Types of Wallpaper Made Simple So You Can Pick the Right One

Most wallpaper choices come down to two questions: how you want the wall to feel, and how easy you want it to be to put up and take down. At Giffywalls we sort every wall covering we make into eight clear types of wallpaper, so you can match a finish to your room in minutes instead of guessing from a photo. The eight are Standard Paper, Premium Matte, Canvas Paper, Brush Stroke, Gold Line, Metallic Pearl, Peel and Stick, and Peel and Stick Fabric. They share one made to measure promise and are printed to your exact wall dimensions, so the real decision is texture, sheen, and how you want to hang it.

If you want the short answer: pick Standard Paper or Premium Matte for a smooth everyday wall, Canvas Paper or Brush Stroke for added texture, Gold Line or Metallic Pearl for a warm or lustrous finish, and either self-adhesive option if you rent or redecorate often. Giffywalls makes custom size, self-adhesive wallpapers and large scale murals for homes and commercial spaces, so nothing arrives in a fixed size: you send your measurements and we cut the wallpaper or wall mural to fit. We have printed every order in house since 2019 on HP Latex printers using GREENGUARD Gold certified inks, so the color you approve is the color that reaches your wall.

What Are the Main Types of Wallpaper?

The phrase types of wallpaper can mean two things. It can describe the pattern, like floral or geometric, or it can describe the wallpaper materials and finish under that pattern. This guide covers the second meaning, because the material decides durability, sheen, how the wallpaper handles a lightly textured wall, and how you remove it later. Every one of our 8 materials of wallpaper is PVC-free, ships with free glue and a squeegee, and carries a scratch resistant surface, so you are choosing between looks and handling rather than quality tiers.

What Does GSM Mean in Wallpaper?

GSM means grams per square meter, a simple measure of weight and thickness. A higher GSM usually means a heavier, more substantial wall covering with more body when you hang it. Our types run from a 230 GSM everyday paper base up to a 300 GSM fabric-based canvas, so GSM is an easy first signal of how premium a finish feels in the hand, and a quick way to compare wallpaper types side by side.

The 8 Types of Wallpaper Compared

Smooth and Matte Finishes for Everyday Rooms

Two of our most popular types of wallpaper material sit in the smooth and matte family, for people who want color and pattern without shine competing for attention.

What is Standard Paper wallpaper?

Standard Paper is our everyday paper-based wallpaper, built on a 230 GSM base with a smooth matte surface and no reflection. It keeps a pattern calm in daylight and under lamps, holds up on lightly textured walls, and can even go on ceilings, which makes it the easiest first pick if you are new to wallpaper. We have shipped thousands of these as both repeat patterns and full wall murals.

What is Premium Matte wallpaper?

Premium Matte is the refined take on a smooth wall, built on a heavier 280 GSM feather finish that reaches an ultra-matte surface with zero reflection and a little more color depth. It is the upgrade for a space you want to feel considered and soft to the eye, and it is customizable to your exact measurements like every type here.

Textured Finishes That Add Depth

When a flat finish feels too plain, texture is the answer. Three of our wallpaper finishes carry real surface character.

What is Canvas Paper wallpaper?

Canvas Paper is our artisan finish, a 300 GSM fabric-based canvas with a woven matte feel that gives murals a gallery quality. It reads like a framed piece rather than a flat sheet, which is why customers reach for it on large feature areas and wall mural moments above a sofa or bed.

What is Brush Stroke textured wallpaper?

Brush Stroke is a 240 GSM polyester fabric with a stroke-textured white matte finish, so the surface catches light in soft directional lines. It is fire rated as well as scratch resistant, which makes it a crafted-looking option that still copes with busier rooms.

What is Gold Line natural weave wallpaper?

Gold Line is woven from a 280 GSM golden thread material for a warm natural texture with a quiet glow rather than a metallic flash. The weave gives a grounded, characterful feel that pairs well with wood tones and earthy palettes, and it handles lightly textured walls with ease.

Metallic and Pearl Shimmer Wallpaper

What is Metallic Pearl shimmer wallpaper?

Metallic Pearl is a 280 GSM paper base carrying a pearl luster shimmer that stays subtle rather than overpowering. The sheen shifts gently as you move past it, which is the metallic look people want when they want shimmer without a mirror-like glare, and evening light is when it quietly comes alive.

Peel and Stick Wallpaper for Renters

For anyone who rents, redecorates often, or simply does not want glue, the two self-adhesive types are built for you. Removable wallpaper has become one of the most requested categories we make, and these are our temporary-friendly options.

What is Peel and Stick wallpaper?

Peel and Stick is our removable everyday choice, a 280 GSM caviar texture surface that is self-adhesive, easy to hang, and easy to take down, with a non-reflective matte finish that is fire rated and scratch resistant. Because it lifts away cleanly, it is the type renters reach for and a sensible pick for a busy bathroom.

What is Peel and Stick Fabric wallpaper?

Peel and Stick Fabric is the hybrid upgrade, a fabric-backed self-adhesive base with a woven surface texture and a matte finish with no reflection. You get renter-friendly convenience with a more premium hand feel, for anyone who wants the look of a fabric wall without the paste of a traditional install.

How to Choose the Right Wallpaper

With so many different types of wallpaper, choosing gets easy once you sort by priority, then let pattern be the fun part.

• Want simple and reliable: Standard Paper.
• Want the softest, deepest matte: Premium Matte.
• Want woven, gallery texture: Canvas Paper.
• Want a painterly, crafted surface that is also fire rated: Brush Stroke.
• Want warm natural texture: Gold Line.
• Want subtle shimmer and a hint of luxury: Metallic Pearl.
• Rent or change rooms often: Peel and Stick.
• Want removable plus a fabric feel: Peel and Stick Fabric.

A few practical notes from years of producing these. Every type works on lightly textured walls and most can go on ceilings, so an uneven surface rarely rules an option out. Moisture-prone rooms pair best with the self-adhesive Peel and Stick option, which lifts cleanly if your space changes. And because all eight are made to measure, you never buy more than your wall needs.

Best Wallpaper for Each Room

How Much Does Wallpaper Cost, and How to Get a Sample

Pricing follows the material, not a fixed pack. The everyday paper types sit at the friendly end, the textured and fabric types like Canvas Paper and Brush Stroke sit in the middle, and the woven and shimmer finishes such as Gold Line and Metallic Pearl sit at the premium end. Because every order is priced by your exact wall size, two people rarely pay the same, which is fairer than buying fixed lengths and trimming the waste. If you are weighing two finishes, order a sample first. Seeing the real texture and sheen on your own wall, in your own light, settles the choice faster than any photo, and we offer free and fast shipping so your order arrives ready to apply.

How to Clean and Care for Wallpaper

Looking after any of these types is straightforward. The scratch resistant surface on every option shrug off everyday knocks, and a soft dry cloth handles dust. For textured types like Canvas Paper and Brush Stroke, wipe gently along the grain rather than scrubbing across it. The self-adhesive Peel and Stick types are the simplest to refresh, since you can lift and reposition them while hanging and remove them later with minimal fuss. Keep direct heavy moisture off the paper-based types and they will hold their color and finish for years.

Which Wallpaper Type Suits You Best

There is no single best wallpaper, only the best one for your wall and your habits. Smooth and matte for calm everyday rooms, textured and woven for depth, metallic for quiet shine, and peel and stick for freedom. Whichever of these types of wallpaper fits your space, the Giffywalls promise stays the same: a custom size, made to measure wall covering printed to your exact dimensions and ready to apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main types of wallpaper?

The main types are sorted by finish and feel: smooth matte for calm everyday rooms, textured or woven for depth, metallic for subtle shimmer, and self-adhesive peel and stick for easy, removable hanging. Giffywalls offers eight: Standard Paper, Premium Matte, Canvas Paper, Brush Stroke, Gold Line, Metallic Pearl, Peel and Stick, and Peel and Stick Fabric.

Which wallpaper type is best for renters?

Peel and Stick is the best fit because it is self-adhesive, easy to hang, and lifts away cleanly without paste. Peel and Stick Fabric offers the same removable convenience with a more premium woven feel.

What is the most durable wallpaper finish?

Every Giffywalls finish has a scratch resistant surface. The fabric-based types like Brush Stroke are fire rated as well, which makes them a strong choice for busier walls that still need to look crafted.

Can wallpaper be used in bathrooms and kitchens?

Yes. For moisture-prone rooms the self-adhesive Peel and Stick option is the safest pick because it handles slightly textured walls and removes cleanly if the space changes.

Does a higher GSM mean better wallpaper?

Not always. A higher GSM means a heavier, more substantial wall covering that can feel more premium, but the right weight depends on the look you want. Giffywalls types run from a 230 GSM everyday paper base to a 300 GSM fabric-based canvas, and each suits a different finish.

Do I need glue, or is peel and stick easier?

Paste-applied types ship with free glue and a squeegee, so everything you need is included. Peel and Stick types skip glue entirely and use a self-adhesive backing, which many people find quicker for a first install.

Can these wallpapers go on textured walls or ceilings?

Every type works on lightly textured walls, and most can be applied to ceilings, so an uneven surface rarely rules out an option.

Written by Dipan Patel, co-founder of Giffywalls. Last updated June 18, 2026.