dictionary

Home Wallpaper and Borders Dictionary
A glossary of wallpaper terms used in the wallcovering industry.

 

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

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Abstract
Art that is not an accurate representation of a natural form or object. The art can be differed in many ways including the shape, color, and form.

Acanthus
A motif derived from the large leaf of the low-growing acanthus plant. Used at an early date by the Greeks for architectural scrolls on the capitals of the Corinthian column.

Accent Wall
The wall in a room which has been given special design emphasis to attract attention from the adjacent walls.

Acrylic
A family of plastic resins which can be used in making synthetic fibers, for surface coating or as pigment binder.

Aeration of adhesives
A condition that exists when the adhesive is filled with miniature air bubbles, frequently caused by extreme or vigorous whipping during the mixing procedure. This must be avoided for the reason that it may cause small blisters to form underneath the wallcovering, especially when installing a non-breathable type.

All-over pattern
The typical effect produced by a wallcovering. A pattern in which the units of design are evenly distributed over a surface, without undue emphasis.

American single roll
A quantity of wallpaper between 34 to 36 square feet. The width of the roll is usually 20.5 inches, however, it can be up to 36 inches wide. The length ranges from 4 to 7 yards. (Compare to metric single roll)

Appliqué (Applique)
A design or ornament applied to another surface. In wallpaper, cut-outs applied to a plain, textured or figured background.

Anaglypta
A Greek word meaning "raised ornament". When speaking about wallpaper, it refers to a type that is embossed or textured, looking like ornate plasterwork. Anaglypta wallpaper is available only in white; it must be painted after hanging.

Antimocrobal
Compound commonly added to a coating to inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungi and algae on the surface of a finished product.

Architrave
The molding that surrounds a door, arch, or window. Also known as Casing.

Art Deco
An art movement, largely from the 1920's and 1930's, that is characterized by the use of angular, symmetrical geometric forms.

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Bandbox designs
Motifs taken from hatboxes or bandboxes of the early 19th century which were covered with wallpaper, usually of a romantic or topical nature.

Baroque
A style of decoration, art and architecture that evolved in Italy during the late 16th century and spread to other parts of Europe in the 17th. The style is characterized by sweeping curves, dramatic scale, and a general effect of fantastic opulence.

Baseboard
See Skirting.

Basket weave design
A pattern or arrangement that simulates the over-and-under weaving effect of basket weaving.

Batik
A non-directional geometric type design with an East Indian influence. The background has a tie-dyed appearance. The word itself refers to a method of dyeing designs on cloth by coating with removable wax the parts not to be dyed.

Blank stock (Backing paper)
See Liner paper.

Bleeding
In printing, a spreading of pigment beyond the design outline or the appearance of one color through another.

Block Printing
The process of producing a pattern on a wallcovering by means of wood blocks into which the design is cut. For the most par it has been replaced by silk screening.

Blooming
A hazy or foggy appearance due to the incompatibility of son of the compounds in the coating or plastic sheeting.

Blister
A small bubble (air pocket) which forms under the wallpaper during the installation. Blisters are usually caused by: (a) inadequate soaking or relaxing time after the adhesive has been applied to the backing; (b) installation temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit; (c) air trapped between the wall and the paper; (d) wallpaper installed on an extremely porous wall that was not properly sealed; or (e) aeration of the adhesive.

Bolt
A continuous roll of wallpaper, packaged as one unit. It contains a quantity of paper equivalent to two single rolls of paper.

Booking
When applying paste onto wallpaper, the procedure of temporarily folding, not creasing, pasted surfaces on to each other for easier handling and allowing time for the adhesive to soak into the paper, keeping it tacky until ready to hang. It allows the wallcovering to relax, which helps to prevent stretching and shrinking that can cause seams to show. Also known as Accordion folding.

Borders
A decorative strip of wallpaper which traditionally has been used as a chair rail or in combination with a chair rail. Because of the wide variety of designs and widths now available, borders are also used along ceiling lines, along the baseboard, around doors and windows, and in any manner that a trim could be used.

Breathable
Wallcoverings that allow water and air to pass through. String wallpaper, vinyl-coated paper, and paintable woven fiberglass wallcoverings are breathable.

Bridging liner
Porous under-wallcovering material designed to cover irregularities on walls or smooth surfaces, such as brick or paneling, to hang decorative wallpaper. This material may also be painted though many will want to hang liner paper over the bridging material for a smoother surface.

Butted seam (Butt joint)
Most common type of wallcovering seam in which the edge of two strips of wallcovering are tightly butted together without any overlay or spacing between the strips.

 

C

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Casing
See Architrave.

Cellulose paste
A type of wallpaper paste generally used for non-vinyl wallcovering.

Centering
Placing the dominant part of a wallpaper pattern on a focal point in a room, such as the middle of a fireplace.

Chair rail
A strip of decorative wood molding set 32 to 36 inches above the floor.

Chalk line
A length of string covered in chalk dust, pulled tight, and snapped against a surface to leave a straight guideline.

Chevron
A geometric form composed of a horizontal or vertical string of V's used either singly or in a series to form a zig zag. Also called saw tooth for its tooth-like protrusions.

Chinoiserie
A French term that describes the influence of Chinese design in wall coverings and fabrics. Usually represented by graceful, flowing floral designs with birds, and branches. Subdued tones or rich, multi-colors are used.

Choke
The background area of the wallpaper. Also called the ground.

Colorways
The various color choices for a specific pattern of wallpaper.

Contemporary
A synonym for modern, frequently preferred because it suggests that which is distinctly of today rather than what belongs to the chrome and glass modernistic decorative art of the twenties.

Cork
They have natural textures with no definite pattern or design. Cork veneer is shaved from cork planks of blocks and laminated to a substrate that may be colored or plain. Cork naturally absorbs sound, insulates, provides contrast and can be used as a bulletin board.

Cornice
A moulding that runs round the ceiling at the top of a wall.

Coordinating wallpaper
Wallpaper patterns which complement each other due to color and design. They are often used over and under each other as companions, or they visually tie together two different rooms.

Crown Molding
Ornamental strip of wood that lies along the ceiling line.

 

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Dado
The wall space between the chair rail and the baseboard.

Damask
Patterns imitating stylized textiles, usually monochromatic in color with floral, foliage or swag themes.

Dead corner
An inconspicuous spot where you can place the mismatched last sheets of a wallcovering. Also, known as the kill point.

Documentary wallpapers
Replica historic wallpaper.

Double cutting
This technique is sometimes used by professionals to obtain a perfectly fitted seam when a pattern does not need to be matched. Strips are overlapped about three inches, and a very sharp blade is used to cut through both layers. The top strip is peeled back, the bottom strip is peeled off, and then the top is adhered again to the wall. This technique is also used when making repairs.

Double roll
A bolt of two single rolls of wallpaper, in a continuous strip. The double roll, or bolt, is priced as two single rolls but is packaged as one unit or length of paper to minimize waste.

Drop
A length of wallcovering cut to fit a specific space. A full drop runs from the ceiling to the baseboard and includes allowances for trimming. Also called a sheet or strip.

Drop match
A design in which the pattern is staggered rather than straight across. The pattern at the top is the same on every other strip of wallcovering. There is waste with the drop matching of large scale patterns, therefore, when dealing with a drop match, paper hangers use the technique of measuring and cutting adjacent strips from different rolls of wallcovering and alternating them. Also so known as a pattern drop.

Dry hanging
Method of hanging wallcoverings in which the adhesive is applied to the wall instead of the back of the wallcovering.

Dry strippable
Describes a wallpaper that can be pulled off the wall without first treating it with a wetting agent.

Dye lot
A particular batch of wallpaper rolls that are printed at the same time. All rolls should be from the same dye lot to insure uniformity. Also called a run.

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Embossed
Wallpaper that has a raised, textured effect. This is done during manufacture when a hot or cold embossing machine at the factory presses a design into the back of the paper. Generally, a seam roller is not used on this paper. In-register emboss is the technique whereby the ink colors are applied at the time the paper is being embossed, generally resulting in a pattern of embossing that duplicates the printed pattern.

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Faux
A French word for "imitation". In wallpapers, it usually applies to designs that imitate actual textures such as wood and stone.

Fill
The main wall area between the chair rail and frieze of a wall, also known as a sidewall.

Flock (Flocked)
Wallcovering made by a machine that shakes very fine cotton, silk, rayon or nylon fibers from a hopper over a pattern printed in varnish or slow drying paint, to create the appearance of cut velvet, damask, or create a three dimensional effect.

Floral prints or patterns
Any wallpaper pattern or design with recognizable flowers printed as the decorative surface.

Focal point
The first wall you see upon entering a room. If a room has multiple entries, the main focal wall is the one facing the room's dominate flow of traffic.

Foils
Constructed by laminating a thin sheet of aluminum onto a substrate of paper or scrim. Foils sometimes have a polyester sheet between the paper backing and the foil to prevent water in the adhesive from actually contacting the foil. They must be hung on very smooth surfaces and require great care in handling.

Fret
A geometric band or border designs, consisting of interlacing or interlocking lines. Also known as a key pattern.

Frieze
A horizontal ornamental border along the top of a room or panel. Generally a pictorial border that ran above, the door height or, in a dining room, above the plate rail.

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Geometric patterns
Modernist design from the 1900-1970's usually printed on non-woven surfaces. A pattern or design characterized by straight lines, triangles, circles, etc.

Glass textile wallcovering
Woven with glass yarns and designed for strength, health, safety, and designed versatility. They are paintable, decorative and a functional wallcovering for interior wall and ceiling surfaces.

Gothic
A style of architecture developed in northern France that spread throughout Europe between the 12th and 16th centuries; characterized by slender vertical piers and counterbalancing buttresses and by rib vaulting and pointed arches and a developing emphasis on verticality and the impression of height.

Grasscloth
Originally a handcrafted product imported from Japan, usually made by glueing grasses or vines on to a paper backing. Also, printed or dimensional wallpapers simulating same.

Ground
The background area of the wallpaper. Also called the choke.

H

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Header Strip
A strip of wallcovering that is allocated to be hung above a door or window.

Hemp
Wallpaper made from the fibers of the hemp plant. It resembles grasscloth with a finer weave.

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Intensity
The strength of a color.

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Jacobean
Style influenced by crewel work imported from India. Developed from Tudor and Elizabethan styles.

Jute weave
Wallpaper made by using jute, a strong coarse fiber that is used in making burlap.

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L

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Lamination
The process of building up thin layers of materials and bonding them together as one product under heat and pressure with an adhesive added.

Lap Seam
A method of hanging wallpaper in which strips overlap slightly. Primarily used on commercial goods.

Lining paper
A special paper, also called blank stock, usually applied horizontal and used under wallcoverings. Benefits of use include, smoother surface for final wallcovering, serves as an excellent porous base for decorative wallpaper, and sets (bonds) the seams and controls the expansion/contraction process (moisture and vapor bubble reduction).

Lotus
One of the oldest of all decorative motifs, utilizing the water lilies of the Nile River.

 

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Matching
Joining two strips of wallpaper so that the pattern lines up correctly.

Matte finish
A dull or flat finish.

Medallion
A decorative element confined within a round, oval, square or rectangular outline.

Metric single roll
A metric roll contains 28 to 30 square feet per single roll. It is usually 21 inches wide and 16 feet long, or can be 27 inches wide and 13 feet long. Also known as a euro roll. (Compare to American single roll)

Medallion
A decorative element confined within a round, oval, square or rectangular outline.

Metal wallpaper
Wallcoverings with a real metal surface.

Metallic
Wallpaper that gives the appearance of a sheet metal or foil.

Moiré (Moire)
Wallpaper having a watery silk sheen or wood grain effect embossed on the decorative surface.

Molding
An ornamental strip of wood or plaster that protrudes from a ceiling or wall surface.

Monochromatic
Of one color, sometimes in different light to dark values.

Motif
The recurring design or subject matter of a wallpaper pattern.

Murals
Wall coverings with a pictorial design that continues over two or more strips of wallpaper and is intended to cover part or most of a wall without repeat. These scenes may be photographic, digital, custom, hand, or machine printed. Cleaning care and durability widely varies depending on the manufacturing technique and materials used. Also called scenics.

Muted colors
Any colors with brightness that has been lessened or moderated, often by their complementary colors.

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Natural fibers
Natural materials, such as bamboo, jute, rice paper, silk, cork, reed, sisal, cotton, and grass are laminated to a paper backing. They are usually unpasted. They provide a natural and textured character to decoration and are available in an extensive variety of color combinations.

Neoclassicism (Neo-classicism)
Reviving the unemotional ideals of ancient Greece and Rome. Its rigidity was a reaction to the over bred elegance and elaborate Rococo style and the emotional charged Baroque style.

Neutral colors
Beiges, whites, grays, and browns. Colors which coordinate well with most other colors.

Non-breathable
Wallcovering with this characteristic does not allow water and air to freely pass through its surface. Solid vinyl and foils are not breathable.

 

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Ombre stripe
Striped wallpaper where one color is used in several values, giving it a blurred or bleeding out look.

Open time
The time period available between the activation and application of adhesives until they dry.

Outside corner
A corner formed when two walls, not facing each other, are joined and protrude into the room.

Overlapping Seam
A method of hanging wallcovering in which strips overlap slightly. Primarily used on commercial goods.

 

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Pad grounds
Wallpaper that has been printed in one operation, with the design printed on a wet background.

Paisley
Printed with colorful curved abstract figures of Persian origin.

Palmette
Fan-shaped ornamental motif resembling either a palm leaf or a loose cluster of honeysuckle flowers. A band of palmettes is called an anthemion.

Panel decoration
Style of wallcovering which developed in the second half of the 18th century, designed to be framed in the wood paneled walls. Today they are used as spot decorations and framed with molding.

Paper backed vinyl
Solid vinyl layer of material is laminated or bonded to a paper-backing sheet. This type of wallcovering is very durable since the decorative surface is a solid sheet of vinyl, making it scrubbable and peelable. Paper backed vinyl can be used in most areas of the home since it resists moisture and is stain and grease resistant. However, this type of wallpaper will not withstand hard physical abuse. Also known as solid sheet vinyl.

Patina
Often associated with the green film that forms on copper and bronze.

Pattern drop
See Drop match.

Pattern match
The alignment of wallpapering strips at the edges so that the design makes a continuous horizontal, vertical, or diagonal flow of pattern around the room.

Pattern repeat
The distance between identical parts of a wallpaper's pattern in a straight vertical line.

Peelable
Describes wallpaper in which the decorative surface and ground can be separated from the backing. The backing remains on the wall, but should be removed before hanging a new wallcovering or painting a wall. Note important differences between "peelable" and "strippable" wallcoverings.

Photo Murals
Wallpaper that simulates photography that is enlarged to be placed on a room-sized wall or door. Photo murals are usually divided into quarter panels for installation purposes, and portray scenes such as waterfalls, forest scenes, seashores, cities, or outer space.

Plaid
Designs consisting of crossed stripes, many of them originating in Scottish tartans.

Prepasted paper
Wallpaper with paste already on the backing, which can be activated by soaking it in a filled water tray. The directions for each individual paper must be followed to determine proper soaking and booking time.

 

Pretrimmed
Paper which has had the selvage edges removed during the manufacturing process. Almost all wallpaper is pretrimmed.

Primer
Are applied to make the substrate more uniform for acceptance and improve the adhesion of the topcoat. Not all primers will allow the wallpaper to slide easily during installation. Primers will improve the removability of the wallcovering and decrease the chances of wall damage.

Prints
Any decorative or textural effect added over the base sheet. Each print adds one other color.

Provincial
Refers to designs inspired by the native arts and crafts of Europe and America in colonial days.

 

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Railroading
The horizontal application of wallpaper. This is used to create an unusual or striking effect, an example is a stripe hung horizontal.

Random match
Describes a design in which the pattern doesn't align at vertical edges in a regular fashion. Stripes, all-over textures, and grasscloths are good examples.

Reedcloth
A handcrafted wallcovering in which every individual reed is inserted into the cotton warp threads of a hand made loom.

Relief
Making a design prominent by raising it or by cutting away the surface or background of the design.

Repeat
The distance from the center of an identical element in a motif or pattern to the next.

Reverse Hanging
Technique of paperhanging where each strip is alternately hung "right side up" and "upside down" in papers with a random match. This is used to negate or lessen the effects of shading problems on the edges of those wallcoverings, if applicable.

Rigid Vinyl Acrylic
This product is used in areas where there is a potential for high-impact concerns such as hospital corridors, high traffic areas in commercial buildings and the hospitality environment where movable carts are used.

Rococo
It is characterized by opulence, grace, playfulness, and lightness in contrast to the heavier themes and darker colors of the earlier Baroque period. Rococo motifs focused on the carefree aristocratic life and on lighthearted romance rather then heroic battles or religious figures.

Rosette
A motif formed by a series of petals or leaves arranged around a central point. These are conventionalized to form a circle, eclipse or square.

Run
Same as dye lot. A particular batch of wallpaper rolls that are printed or run at the same time. All rolls should be from the same dye lot or run to insure uniformity. Each time the same wallpaper is printed again, it receives a different dye lot or run number.

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Scenics
See Murals.

Screen-printed
Involves the use of stencils to transfer the design. Paint is applied to a frame of stretched silk, polyester, or nylon screen and penetrates areas of the screen not blocked by the stencil pattern. By using several stencils, many colors can be added to form successive layers in a single print. Also known as handprints, silk screening, hand screening, and serigraphy.

Scrubbable
This wallcovering can withstand occasional sponging with a detergent solution. Same as washable.

Sculptured Wallcovering
See Anaglypta.

Seam
Areas where two wall coverings are joined.

Seam roller
A small, narrow plastic, felt, or wooden roller used to secure the seams of wallpaper to make them adhere to the wall when dry. This is done by rolling or pressing the seams after the paper has been applied to the wall and the air bubbles, if any, are smoothed away. Stringcloth, grasscloth, flock, and heavily embossed wallpaper are examples of product that would be damaged by the use of a seam roller.

Self-tone
Wallcovering in which shades of one color are featured.

Selvage
The blank edge of a wallcovering. Used for markings that maintain registration during printing, plus protects the design during shipment.

Semi-automated wallcoverings
The selvages are partially severed and can be detached easily, or, the wallcoverings are fully trimmed on one edge only.

Shading
Effect that can sometimes appear along the seams of patterned or textured wall coverings due to heavier ink coverage at one edge than the other during printing. Reverse hanging can often solve this problem.

Sidewall
Sheets of wallpaper, as opposed to borders or murals.

Single Cut
What you do to seam a sheet that is wet with a sheet that has already dried. This technique mainly applies to sidewall paper and borders. You overlay the wet sheet on the dry sheet, use a smoother or putty knife to force the impression line of the underlying dry seam and then with the feel of your fingertips and a single edge blade, you cut a butted seam using the creased line as your guide.

Size (Sizing)
In the case of plaster walls, it will prevent too much paste from being absorbed into the wall. Its use on drywall applications is not so much to prepare the wall, but to provide added adhesion for the final installation of wallpaper. It usually comes in the form of a white powder that is mixed with water according to the manufacturer's instructions. Another form of size is to coat the walls with a thinned down version of the adhesive that ultimately be used in the installation of the wall covering. Many wallpaper manufacturers specifically request its usage on any wall type though it is traditionally associated with plaster walls.

Skirting
Narrow board that runs round the base of walls. Also known as baseboard.

Sliding cut
A method of cutting wallpaper by sliding a sharp knife along the edge of a surface under it.

Smoothing brush (Smoother)
Used to smooth out wrinkles or air from behind wallpaper during installation. Most often used on delicate wallpaper.

Solid sheet vinyl
See Paper backed vinyl.

Stain-resistant
Describes a wallcovering coated with an acrylic, plastic, or vinyl that does not absorb stains.

Stencil
A method of applying a design by brushing ink or paint through a cut out surface.

Straight across match
Describes a design in which the pattern aligns horizontally at single-roll intervals. This means that the pattern design at the top of each strip is always the same.

Straight edge
A six foot or seven foot ruler used by a paperhanger to trim the selvage off of the wallpaper.

String effect
Wallpaper that have very fine vertical threads laminated to a paper type substrate. Threads may be of a man made material or natural fiber such as silk or linen. These wall coverings should not be subjected to abuse and require great care in their cleaning.

Strip
See Drop.

Strippable
Wallpaper manufactured with a special formulation which permits a release of the wallpaper from the adhesive when it is later to be removed from the wall. This makes it easy to tear off an entire strip without wetting it. Also referred to as dry strippable.

Substrate
The backing of a wallpaper. It is laminated to the bottom of the design layer.

Swag
Swinging or suspended decoration, representing garlands, drapery, ribbons or leaves.

Swatch
A sample cutting of wallpaper or fabric.

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Tint
A color produced when a pigment is mixed with white.

Top colors
Those forming the design against the ground color.

Toile de Jouy (Toile)
A fabric style that originated in the village of Jouy-en-Josas, near Paris. These designs typically resemble finely engraved copper etchings; use one color on a solid ground, and originally had a narrative element - such as a pastoral scene or motifs from classical mythology. Today, this technique can be used for any number of designs including floral trails, birds, or even palm trees.

Trimming
Using a straight edge and a blade to remove excess paper from around door, windows, ceilings and at the baseboard.

Trompe L'oeil (Loeil)
French term meaning to "fool the eye". Wall coverings that utilize this technique include designs that use light and shadow to convince you that you are seeing a three-dimensional object. Some wallpaper designs that have been successful are those that simulate draped fabric, trees, bookshelves, moiré silks, and murals and accents that feature a window or door with a view.

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Unpasted wallpaper
Wallpaper to which paste must be rolled or brushed on during the installation process. Directions provided with each individual wallpaper must be followed.

Untrimmed
Describes wallpaper with intact selvages, not factory-trimmed.

V

Value
Lightness or darkness of a color.

Vertical repeat
The vertical distance from one point on the design to the identical point again. Almost all wallpaper has a vertical repeat, except for those papers with a random match.

Vinyl
A manmade material, which in the manufacture of wallcoverings is a flexible film. Wallpaper is often vinyl coated, or it is vinyl laminated to a backing. This helps to give the product washability.

 

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Wainscot
Paneling or woodwork covering the dado of a wall. This area is customarily equal to one third of the wall height.

Wallpaper trough
A specially shaped container designed to hold water for soaking prepasted papers before hanging.

Warm colors
Red, yellow, or orange, or any color to which yellow has been added.

Washable
Describes a wallpaper that can be cleaned with mild detergent and water applied with a sponge or soft cloth.

Wet hanging
A method of hanging wallcoverings in which the adhesive is applied to the back of the wallcovering.