When The Ecology Center last did a study of the 11 leading wallpaper brands, they found that almost all of them contained PVC, and half of them contained other major chemicals of concern, including metals and toxic flame retardants.
This post outlines what I look for in a wallpaper and my top picks for healthy, non-toxic, eco-friendly brands.
The post covers brands available in North America, Europe and Australia.
This article contains affiliate links, upon purchase I earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
What to Look for in an Eco-Friendly Wallpaper:
Water-Based Ink Printed Wallpaper
Generally, water-based ink is preferable to solvent-based ink. Solvent-based ink is likely to be higher in VOCs.
Low & Zero-VOC Wallpaper
Wallpapers labeled with the GreenGuard certification mean they have low levels of VOCs. But I would be surprised if any water-based ink wallpaper couldn’t meet that level. Look for low or zero-VOC water-based inks or paint. Get a sample if you are chemically sensitive.
PVC-Free Wallpaper
The vast majority of wallpaper is coated in PVC/vinyl which can contain harmful plasticizers like phthalates that are not counted as VOCs or measured in certifications like Greenguard Gold. In 2010, The Ecology Center tested 2,300 types of wallpaper (from 11 different brands), 96% of them had PVC as a coating. Most peel-and-stick brands are solid PVC.
Flame-Retardant-Free Wallpaper
Fifteen percent of wallpapers tested by the Ecology Center contained Brominated Flame Retardants (BFR) in 2010. This flame retardant is not likely used very much anymore, but others will have taken its place. Some brands contained tin, which is another flame retardant. Silver and titanium dioxide can also be added to the mixes. Newer chemicals include intumescent flame retardant, which are safer.
Toxic-Metal-Free Wallpaper
The Ecology Center report also revealed that wallpaper commonly contains arsenic, mercury, lead, cadmium, and tin. With 1/5th of all samples containing cadmium.
PFAS-Free Wallpaper
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), aka “forever chemicals” are commonly used on wallpaper to make them resistant to stains and more wipable. I asked all the companies on the list if they use PFAS.
Non-Toxic Eco-Friendly Brands of Wallpaper
1. Spoonflower
Spoonflower wallpaper is made with water-based inks.
They are formaldehyde, phthalate, PFAS and PVC-free.
They sell pre-pasted, and peel-and-stick papers.
This is one of a few brands of peel-and-stick that is not made of PVC, so I really like this brand.
The peel-and-stick and pre-pasted are not fire-rated so they would not contain a flame retardant.
The non-pasted is fire-rated and it’s not clear if it contains a chemical flame retardant.
The peel-and-stick does have a noticeable but fairly mild odor both from the plastic side and from the sticker side (as expected of anything that is a flexible plastic, a sticker or tape), the pre-pasted was the lowest in odor with the glue seeming odorless to me, the non-pasted one was in the middle odor wise – the woven backing does have an odor.
They sell samples for 10$ each.
You can buy the wallpaper on Amazon.
2. Chasing Paper
Chasing Paper’s Peel and Stick Wallpaper is made from high-quality, self-adhesive poly-woven fabric (it’s PVC-free and sounds like it’s made of polyester).
Their traditional wallpaper is made from high-quality FSC Certified paper. No flame retardants are added, they said in an email.
Printed with GreenGuard Gold Certified Ink.
Matte Finish. Fade and stain-resistant – they said in an email that it’s free of PFAS/PFCs.
It’s listed as non-toxic and low-VOC.
Buy from their website.
3. Graham & Brown
Graham & Brown uses water-based inks to produce a final VOC-free product.
They have a few different types of wallpaper: flocked, paper-based, as well as vinyl.
Some of their wallpapers are PVC – they recommend these for kitchens and bathrooms. It’s not possible to tell on their website which ones are vinyl other than the ones labeled kitchen and bathroom surely are.
Out of the samples I got: Rene Shimmer, Skulls Black, Brian Eno Flower Mask, Grasscloth, and Orbit White Grey, only the last one is vinyl, the company said in an email.
None of our wallpapers contain PFAS or flame retardants, said Ellen their PR person, in an email.
If you are in the US you can order directly through their website or through Amazon.
4. Brewster Home Fashions
Brewster Wall Coverings carry lines that are listed as PVC-free and 0-VOC.
They use water-based inks.It is listed as washable.
Many lines are PVC-free and PFAS-free like:
- Chesapeake Fable Animals
- Chesapeake Thoreau Birds
- Chesapeake Fable
- Chesapeake Yellowstone Dutton Plaid
- Carola Jungle Tropics
- Linen Stripe
You can buy them online through Decorators Best.
5. Magnolia by Joanna Gaines
Joanna Gaines’ collection of wallpaper is non-woven prepasted paper.It’s low-VOC, made with water-based inks, and I like that they make a point to make sure there is no cadmium or mercury.
They wallpapers contain no intentionally added PFAS, says the company.
Even the Peel and Sticks are listed as PVC-free on some vendors’ websites.
You can find it through DecoratorsBest.
6. York Wallcoverings
York Wallcoverings uses low VOC, water-based inks, printed on managed renewable forest paper.
Another exciting thing about this brand is their peel-and-stick. This is on non-woven paper. I got samples of these and they were very low odor to me.
Some vendors have listed it as non-vinyl peel-and- stick, though the company did get back to me directly and said it contains “trace PVC”.
They do not use PFAS on their York Wallcoverings non-woven wallcovering, York Wallcoverings paper wallcovering, and York Wallcoverings vinyl peel & stick wallcovering.
You can buy their papers on Decorators Best, and Amazon (US, Canada, and UK).
7. Allira Tee via Hygge & West
Allira Tee makes PVC-free pre-pasted wallpaper with cute designs.
They are made with acrylic-based inks and are GreenGuard Gold Certified.
They did not respond by email to the question of whether their wallpaper contains PFAS.
You can buy it through Hygge & West.
8. Lisel Jane Ashlock
Lisel Jane Ashlock makes PVC-free pre-pasted paper with floral designs.
They are made with water-based inks and are GreenGuard Gold Certified.
They did not respond by email to the question of whether their wallpaper contains PFAS.
You can buy it through Hygge and West.
9. Bobbi Beck
Bobbi Beck‘s wallpapers are made with water-based non-toxic inks that have extremely low VOC levels and achieve the UL GreenGuard Gold Certification.
The paper is free from metals or plastics of any kind and is totally paper-based.
It’s not treated with any coatings like PVC or acrylic.
You can apply it with starch wallpaper paste.
The paper is elemental chlorine free and no toxins are created from the bleaching process.
The flame retardancy is achieved without brominated flame retardants and is mainly achieved by minimizing the combustible content of the wallpaper.
They did not respond by email to the question of whether their wallpaper contains PFAS.
They are made to order to reduce waste. The packaging, like the paper, is 100% plastic-free and recyclable.
The paper is from FSC forests. The empty ink cartridges are sent back to the manufacturer to be recycled.
Their print studio even runs on 100% renewable energy.
They are sold via their website which ships around the world.
10. Walls By Me
Some of the Walls By Me peel-and-stick wallpaper designs are PVC-free. (Check to see that it says PVC-free material and printed with non-toxic inks on the one you select).
They are made from paper saturated in latex.
They say they are odorless and 0-VOC.
They have a Class A fire rating and are GreenGuard Gold certified.
They say it’s free of heavy metals including lead, cadmium, mercury, nickel, and zinc.
They did not respond by email to the question of whether their wallpaper contains PFAS.
You can find them on Amazon.
11. Veruso Lino
This is a completely purist option!
It is biodegradable because it is not made using inks or paints. It does not use any artificial dyes and produces no VOCs.
It is made only of organic fibers: 65% flax and 35% viscose. There are no other ingredients.
If you are looking for the most sustainable wallpaper, this is it.
The flame-retardant attributes come from the natural properties of the material. No chemical additives are used.
You apply it with a simple methyl cellulose paste.
The company that sells this line, Wallpaper from the 70s, also sent a number of other samples.
Like with all brands here the simplest options of true paper-based wallpaper with ink (or paint) are low odor and are a great bet.
Some of their samples did have more of a plastic coating and those did have some off-gassing as expected.
This is a German company. You can buy it online – it ships around the world (including to North America).
12. Mind the Gap
Mind the Gap papers are printed with eco-friendly latex inks, which they say are odorless.
This non-woven paper is certified by the Nordic Swan Environmental Standard.
None of their papers are coated in PVC.
They did not respond by email to the question of whether their wallpaper contains PFAS.
Made in Romania, you can find them in North America through Decorators Best.
13. Seabrook Wallcoverings
The Tortuga Collection by Seabrook Wallcoverings uses a non-vinyl acrylic coating on the paper.
Acrylic is much safer than vinyl.
They did not respond by email to the question of whether their wallpaper contains PFAS.
This wallpaper comes unpasted and is washable.
You can find it through DecoratorsBest.
14. Makelike
Makelike papers are printed by hand with natural dyes/inks on recyclable paper.
Unlike most conventional wallpapers, Makelike’s papers are not bleached.
They don’t use PVC anywhere in the products and they are not treated with flame retardants.
Both the printing process and the manufacturing of the paper ground are both PFAS/PFCs/fluorinated compound free.
Based in the US, you can buy it from their website, they ship internationally or you can find a local stockist.
15. Thatcher
Thatcher (previously called Juju Papers) is a clay-coated wallpaper made with inks that are water-based and low VOC.
No PVC and no flame retardants are added, they stated in an email.
They are not coated in PFAS, they said in an email.
They are elemental chlorine-free.
The papers are made in the USA and you can buy them online.
16. KEK Amsterdam
This environmentally-friendly wallpaper meets the Oeko-Tex® 100 Standard, which as of 2024 means it’s free of PFAS among other chemicals of concern.
The wallpaper is free from formaldehyde and other harmful VOCs.
The toner is even food-safe.
It’s made of high-quality non-woven wallpaper.
All of their wallpaper is PVC/vinyl-free, except for the Hotel Chique collection which is vinyl-coated.
Based in Amsterdam, you can buy this brand online in North America.
Types of Wallpaper by Application
- Pre-pasted – has the paste already on the back. Usually, you just add water.
- Unpasted wallpaper – you either add the paste to the wall or to the paper.
- Peel-and-Stick – there is no paste, it’s like a sticker. This is almost always vinyl. (Spoonflower has a non-vinyl peel and stick!)
Types of Wallpaper by Material
- Vinyl – the most common type of wallpaper is vinyl-backed which is vinyl on the face with paper or fabric on the back. Paper can also be vinyl coated (which is a slightly different type than vinyl-backed). Solid vinyl wallpaper is also available, this makes up most of the peel-and-stick market. If a paper is labeled as strippable, this is most likely vinyl coated, but not always.
- Paper – this type is printed onto paper. Many paper wallpapers are clay-coated. Many paper wallpapers are not coated in plastic (acrylic or vinyl). Ask if you are unsure. They are often very breathable. They can be coated with PFAS.
- Non-woven – a mixture of synthetic and natural fibers (cellulose and polyester usually). The fibers are combined with acrylic binders. You can “paste the wall” instead of the wallpaper. It may or may not be vinyl-coated.
- Fabric – these wallpapers are made of textiles like cotton, silk, raffia, felt, linens, or twines, and sometimes they are laminated onto regular wallpaper. They can sometimes be coated with vinyl or acrylic.
- Grasscloth – made from natural fibers including grasscloth, hemp, jute, reed, or arrowroot. You will also want to know what the backing material is, it might be paper.
- Flocked – these have a suede-like or fuzzy velvet-like texture, and they are printed on a paper backing. The texture is a polyester, nylon, or rayon flock applied to an adhesive-coated backing. If it says wipeable, I would inquire into the face coating.
- Metallic – these are usually paper-backed with foils laid on top. The foil is usually aluminum.
- Hessian – made of hemp or jute, this natural textile has a burlap look.
- Wood veneer – this is a real wood veneer backed onto paper hung with standard wallpaper paste. The coating is likely a water-based polyurethane. You should verify the backing and coating.
- Mylar – the top layer decorative design is covered with a thin film of polyester making it washable. The backing is paper.
- Fiberglass – this can be in the form of a fiberglass fabric-like wall covering. It can be vinyl-free or it can be coupled with vinyl wallpaper.
Non-Toxic Wallpaper Paste
When hanging wallpaper, you’ll also want to make sure you use a non-toxic paste (glue/adhesive).
First, talk to the company about which type of paste is needed. Or start with looking only at paper-based or non-woven wallpapers that can be applied with the least toxic cellulose or starch paste.
Personally, I would stick to light to medium-weight paper-backed wallpaper that is not coated with vinyl. These wallpapers are breathable, less toxic than other options, and can be hung with a simple non-toxic paste below. Just check with the company to be sure.
Many non-woven wallpapers can also be applied with the basic paste.
If you would like to go with a wall covering that needs a stronger adhesive. I would talk to the brand about the options and test them for your own tolerability if you are sensitive to chemicals.
Types of Paste:
Standard Adhesive
Made of methylcellulose or starch these work for light to heavy paper-based wallpapers. They are totally benign.
Auro makes a wallpaper paste that is just methylcellulose for paper-backed wallpaper, both thin and some heavy wallpaper types.
The powder is made of pure (beech) methylcellulose and is mixed with water. There is no need to buy a branded version unless that is easier for you.
Make your own:
- Methylcellulose – you can buy methylcellulose on Amazon to make your own paste. Cellulose paste is particularly suited to light to medium-weight paper-backed paper. It can also work on some grass-cloth and paper-backed cork wall coverings.
- Starch-based paste – usually made from flour and alum. Caution with alum, as this is aluminum sulfate. In some cases, an essential oil might be added as a preservative. Dextrin can also be used in some formulas.
- Branded starch-based powder like Graham and Brown’s paste does have a biocide in it.
- If the company allows for methylcellulose as a paste, I would mix it myself.
Vinyl Adhesive
Clay-based paste has a base of clay, dextrin, and cellulose. What else is in it is not obvious.
A popular brand Shur Stik lists VOCs as less than 10 g/l – which means there is more in here than the natural substances listed above. Roman Pro 732 lists VOCs as less than 5 g/l.
This adhesive is used on vinyl wallpaper, heavyweight fabric, flexible wood, mylar, and foil types.
Clear vinyl paste is made of natural polymers such as wheat and corn starch or synthetic polymers. It’s not been made obvious what the synthetic polymers are. Other additives may include cellulose, biocides, and flow agents.
Roman PRO-838 Heavy Duty Clear Wallcovering Adhesive is a clear wallpaper paste for medium to heavy wallpaper, that has the VOCs listed as less than 5 g/l, which is very low.
Other Additives
Some pastes have PVA in them, this is a safe adhesive that is the base of white Elmer’s glue and carpenter glue.
Typical wallpaper paste is made with fungicide – both dry mix and ready mix.
Corinne Segura is an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.
Join the top Substack on healing from MCS and mold!
Amanda
Hello,
Do you have any information on wallpaper liners? I have plaster walls and would like to keep them breathable. It was recommended to use a wallpaper liner to help smooth them out. As always thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge on these subjects.
Cheers!
Amanda
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
I haven’t really looked at wallpaper liners closely
Maddie
Does wallpaper make a wall more susceptible to mold? I’d love to put some in my children’s rooms, but I’m worried about it causing issues.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
in certain conditions non breathable wallpaper, exterior wall, AC inside, hot humid outside with most wall assemblies but you would have to calculate the dew point to be sure
Ilene
Hi,
I am very confused. I am looking at York wallpaper French Marigold, which has metallic in it. I it still safe and non-toxic?
Thank you!
Ilene
Hi,
Do you know if serena & Lily grass cloth wallpaper is safe? Thank you for your time
Ilene Turker
Hi,
I am looking at York Wallpaper Pattern Number 4122-27012. It is a non-woven. How do I know if it is completely safe and non toxic?
Thank you so much
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
I review York Wallcoverings in the article
Heather Wendt
Have you looked into the Sandberg Wallpaper brand? Their material is non-woven paper and reinforced with nylon fibers. Would that be potentially be ok in that one (non exterior wall in a master bath)?
https://sandbergwallpaper.com/olof-sandstone
Thank you very much!!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
I would ask if it’s free of PFAS
Heather
Thank you! It’s not an exterior wall but we do have central AC. Still ok?
And what brand would you most recommend for acrylic? I didn’t see that an an option in those brands but maybe I missed it.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
they are in the article. non exterior wall is ok
Heather
Thank you! I only found the one (decorators best). The other acrylic mentioned are about paint used.
Have you looked into Sandberg brand? Their materials is non-woven paper and reinforced with nylon fibers. Would that be potentially be ok in that one (non exterior wall in a master bath)?
I greatly appreciate your time.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
most of the non PVC peel and sticks are acrylic, though some are polyester
Heather
Have you looked into the Sandberg brand? Their materials is non-woven paper and reinforced with nylon fibers. Would that be potentially be ok in that one (non exterior wall in a master bath)?
https://sandbergwallpaper.com/olof-sandstone
Thank you very much
Heather
Would you ever be OK with putting wallpaper on one wall in a master bathroom (above the vanity)? We do have a great vent fan but it can obviously be humid overall in that room due to the shower. I always see vinyl recomended for bathrooms but after reading this I wouldn’t use vinyl at all..
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
acrylic wallpaper sure as long as it’s not an exterior wall or you dont use AC inside
Iveth
Hi!
Do you have any information about the Brewster home Fashion wallpapers?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
Brewster is in the article
Iveth
oh my goodness, I completely missed it.
I sent them an email regarding the specific wallpaper I bought. However, the label in the package marks the next:
“23 DOP001
Release of formaldehyde: Passed
Release of other dangerous substances
of heavy metals & specific elements: passed
of vinyl chloride monomer (VCM): passed”
I’m not sure if this means it has traces but psssed the minimums or it’s free of it.
thoughts?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
probably referring to https://webstore.ansi.org/standards/bsi/bsen121491998?utm_source=chatgpt.com
JP
Hi Corinne
Any information on wall covering/wallpaper primer? Is it necessary?
I’m looking at this product.
https://romandecoratingproducts.com/product/eco-988/
Thank you.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
i believe it is necessary depending on the paper and what they recommend
Ilene Turker
Hi,
Thank you for all the information.
do you know anything about spoonflower’s grass cloth wallpaper? What kind of backing should non-toxic grasscloth have?
Is there a non-toxic glue to put up grasscloth?
Thank you
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
i would look at backings that are not PVC and not PVC coated either. glues are mentioned in the section on glues
Ilene Turker
Hi,
do you know anything about spoonflower’s grass cloth wallpaper?
Is there a non-toxic glue to put up grasscloth?
Thank you
Luke Marvin
“Great read! I really appreciate the fresh perspective you shared—it’s challenging the usual way of thinking in such an engaging way. Looking forward to more insightful content from you!
Nikki
Hi Corinne! I am wondering if pre-pasted wallpapers that are sprayed with water to adhere to the walls can eventually cause mold? I am looking at the pre-pasted from York/Joanna Gaines Magnolia. Thank you so much!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
No, not if the material itself is breathable or the material can be non breathable if you don’t use AC inside and it’s not in an exterior wall. also assuming you don’t have extremely high humidity inside because a lot of wallpaper might not work in the tropics for example.
Alicia
This is great info, but what is your take on countertop contact paper? Are there any non toxic brands out there for a cheaper countertop make over?
Could these brands mentioned here be used for countertops?
Appreciate your reply.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
no wallpaper wont work, contact paper is mentioned in the article on liners
Lorraine Bettelyoun
Hello,
I am looking for a wallpaper to put behind my stove. Do you have any suggestions?
It needs to withstand steam/heat.
Thanks!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
i would ask the peel and stick wallpaper companies in the article if it would work there. also if you use AC inside and that is an exterior wall then you should not use peel and stick at all. But if you don’t use AC and or it’s not an exterior wall then i would ask the companies.
Emily
You describe only a few of these products as being free of heavy metals. Does that mean that you were not able to confirm that the other products in your list were free of heavy metals?
What about PFAS?
Thank you!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
yeah that is correct. i didnt ask about PFAS in the original article but it is a good thing to ask the companies about. i will try to update the article.
Meredith
Hi, have you looked at Wallpaperie? They say completely free of PVC/vinyl and go into all the reasons why, but I haven’t seen this brand listed on any “non toxic” forums.
Any insight is welcome or how I could test a sample. Thanks!
https://www.wallpaperie.com/faq
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
it looks good
Dhanasekaran
Thank you for the articles. After I read the article I came to know about the types of wallpaper and certainly the wallpapers which are toxic to the wall.
Margaret
If buying a house that already has most walls covered in wallpaper and many floors are carpeted, how many years since they were originally installed would it normally take to be considered out-gassed? Thank you!
Corinne
It depends on what they are made of. If the wallpaper is vinyl, first I would remove that from exterior walls if you use AC. But in terms of offgassing I don’t have info on how long that takes. With carpet it depends on the type of carpet, padding and glues if any. Plus the temperature and air exchange and how sensitive you are. I would say the average nylon carpet that is conventional with a typical padding but no glue takes about 4 years or more to offgas.
Heather
Hello,
I have been using your guide, amongst many you have written. Thank you for doing this, you are awesome! Have you looked into Cole & Son? They have so many pretty papers, to the point I directly contacted them asking about toxicity. They replied with an attached Declaration of Performance which indicates the Heavy Metal, Formaldehyde and Vinyl Chloride monomer content, and basically also stated products requested are well below the required limits and well within safe limits and any trace amounts are from natural materials used. The wallpaper I was particularly interested in rates A+ French air quality standards ie low voc. So with this in mind, I just wanted to see if you had heard anything additionally about them? I wonder if Europe has safer standards w wallpaper than the US does?
Corinne
It sounds like a vinyl wallpaper.
Ryan Woolery
Recently purchased wallpaper from York Wallcoverings, and they had no idea about methylcellulose for an adhesive. Do you have any experience in using methylcellulose with this brand for their unpasted wallpaper? Thank You
Vivian
I recently purchased wallpaper from Addison’s Wonderland -I didn’t realize wallpaper was toxic toxic-I should have done research before as I am very chemically sensitive.. do you have any knowledge of this brand?
Corinne
You can compare it to the types in this post and also test it for yourself.
Tina Crisas
Can I just confirm that non-woven backed vinyl wallpaper is considered toxic, right?
I’m looking at the Caselio brand and while the “backed vinyl” isn’t included in their description online, a representative stated this while I asked about it on Facebook. So this would be a no-no? This would be for my 6 year old daughter’s bedroom.
Corinne
I wouldn’t use vinyl wallpaper
Wend
Thanks for this comprehensive write up. I do wonder, if you have tested/reviewed other peel and stick brands since this was published. I want to, need to have healthy alternatives for covering walls and doors, but have not had luck finding materials that fit my budget. Unfortunately for me, all these are too pricey, more so when factoring in shipping (I live in Puerto Rico). Thanks!
Lisa
Hi Corinne! Thank you for all of your helpful information on this site! We are hoping to put some nontoxic wallpaper in our new house and the installer said she would need to use a primer in addition to the paste…do you have a recommendation for a non-toxic, low/no-VOC, etc., wallpaper primer? Thank you so much for your expertise and insight!
Shell
Hello Corinne,
I am looking to print my own wallpaper with water-based ink. Might you suggest a wallpaper manufacturer in the US? I currently order grounds from https://www.omniwcinc.com/ But would like to know if you have any locally made sustainable picks.
Hillary
Quite a comprehensive list, thank you for sharing your research and results. I was looking at vintage Laura Ashley wallpaper and wonder how we can tell if a vintage roll has vinyl? The rolls I saw did not state it on the outer label. Looking inside on the very long instructions, the only clue I saw was that it says it is “coated with a washable coating which can be cleaned by wiping with a damp sponge. Scrubbing is normally unnecessary and must be avoided. Do not use any abrasive cleaners as these will reduce the washability of the coating.” It says on the roll to use a wheat paste. Any ideas about the “washable coating” they may have used? These rolls are likely from the 80’s or 90’s. Thanks for any insight!
Corinne
I’m not sure what they used at that time. Someone at the company might know.
Liz
Hi, Thank you for your site!
Can one put a sealer over a paintable vinyl wallpaper ? like Safecoat?,…I ask because I am looking for imitation bead board wallpaper and have not found it come up in the search on the companies you recommend. (have you? If you have can you tell me which company?)
thank you so much.
Corinne
You would probably have to test AFM Safecoat options on the specific wallpaper for adhesion. Some can stick to vinyl. You could also try their transitional primer (test it and or ask the company) The best seal is really shellac then paint but that would be a lot of work and it’s very thick too.
April
Do you have any suggestions for non-toxic waterproof contact paper that could be used to cover kitchen countertops?
Corinne
I have only seen contact paper in PVC/vinyl.
Sonam
Hi there! Thank you so much for this post and for what you do.
Could I get your opinion on the toxicity of these 2 wallpapers?
Please let me know if you need any more info!
Best regards,
Sonam
Corinne
You can compare them to the criteria in the post.
Jessica Pearlman
Hi Corrine,
Thank you very much for your website!
The house I bought has some sort of painted, wallpaper liner in the bedroom. Do you know if there are any options to test a sample to see if it contains PVC or heavy metals? Thanks very much.
—Jessica
Stefanie
Hi,
I fell in love with the idea of embossed wallpapers that you paint over, but they are typically made of vinyl. Do you know of any made of safer materials?
Thank you!
Stefanie
Corinne
I haven’t seen any that are PVC-free.
Cindi
Me too 🙁
Bennette Cowper
Hello! Sales, How are you doing ,My name is Mr.Bennette Cowper and I would like to
purchase some of your products. inquiry if you can ship directly to the new zealand
Do you accept credit card payment? Hoping if you Could send me your samples
and their prices if possible . I would be very happy to have an amazing business
with you ,I will be waiting for your feedback ,thank you
homeaddict
This is SO helpful! Thank you very much!
Christie
Hi! I have Hygge & West traditional paper wallpaper installed in my son’s nursery. I’m having a really hard time getting ahold of anyone there to answer my questions regarding the screening inks used to print on the paper.
Do you know if they’re water-based? A customer service rep said the inks contain vinyl, but are tested as safe and OSHA approved. Should I be concerned? The room was unoccupied for almost a year after the wallpaper was installed, but he has touched it and put his hands in his mouth.
Thanks for any insight!
Corinne
I have seen a sample of their wallpaper. Most wallpaper ink is no different than the ink used in illustrated books. The vast majority is water-based, I understood this one to be water-based and it did not have the offgassing of a solvent based ink. I would not be worried about this one.
Christie
Thank you! The wallpaper did have a slight smell when we opened it, but it dissipated within an hour. It’s impossible to get an answer regarding the type of ink used from customer service.
We used their traditional paper wallpaper (which is printed on FSC certified, PVC-free paper). Would you have any concerns about offgassing? My son has napped and played in that room his entire life, so I’m a little panicked.
Corinne
I don’t have any offgassing concerns with that one (after that first few hours or couple of days to air out).
Tracy Pilger
If it is okay if I chime in, I have similar concerns as you about chemical exposures. Sounds like your paper may be just fine but what I would do is purchase a high quality air purifier to clear voc, benzenes, formaldehydes in many furniture items, paints etc. We use Austin Air and I have friends who use the Molekule and love it too. I consider this a must in the children’s bedrooms. You can run it on high for ten minutes before nap or bed for extra healthy air. (then turn it back to low while sleeping) <3
Shelly Ready
I have a pre-pasted wallpaper but I was told I need to size the wall first to make removal easier and as not to damage the drywall. When I went to pick one up at the store, I ended up returning it after I read it contains lead. Do you recommend sizing the wall first and if so do you have any recommendations on brands?
Thank you,
Shelly Ready
Corinne
I would get another opinion from a wallpaper hanger on that and see if a primer on the wall would be good enough. If your drywall has a plaster coat that might be trickier.
Jen
What would you recommend for a bathroom that would cover up old 1970s wallpaper?
Corinne
If it’s in good shape and is a paper wallpaper you should be able to go over it with one of these. Make sure to get some advice on application.
Ashley
Do you have a top recommendation? I know it probably depends on design but with so many options of good companies, does one stand out?
Corinne
All of the options here are brands I would use in my house. But your choice depends on your budget, taste and how far you want to go with avoiding toxins.
michelle wallachu
Usually before I decorate I read your site but wallpapering never occurred to me to be possibly toxic. I haven’t hung it in 25 years. Just installed Demural from the UK photo vinyl that they claim is safe for children. Cannot find a materials page or other info so now I am worried. Have you heard of them or is there a link to investigate? Thank you
Carmella
Hi,
I have installed about 12′ of brick looking peel and stick wallpaper in bedroom, looks awesome but…the smell is so strong. I am normally conscientious of eco friendly products, but it didn’t occur to me that the paper might be toxic until after a few strips went up. The product is from RoomMates, it rates it self as very low emissions, but it is giving me a headache. I am questioning whether to leave it up for 2 weeks to let it off gas or remove it now. I don’t want to be breathing toxic air over the long term.
This company is not on your list, are you aware of the composition of their products or how safe it is?
Thanks
Carmella
Corinne
Those are PVC/vinyl from what I have seen, so they certainly offgas for a while.
Caspar moore-jones
Is there anyway of telling if the paste is wheat based? Also does the PVC contain chlorine which I am also allergic to.
Cassandre
Late to the post but such helpful information!!
Have you looked into paintable/textured wallpapers? I am wanting to do this in my daughters room but don’t want her to be breathing in toxins every night until she’s an adult –
I really want the texture and then am planning to paint with Farrow & Ball.
Do you think the toxins would be captured within the paint?
Or have you heard of or seen a textured paintable wallpaper that is non-toxic?
Thank you for your valuable work!
Riyaz
OMG, this site is awesome. what a wealth of info.
We are planning to use the Walltheory Faux brickwall panels. is this safe and non-toxic?
Janette
I haven’t looked into alł of these ranges, but I would really question some of the eco-ness of most of these papers, Paste the wall papers, are usually non-wovens. And in every case of non -women’s I have looked into it is polyester and a cellulose Polyester is a petrochemical. And this mix of cellulose and basically plastic is not able to be recycled or composted at the end of its life, so it is destined for the landfill, I would also question the bio-degradable nature of viscose. Which again is a cellulose and chemical mix.
I would really love to find wallpapers that fit my full cradle to cradle ethos!
Janette
*non-wovens. Silly auto correct.
Corinne
Yes being biodegradable could be something to look for, there are some that are!
Beth
Thanks for posting this. I wanted to share my experience, in case it is helpful for anybody else.
I recently purchased the Magnolia Home peel and stick paper (which is produced by York – both of which are mentioned on your list), and find it fairly strong smelling. I did an accent wall about a week ago, and my house still smells like a glue factory. I can smell it when I walk in the door, and am trying to figure out how much longer to leave it up in case the odor gets better, or just take it off the wall. It’s basically a big sheet of contact paper that smells like glue.
The Spoonflower peel and stick, from my testing, was much milder. I concur it has an odor, though I didn’t find it very irritating. It was sort of sweet, like honey and sugar, to my nose. The Spoonflower samples I put on my walls were neutral after about two weeks, and even in the first few days I didn’t find them troublesome – just noticeable. I feel confident I could use a larger swath of them without a major problem.
This hasn’t been the case with the York paper / Magnolia Home line, unfortunately. My primary reason for going with the Magnolia product was price – I have five dining room walls to do, and Spoorflower will cost excess of $1000 while Magnolia was going to sit around $220.
For those who are interested in this product, it’s possible to get samples so I recommend that. We all have different tolerances, so this product might be a great fit for some. It doesn’t give me a headache or anything… it just… smells so strong and unpleasant to me.
As a note, I opted for peel and stick because it can go over wallpaper in certain situations. Removing my existing wallpaper will cause me some respiratory issues, I’m afraid, so peel and stick was my preferred option.
Corinne
Thank you so much for sharing!
Corinne
I got samples of this as I wanted to compare them too and I was suspicious that this might have been vinyl. The samples seemed very low odor to me. I got Dots on Dots and Watercolor Check from York. Hopefully everyone reading will get samples. These both still seem like good choices for me as I actually did better with them than spoonflower. Though York did get back to me and said it contains “trace amounts of PVC”.
Melinda Ann
Hi! Would any of these work in an airstream shower? I know standard vinyl will but don’t want to steam up a bunch of toxins every day. Thanks!
Corinne
I wouldn’t put any wallpaper in the shower.
MG
Thank you for this post! Have you looked into chasing paper?
Corinne
I havent looked at that one!
Ana
Hi Corrine, this is from Chasing Paper’s website:
“All our wallpaper is vinyl, VOC, PVC and phthalate free. We print with latex inks which are water based and non-toxic. We like to say that our paper is “safe for kids and safe from kids” as it’s non-toxic and wipeable :)”
Not sure about the formaldehyde or the chemical flame retardants, and also don’t know if it has a smell because of the latex. I plan to reach out to them and ask those questions.
Corinne
Latex doesn’t mean natural latex or synthetic latex here, it’s a term used to describe acrylic or other similar polymers. It’s water based ink and has a odor right when it’s new but is quick to dissipate. The acrylic plastic in peel and stick wallpaper has a slight odor as well as so does the glue though that is mostly blocked.