If you are looking for new wallpaper that is stylish, colourful, has an attractive pattern and a look of quality that will impress visitors, you might be somewhat surprised if a wallpaper specialist like ourselves suggests you consider vinyl. But you shouldn’t be.

To some, vinyl is the stuff of old records or, in the home, cheap kitchen flooring made to look like wood or stone by those without the budget to get the real thing. It might be hard to imagine it as an outstanding wallpaper choice. 

However, that is exactly what it is, with the virtues of this material being highlighted by DIY Doctor. 

An obvious quality it possesses is that, being non-porous, it copes perfectly with being in humid environments. That makes it ideal in a bathroom or kitchen, but of course that does not preclude it being used elsewhere in the home.

While it does have a base layer of paper, the vinyl element is crucial to other qualities too; it is very durable and therefore can withstand potential scratches, bumps, scrapes and even attacks by children with felt tip pens. 

All these robust qualities are exactly the same that may apply with vinyl flooring, which makes it so compelling as a practical surface for use in particular rooms of the home.

What makes vinyl a particularly great choice in 2023 is the fact that design has come a long way. If your idea of vinyl is tacky and outdated patterns from the 1970s, look again. The design technology is much more advanced now and can produce attractive and realistic patterns in various colours, or reminiscent of a range of natural or synthetic materials like wood or brick. 

For example, the US website Houzz.com highlights the vast array of different designs out there, showing what is possible.

So, if you want wallpaper that is stylish, water-resistant and tough, the virtues of vinyl should not be overlooked.