The main appeal behind wallpaper is the endless patterns and intriguing textures that suit pretty much every taste out there. However, there’s more to this convenient product than meets the eye.
In this post, we’ll go over 15 surprising statistics and facts about wallpaper’s history, production process, potential health risks, and overall industry predictions.
As a bonus, we’ll see what Play-Doh and bubble wrap have in common with wallpaper!
- Changes to the Wallpaper Production Process Through History
- Health Impacts of Wallpaper Through the Years
- Insights Into the Wallpaper Industry
- The Global Wallpaper Industry Stood at $1.67 Billion in 2021
- Vinyl Wallpaper Is Thriving in the Market
- Vinyl Isn’t the Only Eco-Friendly Wallpaper Out There
- China Still Tops the Wallpaper Market With $376 million in Exports
- Wallpaper Taxes Shifted the Market Trends
- The Most Expensive Wallpaper Is a Whopping $44,091
- Inventions Derived From the Wallpaper Industry
- Final Thoughts
Changes to the Wallpaper Production Process Through History
Over the years, wallpaper manufacturing changed drastically, from hand-painting one panel at a time to mass-producing coverings that could last for 15 years on average!
The Concept of Wallpaper Is More Than 2220 Years Old
It’s hard to pinpoint the exact origin of wallpaper, but we can trace the concept all the way back to 200 B.C. in China. Back then, they used rice paper to decorate their walls with hand-printed scenes of nature or everyday life.
However, it wasn’t until the 12th century that the skills required to make paper made their way to the West.
Then, Chinese wallpaper was imported into Europe in the 17th century. That said, there are fragments of original European wallpaper that date back to the 16th century.
Wallpaper Printing Used to Take Weeks
Back in the day, people used to make wallpaper through a meticulous process called block printing.
For this to work, they had to use a large piece of wood with designs engraved into it. This block would then be tipped into the ink mixture and pressed onto the sheet to “print” the design at repeating intervals.
Of course, you can imagine how much of a hassle printing multi-colored wallpaper was at the time!
For each color, the manufacturers needed one block with very specific engravings. Then, they’d let every layer dry before moving on to the next block. The tricky part is that they had to line the block perfectly over the previous one.
Depending on the design’s complexity, the process would carry on to add more details (and colors) along the way.
How difficult could that be? Well, one block-printed William Morris wallpaper could take up to 4 weeks to finish since the manufacturer had to go over 30 blocks. Then, they’ll need to touch up any printing flaws by hand!
Today, the same core wallpaper printing principles are still applied with rollers and blocks, but the process is much more automated. However, the jump from block-printing techniques to today’s satisfying machinery was gradual.
One major milestone along the way was Potters & Ross’s wallpaper printing machine.
Innovations like this shifted the scene entirely, but don’t just take our word for it; the boost in Britain’s wallpaper production rates between 1834 and 1860 is solid proof.
The market there went from a mere million rolls to almost 9 million thanks to new machinery!
Wallpaper’s PCI Is a Mere 0.564
While making a panel of wallpaper used to be a huge deal back in the day, that’s no longer the case at all. After all, the product ranks in the 397th spot on the PCI listings for 2020.
PCI stands for Product Complexity Index, and it basically indicates how challenging it is to produce something.
More “sophisticated” products have a higher PCI and are only manufactured in a handful of countries.
For reference, photographic film rolls rank in the 5th spot with a PCI of 2.22. Meanwhile, simple products, like wigs, are way down on the list in the 1209th spot with a PCI of -2.26!
Wallpaper Isn’t as Flimsy as It Seems
There’s a misconception that wallpaper isn’t a durable or practical option. Sure, there are risks to watch out for, like bubbling, shrinkage, or lifting off with moisture.
However, most concerns can be tackled with proper installation and maintenance. As an average estimate, wallpaper can last up to three times longer than regular paint finishes!
Health Impacts of Wallpaper Through the Years
While wallpaper can change a room’s vibe in a blink, it’s not without flaws. There were also negative health impacts from the get-go.
Wallpaper Was Deadly in the Victorian Times
Scheele’s green was one of the popular pigments used in wallpaper during the Victorian era. Thanks to its vivid hue, it matched the Romantic designs perfectly with delicate vines and daisies.
However, in the 1860s, doctors started associating several deaths and illnesses with the green pigment. Unfortunately, the victims were mainly children.
While it might sound far-fetched to say that wallpaper killed kids, it’s not as much of a surprise when you consider that the ink contained arsenic.
So, the wallpaper could release toxic vapors in the nurseries with heat, moisture, or flaking.
Surprisingly, William Morris, who was one of the most famous wallpaper manufacturers at the time, initially thought the whole thing was a hoax and disregarded the doctors’ claims.
Meanwhile, Jeffrey & Co. took it as a chance to offer arsenic-free alternatives in the Patent Hygienic collection in 1879.
That said, arsenic wasn’t just used in wallpaper pigments. It also made its way into Victorian homes through food, textiles, rat poison, and even medicine. Scary times!
Wallpaper Still Has an Impact on Indoor Air Quality
While you no longer have to worry about arsenic poisoning from your wallpaper, there’s still one risk to keep in mind: VOCs.
A lot of wallpaper materials today can off-gas VOCs (volatile organic compounds), like formaldehyde and benzene, into the air.
Many people can tolerate a small amount of VOCs in their homes. However, the potential risks include skin irritation, shortness of breath, and headaches.
Some studies even associate the VOCs released from wallpaper, paint, and flooring with pruritus and atopic eczema!
So, if you have wallpaper at home and notice allergic flares, you might want to check the indoor air quality and improve ventilation.
That’s also why some people recommend using potted plants with air purification capacities, like the Peace lily, in rooms with wallpaper.
However, that’s not all. Some manufacturers use phthalates to make their vinyl wallpaper a bit more malleable. The main concern here is that these compounds could potentially affect pregnant women.
Flock Wallpaper Relied on Waste Products
Flock wallpaper seems fancy with its pleasing suede-like texture, right?
Well, you might be surprised to know that it was first made using powdered wool, which is actually a waste product from wool textiles.
Unfortunately, the milling process itself poses a bit of an occupational hazard since the fibers can irritate the lungs.
Insights Into the Wallpaper Industry
Wallpaper keeps going in and out of fashion. Yet, the industry’s future seems promising.
The Global Wallpaper Industry Stood at $1.67 Billion in 2021
A report by Grand View Research valued the global wallpaper market at $1.67 billion.
In the United States, the trade was valued at $509.7 million in 2021, which was only slightly lower than the 2020 valuation of $510.5 million.
Since experts predict an expansion in the DIY home renovation market, the demand for wallpaper is also expected to grow in the upcoming years.
In fact, the same report also estimates a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 4.3% in the global wallpaper market from 2022 to 2030, with a slightly lower 3.6% CAGR for the United States.
Vinyl Wallpaper Is Thriving in the Market
If you inspect the wallpaper trends in the past few years, you’ll notice that vinyl seems to be sweeping up the market compared to the fabric, non-woven, and paper options out there.
That’s probably because its manufacturing process isn’t as heavy on energy consumption as other materials. So, people might consider it as a “green” alternative.
Some reports even estimate that paper-based wallpaper consumes double the amount of energy required to manufacture vinyl varieties!
Plus, there’s usually less waste in the manufacturing process for vinyl wallpaper. After all, the Wallcoverings Association estimates that at least 99% of the material makes it to the end product.
Aesthetically speaking, vinyl is a versatile material that could be used to mimic different textures. So, even for consumers who don’t prioritize eco-friendly initiatives, it’s still a valid option.
If you’re interested in the different types of wallpaper then you’ll want to read this post.
Vinyl Isn’t the Only Eco-Friendly Wallpaper Out There
So, we’ve covered how the vinyl wallpaper manufacturing process consumes less energy and doesn’t produce as much waste.
However, it’s not the only “green” option on the market.
As it happens, people are now opting for other eco-friendly materials like:
- Grasscloth papers
- Cork
- Bamboo
Other companies use recycled paper or source their vinyl-free paper sustainably.
Additionally, eco-friendly wallpaper manufacturers usually opt to print with water-based inks, too. Some of them even ditch the external waterproofing layer and use clay coating instead.
China Still Tops the Wallpaper Market With $376 million in Exports
China’s legacy with wallpaper continues to this day since it’s one of the market leaders—at least according to the OEC’s 2020 report.
It actually took up a whopping 25.5% of the total global market exports.
Right in its tracks for the 2020 statistics were Germany and Belgium, with export values of $214 million and $110 million, respectively.
On the other side of the equation, the top two wallpaper importers were Russia and France. The former had an import value of $138 million, while the latter spent $111 million.
Wallpaper Taxes Shifted the Market Trends
As the wallpaper industry boomed in Britain, taxes started rolling in.
In 1712, Queen Anne imposed taxes on printed and painted wallpaper. So, the lower classes started looking for cheaper alternatives.
This meant that the manufacturers had to narrow their focus to the elite as their main target. As a result, the designs from that period were rather intricate and catered to expensive tastes.
The Most Expensive Wallpaper Is a Whopping $44,091
Wallpaper can be more expensive upfront than paint—that much we know.
But did you know that the French wallpaper manufacturer, Zuber, holds the Guinness World Record for the most expensive wallpaper out there?
The design is called “Les Guerres D’Independance” or “The Wars of Independence,” and it depicts a military scene from the 19th century.
The whole thing spans over 32 panels covering a little over 49 feet, and you can’t buy panels separately.
As it happens, this extravagant wallpaper sells the most in the United States, not France.
Just don’t let that price tag intimidate you from looking into wallpaper options for your home. The average roll in the market costs $50 or $150.
Inventions Derived From the Wallpaper Industry
The desire to innovate and excel in the wallpaper industry gave us a couple of nifty accidental inventions!
Bubble Wrap Was Originally Wallpaper
Before bubble wrap became the packaging sensation it is today, it was supposed to be a type of wallpaper.
Back in 1957, Marc Chavannes and Alfred Fielding were two engineers who wanted to invent a unique textured wallpaper. So, they started toying with the idea of two curtains with huge air pockets in between.
That idea didn’t catch on at all. Instead of giving up, Fielding and Chavannes considered using their invention as an insulating layer for greenhouses.
However, that idea failed, too. In fact, they came up with over 400 different uses to no avail!
Thankfully, IBM found a perfect application for bubble wrap when they wanted to ship delicate computer parts.
Play-Doh Was Invented to Clean Wallpaper
It’s hard to imagine the colorful and mailable Play-Doh as a household cleaning agent, but that’s how it started.
In the 1930s, walls used to get particularly filthy since most homes relied on coal for heating, and products like Kutol’s wallpaper cleaner were highly in demand.
However, soon gas furnaces popped into the scene to replace traditional coal heating. Plus, other easier-to-clean wallpaper materials, like vinyl, were rotating in the market.
This would have been the end of Kutol’s wallpaper cleaner if it weren’t for Kay Zufall.
Zufall, who was related to the manager at Kutol, found out that some people were using the cleaning product as a DIY toy for kids. So, she proposed building on that idea and rebranding the product as “Play-Doh” to save the company from financial ruin.
Her proposal did the trick! Kutol only had to tweak the formula a bit to make it more suitable for kids before the revamped product caught on like crazy.
Final Thoughts
At first glance, wallpaper seems like a pretty straightforward product. All you need to do is peel and stick or paste the covering to the wall and call it a day.
Yet, there are a lot of surprising statistics and facts that might just change your view of the industry as a whole, from cases of arsenic poisoning in Victorian children to recent market trends that favor eco-friendly practices.
Who knew something that looks so simple could have such a rich history?
If you would like to know how to hang non-woven wallpaper then my article How to hang wallpaper the easy way might interest you. Or if you want some more interesting and surprising facts then check out my article 13 Surprising Statistics and Facts About Paint