Is There Safe Wallpaper?

April 3, 2017 by Debra Lynn Dadd

Question from Eliana

Hi Debra,

I am thinking of having wallpaper in my dining room. The selection of non-vinyl wallpaper is very slim. I am very green and keep indoor air as clean as I can. The question is, does vinyl off gas forever? The other question is, what about the glue they use to put it up. Is it sealed once the wallpaper is on and if not does it off gas forever?

It is so challenging to stay green in the world we live in. 

Please let me know?

Thanks so much.

Debra's Answer

Soft vinyl outgassed forever, to a lesser and lesser degree as time goes by. I really recommend no using vinyl wallpaper.

In addition, if you use air conditioning, mold can grow behind wallpaper which is a vapor barrier stopping hot and moist exterior air entering walls in summer.

Over the years I’ve seen a few uncoated paper wallpapers, but personally, if you want a pattern on the walls, I would stencil or hand paint the pattern with a nontoxic paint rather than try to deal with a paper wallpaper. I’m concerned it may mold.

Here is a very good list of the many different types of wallpapers, showing the materials—both synthetic and natural—used to make them:

Wallpaper Types, Textures, And Their Different Applications

And here is a resource about wallpaper adhesives:
Wallpaper Adhesives

The choices for paste seems to be vinyl, wheat, or cellulose.

So it IS possible to find a natural wallpaper and a natural paste, but I am concerned about mold, especially in a humid environment.