Types of wallpaper for commercial projects: properties, durability and where to use them

Wallcoverings differ in their backing (paper, non-woven, fabric) and their face (paper, vinyl, textile, natural material). Together these set durability, cleanability and how the product behaves with moisture in the wall.

Non-woven does not expand when pasted, so it can be hung by pasting the wall, seams stay stable and it usually strips dry at refurbishment. Paper-backed products expand as they absorb paste and need consistent soak times so seams do not open as they dry. For most projects non-woven lowers installation risk, and its higher breathability makes it the safer choice on external walls in humid climates.

Paper-backed ranges remain relevant for some hand-printed and traditional designs, where an installer experienced with soak times is part of the specification. For residential towers and villas in Vietnam, non-woven is also faster to hang, which helps when wallcovering is one of the last trades before handover.

No. Vinyl is durable and washable, but its PVC face limits vapour escaping from the wall, so damp or uncured walls can grow mould behind it. Specify the washability or scrubbability rating shown on the roll label, waterproof external and bathroom-adjacent walls, test moisture before hanging, and use an adhesive with fungicide in humid areas. See preventing mould and lifting in humid conditions.

Hotel corridors, lift lobbies and guestrooms commonly use fabric-backed commercial vinyl. It withstands luggage trolleys and scrubbing and usually comes with fire test data.

Under the widely used US classification, commercial vinyl is graded Type I (light duty), Type II (medium duty, typical for corridors, guestrooms and lobbies) and Type III (heavy duty, service areas and healthcare), based on weight and abrasion and impact performance. Many international hotel brands name the required type in their design standards.

• Rolls are typically around 1.30–1.37 m wide, reducing seams along long corridors.
• Seams are double-cut for a tight join.
• Fire requirements depend on building type and location; see fire safety standards for finishes.

Wallpaper catalogues and large-pattern sample books are usually loaned, not given. On SEAMATER, a deposit applies to loaned samples; the amount and loan period depend on the sample type. The Account Owner delivers and collects them, shipping is free in Ho Chi Minh City, and for other locations, including overseas export projects, shipping is arranged with SEAMATER. The deposit is forfeited if the item is lost or not returned.

Grasscloth, raffia, sisal, cork and wood veneer add depth, but shade varies between panels and seams remain visible. That is a property of the material, not a defect. Manufacturers often recommend reversing or sequencing panels before hanging. Keep these products away from bathrooms, open kitchens and walls at risk of damp, and away from high-touch zones because they are cleaned by vacuuming rather than wiping. Textile wallcoverings reduce reverberation to a modest degree and suit meeting rooms and bedheads, provided the installer keeps adhesive off the face.

Embossed relief papers are painted after hanging and create raised patterns for dados, ceilings and heritage-style corridors. Digital murals are printed to the measured wall, split into numbered panels; re-measure after final plaster and approve a colour proof. Interior decor film (film nội thất in Vietnamese) is a self-adhesive PVC film in wood, stone, metal or plain finishes for smooth, non-porous substrates such as MDF, metal, glass or old laminate. It suits refurbishing joinery, doors and lift interiors, but it will telegraph every defect on uneven plaster. It is a finish for joinery and furniture, not a wall film, and SEAMATER sells it as a separate material.

Roll width sets the number of drops, the number of seams and the waste, so price per roll alone is not a fair comparison. Always use the dimensions on the roll label.

To convert room dimensions into rolls, including pattern repeat and waste, see how to calculate wallpaper rolls.

The more impact and cleaning an area sees, the more it needs a vinyl face; the higher the moisture risk, the more it needs a breathable product on a properly prepared wall.

• Bedrooms: non-woven, textile or natural fibre.
• Living areas: non-woven or light vinyl; natural fibre on feature walls away from hands.
• Hotel and office corridors: fabric-backed Type II vinyl.
• Bathrooms: only products the manufacturer approves for humid rooms, outside splash zones.
• F&B: scrubbable vinyl or murals printed on vinyl.

Wall preparation and acceptance are covered in the wallpaper installation guide.

Project teams can save shortlisted codes in one project and request a quote. Registered accounts see lead time and stock per product; verified trade accounts also see price.