Real grasscloth wallpaper is hand made from natural woven fibres such as jute, sisal or raffia, while vinyl faux grasscloth wallpaper is designed to imitate the same textured look with greater durability and easier maintenance.
Real grasscloth offers unmatched natural texture and variation, while faux grasscloth is better suited to bathrooms, kitchens, commercial spaces and family homes.
To help you decide which is best for you we will explore the benefits and properties of both options.
Grasscloth is typically used as an umbrella term for wallcoverings made of woven, natural fibres like jute, sisal & raffia. Raw grass is handwoven to make the wallpaper front.
This type of wallcovering contains lots of textured uneven threads and even knots where the grass blades were tied together during the making.
To make it possible to hang like a wallpaper it then has a backing applied for installation.
Because each panel is hung offset instead of lining up as a regular wallpaper would, this gives you the main point of visual difference in appearance. You may see joins and should embrace the mismatch panel hung system as this is how it is meant to look.
When hung grasscloth shows subtle color variations from panel to panel, horizontal filaments will never line up side to side from one roll to another and usually the dye takes unevenly, creating a beautiful variegated product. Resulting in giving a one-of-a-kind, delightfully inconsistant offset finish you just want to run your hands over. Here the frayed weave equals instant warmth, luxury and adds a layer of further dimension to your interior design.
If your home encompasses natural materials then you will love to be able to incorporate a natural wallpaper into your home. And compared to vinyl wallpaper a grasscloth or grassweave is more breathable, has insulation qualities and is sustainably sourced.
Due to the fabric nature of Grasscloth it can’t be cleaned like other “washable” or “scrubbable” wallpapers. It can be brushed lightly or even very carefully vacuumed on a very low suction. Plus it absorbs odours easily so having it in an room where you smoke, near a kitchen or if you have pets may result in it retaining the smells with you unable to clean it.
Natural wallpaper made with grass, raffia or sisal are also not suited to wet areas. If you get water on your wallcovering it may result in staining as the front face is not sealed to maintain the woven textured effect. So bathrooms and kitchens are not advised as areas to hang grasscloths.
Homes with cats are a definite no-no, they love scratching their claws along it! And being on the expensive side in the world of wallpaper, you want to ensure you can prolong the life of it.
Vinyl wallpapers are a synthetic material that is versatile and durable. They can be wiped clean and most are even washable.
Designers Guild and Casamance among many other brands have designed vinyl wallpaper to look like grasscloth. When they are installed they don’t have the panelled effect you get with grasscloth and have the usual expected seamless finish. You don’t see the joins and the colour is consistent.
However they feel textured not flat so your room still retains that luxe style but with a more practical and hard-waring finish. Faux grasscloths can also look very realistic making them a great alternative to the real thing.
| Feature | Real Grasscloth | Vinyl Grasscloth |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Natural fibres | Vinyl or non-woven |
| Texture | Authentic woven texture | Simulated texture |
| Seams visible | Yes | No |
| Washable | No | Usually yes |
| Bathrooms | Not recommended | Often suitable |
| Durability | Delicate | Durable |
| Colour consistency | Varied naturally | Consistent |
| Price | Higher | Often lower |
| Best for | Luxe living spaces | Practical everyday spaces |
It used to be that grasscloth wallcoverings only used to come dyed in one colour. There are now some stunning patterned wallpaper designs.
Hopefully you now have a greater understanding of the textured products on offer. This will enable you to make informed decisions when buying wallpaper.
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