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Interesting Wallpaper Facts

Wallpaper goes in and out of trend frequently, but it will always remain popular for its convenience, flexibility, and for the wide range of styles and designs that are available. Having separately been banned and taxed in Britain, and there will always be those that prefer a painted wall over a papered one.

1- It Was Invented In The 15th Century There are some that believe the first wallpaper was used in China before Europe, but evidence suggests that it was first invented in the 15th Century, in Europe, after paper making was first introduced. The earliest designs would have been plain or hand painted and it is likely that the very earliest designs would have mirrored the scenes of early embroidery and needlework.
2- It Was Once Banned In Britain When Oliver Cromwell overthrew King Charles I, in 1653, he banned the mass production of wallpaper because he disapproved of anything considered frivolous and vain. It was only when Cromwell died, in 1658, and Charles II took the throne that the industry could start creating wallpaper once again. Although it wasn’t outlawed again, in 1712, a wallpaper tax was introduced in Great Britain.

3- Victorian Wallpaper Probably killed thousands Green was very much the color of choice for Victorian households, when choosing wallpaper, but manufacturers used arsenic as a means of getting the desired green colors. Arsenic poisoning likely killed a lot of inhabitants. Such was the danger of arsenic-based wallpaper that a book called Shadows from the Walls of Death was written to warn of the dangers. However, the book included 86 samples of the wallpaper, which meant that it too was considered too dangerous, and only four copies of the book exist today, including one in the Harvard University Medical School.
4- Bubble Wrap Was Meant As Soundproof Wallpaper Bubble wrap was originally invented as a type of wallpaper. Engineers Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes created a textured wallpaper by combining two shower curtains with pockets of air in between. When it failed to gain traction as a wallpaper, the two then marketed it as an insulation material for greenhouses. It was only in 1959, three years after the initial invention, that a marketer realised the material’s benefit as a protective packing material when looking for a means to protect new IBM computers.

5 - What Are The Benefits Of Wallpaper? Wallpaper can hide imperfections on and in the wall. It actually comes in a greater variety of colors and designs than paint, and it can last up to 15 years, or even longer.
6 - Wallpaper Can Reduce Your Energy Costs According to some estimates, wallpaper can save you 5% on your energy bills because it is a thermal insulator. This means that it retains warmth in the winter so it keeps your room warm, and it cools your room in summer.