Liquid Kitchen Wallpaper

Can it be used in the kitchen?

Before you figure out whether liquid wallpaper is suitable for the kitchen, you need to understand what kind of material it is.

Liquid wallpaper or silk plaster, unlike regular wallpaper, is not sold in rolls, but in bags. A dry mixture of colored cellulose and decorative additives is diluted with water, and then the liquid mixture is applied with a spatula – like plaster. The original coating looks like a soft porous stone, and if you get closer – felted felt.

Liquid wallpaper can be used in the kitchen, but due to the fear of water, you should not apply it to the apron in the cooking area and sink. It is better to wallpaper surfaces away from fire, high temperatures and water – for example, in the area of the dining table or storage cabinets.

Advice! If your kitchen is small (4-6 sq. m), you should not use this type of wallpaper: in a compact room, there is a high risk of greasy stains on all walls, not only near the countertop. And it will be almost impossible to wash them off.

Pros and cons

Let’s consider all the advantages and disadvantages of the coating:

• Safe: the composition does not cause allergies, does not emit caustic substances.
• Aesthetic: there is a large selection of different shades and textures in stores. In addition, there will be no seams on the surface.
• Practical: do not absorb odors, easy to restore.
• Easy to apply: do not require leveling the base, suitable for beginners, easy to finish corners and curves.

• Hydrophobic: since water is used for application, the surface is aquaphobic – wet cleaning is prohibited, and it is also undesirable to use near a sink. How to solve this problem we will tell below.
• They require skill: applying the liquid mass is not a difficult process, but in order to do it well without overspending the material, you need to get the hang of it.
• Not wear-resistant: a thin layer, for example, can wear off due to constant friction – for example, near switches or seats in the kitchen.

The photo shows an example of texture close-up

Which material is better to choose?

Despite their diversity, liquid wallpaper comes in only 4 types:

1. Made of cellulose. The cheapest and least durable of all possible.
2. Made of silk. Silk fiber looks and costs more, lasts longer, is not afraid of ultraviolet radiation. The most expensive.
3. Made of cotton. They are cheaper than silk, have a small unusual texture reminiscent of paper.
4. Made of a mixture of silk and cellulose. The average option, combining an affordable price and high quality: the more silk in the composition, the more durable the surface will be.

Not only the material, but also the manufacturer plays an important role in the choice.

• France (Senideco, Cotex, RMD). They are considered pioneers in the market. They are distinguished by high quality and no less high price, as well as a diverse palette.
• Turkey (Silkcoat, Bayramyx). An excellent alternative to French liquid mixtures: beautiful, high-quality, but less expensive.
• Russia (Stenol, Danish plaster, Silk Plaster). It is profitable to buy such, but the palette of shades is much narrower than that of Turkish or French analogues – often the dye is sold separately.

Many manufacturers produce not only liquid mixtures, but also offer special protective diluted varnishes: they will help protect cellulose from moisture and dirt! The walls or ceiling of the kitchen with dried material are covered with a thin layer of transparent varnish – voila, the surface can be wiped with a damp cloth or even washed! In this case, nothing prevents you from using the material even in a small kitchen.

Important! Acrylic varnish coating will reduce the texture of the wallpaper and its “breathing” properties to nothing, so decide what is more important before you start.

To be sure to be satisfied with your purchase, follow the advice of experts:

• Contact trusted stores that certainly do not ignore the rules for storing goods. Failure to comply with the rules can spoil the material.
• Give preference to well-known brands – manufacturers value their reputation and will not use low-quality raw materials.
• Carefully examine the appearance of the mixture. It should be homogeneous, practically odorless.
• Don’t chase a low price. High-quality options will serve you for ~10 years, and cheap ones will deteriorate in two or three. Do not forget: a miser pays twice. In addition, ready-made liquid mixtures are sold in the more expensive segment.

Application technology

Liquid mixtures are suitable for finishing not only vertical but also horizontal surfaces: for example, the ceiling. But the main field, of course, remains the walls.

In order for the finishing to last as long as possible, the surface must be prepared:

1. Remove the old coating. Carefully remove old wallpaper, paint or tiles.
2. Patch large holes. Liquid mass perfectly masks small defects, but it is better to get rid of large depressions and cracks in more traditional ways: plaster and putty.
3. Protect metal from rust. If reinforcement or other metal elements are visible in the wall, cover them with varnish or paint – if the metal begins to rust from moisture, red spots will appear on the wallpaper.
4. Preparation. Before any finishing work, the base is covered with a primer, liquid wallpaper is no exception. Choose a composition with waterproofing properties so that the surface does not get damp during operation.

Important! Do not start mixing the composition until you have studied the instructions for use: preparing the mixture is one of the most important stages, how the wallpaper is applied and what the result of the entire work will be will depend on it. To avoid lumps, add water to the dry mixture, not the other way around.

To prepare the mixture, follow these steps:

1. Carefully knead the bag of dry mixture to avoid lumps;
2. Pour the entire contents of the bag into a bucket;
3. Carefully pour room temperature water into the bucket and mix thoroughly;
4. After this, you need to knead the resulting mass with your hands;
5. If the consistency is too thick, add more water;
6. Close hermetically seal and leave to soak for about 8 hours (usually the exact time is indicated on the package).

If the consistency is too thick, add more water;

Seal hermetically and leave to soak for about 8 hours (usually the exact time is indicated on the package).

Step-by-step application instructions are similar to the work with decorative plaster, so those who have already worked with it will not have any difficulties. And for beginners, I have prepared a guide and a video:

1. Prepare the tools: a spatula and a trowel;
2. Mix the finished liquid mass thoroughly (add more water if necessary);
3. Start with the lightest corner in the kitchen.
4. Apply the diluted liquid wallpaper to the trowel using a spatula and spread it over its entire surface;
5. Take the trowel at eye level at an angle of 15-30 degrees and carefully spread it over the wall with slow sideways movements. It is important to get a layer thickness of 1.5 to 3 mm.
6. Repeat these steps until you have pasted the entire planned area.

Repeat these steps until you have pasted the entire planned area.

Due to its elasticity, such wallpaper is used not only throughout the surfaces, but also as a special decoration for the kitchen. Using a template, you can create a beautiful designer pattern, even without having artistic talent. Professionals can create complex 3D images by adjusting the layer thickness.

How to care for?

We have already mentioned two main aspects that you need to know for careful care:

• Antistatic. Dust practically does not accumulate on the surface.
• Hydrophobic. Wallpaper is destroyed by any liquid substances (unless it is varnished, of course).

Based on this, we can conclude that the only suitable option is dry cleaning. Do it with a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush – go over the walls during cleaning once every couple of months to remove all dirt.

Wallpaper has another advantage: if necessary, it can be restored! If there is a food stain on the surface or you accidentally caught and tore off a small piece of wallpaper, it is easy to make a patch.

1. To do this, first remove the material with the stain;
2. Then the area around the damaged area must be thoroughly moistened until a liquid consistency appears and “loosely” a little;
3. The last step is to smooth out the bald spot: the same way you did during application.

Design ideas in the kitchen interior

The main difference of this type of wallpaper is the texture and color. Large, spacious kitchens use coarse-grained materials, while small kitchens use fine, almost smooth ones.

Light, warm shades (beige, yellow, peach, creme brulee) are preferable for covering the walls in small northern kitchens. Cold shades (blue, green, gray) are suitable for decorating southern rooms: both large and small. White liquid wallpaper with shine will make a tiny kitchen more spacious.

If you plan to make a drawing, its dimensions should also be proportionate to the space: large paintings, maxi format are used in a large kitchen. For a small one, it is better to choose not too large abstract repeating patterns.

The photo shows gray walls in the kitchen