Cork wallpaper is increasingly becoming popular in the design of modern interiors. Not surprising, because they are based on natural material, which allows you to achieve the effect of being closer to nature.

“Cork” is the common name for the bark of the cork oak, the main feature and advantage of which is the quickly regenerating bark. It is obtained from 15-year-old trees, extracted from the trunk once every 10 years, which is completely safe for the tree; moreover, it retains its properties for up to 200 years. A large-scale producer of cork is Portugal, less commonly produced in France, Italy, Spain, and northern Africa.

Advantages and disadvantages of cork wallpaper

Cork wallpaper is not limited to only environmental properties. In addition to the naturalness of the material, such canvases have a number of other advantages:

• stunning aesthetics, this is an excellent option for lovers of eco-style interiors;
• low thermal conductivity - cork perfectly accumulates heat without blocking cold from the outside;
• good sound insulation - the porosity of the material perfectly absorbs and dissipates sound waves;

• regulation of humidity levels – cork naturally regulates humidity, maintaining it at an optimal level for the human body;
• antistatic – the cork is electrically neutral, so it does not attract dust, always remaining clean;
• fire safety - despite its “wood” origin, cork is completely non-flammable;

• durability - due to its porous structure, cork wallpaper is resistant to mechanical stress. In addition, they do not fade or lose color, even under intense sunlight;
• safety for the human body - cork has antibacterial properties, is hypoallergenic, prevents the appearance and development of mold and mildew, even in conditions of high humidity;
• easy to care for - such wallpaper is easy to clean and does not deform when in contact with water and household chemicals.

But besides the advantages, some disadvantages of cork wallpaper should also be pointed out:

• price - the high cost of such paintings is perhaps their most important drawback. High-quality Portuguese cork has the highest price;
• absorption of odors – the porous structure immediately absorbs and retains odors for a long time. Therefore, in rooms where persistent odors may appear, cork wallpaper should be coated with wax or varnish;

• Difficulties with replacement - gluing other canvases over cork wallpaper will not work. They will have to be completely removed, which will be very difficult;
• such wallpaper cannot be repainted;
• pets – cork wallpaper and beloved pets – are incompatible concepts: the temptation to chew on a cork or sharpen your claws is very strong. Therefore, you will either have to abandon the cork or place such a covering outside the access area of ​​animals.

How to choose?

There are three types of cork wallpaper:

• paper-based - cork veneer is glued onto the paper itself. The texture of this coating is very diverse and expressive, with a wide palette - from light beige to dark ocher.

• without base (rolled) - produced by hot pressing of crushed bark. The thickness of this fabric is 2-2.5 mm;

• self-adhesive wallpaper is something between roll cork and cork wallpaper. It is enough to simply remove the paper layer from the cork base, onto which the adhesive composition is first applied, after which you can paste over the walls. But keep in mind that such finishing is far from a guarantee of a durable and effective result.

Shades of sand, gold, brown and beige will add warmth to any room, making it conducive to rest and relaxation. This is what contributes to the frequent use of cork in country style homes or ethnic design.

The dirt resistance and mechanical strength of such wallpapers causes a high demand for them for the design of commercial buildings with high traffic, halls, corridors, and offices.

The use of cork wallpaper in the interior implies some restrictions in the choice of furniture. Even in combination with other coverings, cork creates a feeling of excess wood in the room. Therefore, in a room decorated with cork, there should be as little wooden furniture as possible. Refined polished furniture in dark colors goes well with cork.

Tip: Dyed cork fabrics are ideally combined with synthetic items.

Despite the interesting texture and natural color, monotonous cork is quite boring. It’s better to refresh it with areas tastefully decorated with other materials.

Note: when combining different types of wallpaper, the main thing is that the difference is not noticeable. Therefore, in the case of cork canvases, you need to select fairly thick varieties. If you cannot hide the difference in thickness, you can use decorative moldings or joining materials.

Sticking

Before you start gluing, you need to unroll the wallpaper and let it sit in the room for some time. It would be good to immediately cut them into strips and leave them under pressure for several days. Although the structure of cork sheets is quite heterogeneous, they do not hide wall defects well, so its surface must be smooth.

Cork wallpaper is “heavy” in its structure and density, and therefore requires high-quality reliable glue, for example, acrylic.

• It is better to start pasting the room from the corner. In general, processing the corner in this case is not an easy task. If the cork sheet is bent sharply or inaccurately, it may crack;
• It is necessary to glue cork wallpaper exclusively at the joint;
• gluing wallpaper with acrylic glue requires efficiency, so it is better to handle large pieces of cork with two people.

The process of gluing cork wallpaper involves the following steps:

1. Apply acrylic glue to a section of the wall that is the same size as the piece of wallpaper to be glued. Spread the glue evenly with a comb.
2. Place a piece of wallpaper on the surface so that there is no air inside and press down.
3. Remove excess glue with a knife. Do not try to wash off the glue with water, as this will cause a white coating to form on the wallpaper. So let the excess dry and then carefully scrape or cut it off.

Many people nowadays, when planning a room renovation, are thinking about choosing natural materials for finishing. One of the common options is cork wallpaper for walls. This finish instantly gives the room a natural effect and makes it extremely stylish. This design solution is suitable for supporters of environmental friendliness in the interior - those who value natural materials. Cork wallpaper helps create a particularly cozy microclimate in the room, an atmosphere of peace and comfort.

In order to obtain cork wallpaper, they use the bark of oak, which grows in Mediterranean countries. The material is crushed and then pressed. The resulting cork crumbs are layered on a paper base. It produces two types of cork coverings: rolls and slabs. In order to obtain a glossy surface of the slab, a special wax coating is used.

Cork wallpaper is never a single color. Brown and gray shades in the wallpaper are combined with darker splashes. Wallpaper is easy to cut and can be used to create various decorations, ornaments and patterns.

What is this material? The main component of this coating is cork oak bark, which is highly crushed and applied to a dense base of paper or non-woven fabric. The bark of this type of oak is removed only once a decade. An interesting fact is that when making such wallpaper, glue is not required, since the cork releases it during processing. see the gallery here.

Cork wallpaper in rolls has firmly entered the modern practice of interior art, giving notes of aesthetics, durability and environmental friendliness for environmental harmony. A win-win finishing material at an affordable price for an apartment or house, with individuality and design excellence.

Reliable cork wallpaper – proven benefits of choice

• The grace and originality of the decorative properties of cork wallpaper, with the creation of a unique, individual design, in the harmony of a balanced, verified classic interior.
• Environmental friendliness and safety - using only natural materials in production, creating a hypoallergenic, practical and durable material.
• Excellent tactile properties of the material, with softness and texture pleasant to the touch.
• Compliance with high fire safety standards - wallpaper made from cork does not support combustion.
• The flexibility of the material allows you to effectively work with concave and convex base surfaces.
• Affordable price of cork wallpaper thanks to direct deliveries from the manufacturer.

• pets - there is no escape from the call of nature, no scratching posts can replace natural wood for a cat (dog) - the temptation to sharpen their claws or simply chew the cork is too strong. Therefore, you will either have to completely abandon the cork wall covering, or place it at a height inaccessible to animals

Choosing cork wallpaper

According to the manufacturing method, cork wallpaper is divided into three types:

• based on paper – veneer made of cork is glued onto paper. The very structure of this coating is quite expressive, varied and beautiful, with a rich range of shades - from dark ocher to light beige. You can choose wallpaper with a cork layer pre-painted in a non-standard color. The thickness of the cork layer is about 0.5 mm

• baseless (rolled cork) - obtained by hot pressing of pre-crushed bark. The process occurs without the additional addition of adhesives - the bark contains natural adhesive substances (resin) released when heated. As the crumbs cool, they stick together to form a single whole. The thickness of the canvas is about 2-2.5 mm

• self-adhesive cork is an intermediate option between cork wallpaper and roll cork. It is enough to remove the paper from the cork layer on which the adhesive composition has previously been applied, and you can paste over the required surface. However, such a simple finish does not guarantee an effective and durable result.

Shades of beige, sand, brown and gold can add warmth to any room, making it conducive to relaxation, rest and a relaxed pastime.

It is this factor that determines the most frequent use of cork wallpaper in classic style interior,in a country style house or ethnic (African). Delicate shades of cork go well with textiles in children's rooms.

Since cork wallpapers are dirt-resistant and mechanically durable, they are actively used for decorating high-traffic commercial premises, offices, halls and corridors.

Advice! Dyed cork wallpaper will be optimally combined with synthetic materials.

The use of cork wallpaper imposes some restrictions on the choice of furniture. Cork, even diluted with other wall coverings, creates the impression of abundance in the room. Therefore, a room covered with cork should contain a minimum of wooden furniture. Elegant polished furniture in dark shades will go well with cork wallpaper.

For more information about cork wallpaper in the interior, watch the video

Despite the pleasant color and interesting texture, the monotonous decoration of the entire wall with cork is quite boring, so it is advisable to “dilute” it with areas decorated with other materials.

Advice! The main thing when combining different types of wallpaper is that the difference in thickness should not be visible, so for cork wallpaper you need to select thick types of paper wallpaper. If the difference in the thickness of the materials cannot be hidden, it is worth using joining materials or decorative

How to properly glue cork wallpaper

Before sticking wallpaper should be unpacked, unfolded and allowed to “get used” to the room, optimally - if it is possible to immediately cut them into strips, leaving them under light pressure for a couple of days.

Despite the rather heterogeneous structure, cork wallpaper does not hide unevenness on the wall well, so the surface must be fairly smooth. Cork wallpaper belongs to the “heavy” category, so it will require reliable and high-quality glue; acrylic glue will do the job perfectly.

After this, you can start gluing the walls:

• It is better to start pasting the room from the corner. The corner is generally the “weak” point of cork wallpaper; if it is folded carelessly or sharply, it can crack
• Wallpaper sheets are glued exclusively (!) at the joint
• Apply acrylic glue to a piece of wall equal in area to the piece of wallpaper being glued, distributing it evenly using a comb
• place a piece of wallpaper against the wall, allow the air to escape and press down
• Excess glue should be removed with a knife - trying to wash it with water will simply result in a white coating appearing on the surface of the wallpaper. Therefore, it is better to let the excess glue dry and then scrape or cut it off.

Advice! Working with acrylic glue requires quick work, so large-format pieces of cork wallpaper must be glued together

Decorating walls with cork is a new trend in interior design that is quickly gaining popularity. Cork wallpaper is characterized by practicality and originality, but the list of its advantages is not limited to this.

Today we will not only take a closer look at this wonderful material, but also get acquainted with the advice of designers who use it in their projects.

Cork wallpaper: what's special about it?

Since manufacturers of cork wallpaper have not yet come up with a simple and very pleasant way to extract corks from champagne bottles, gratitude and sacrifices should be made to a modest and extremely patient plant - the cork oak. Taking advantage of his kindness, the already mentioned producers “strip” the unfortunate tree to the skin every 10 years, removing its strong but almost weightless bark. It is this that serves as the raw material for future wallpaper.

Before ending up on the walls of our apartments, cork oak bark goes through a grinding stage and is then applied to a paper or non-woven base using hot pressing. Surprisingly, the entire production process is done without the use of any chemicals.

Even glue is not needed: its role is played by natural components located in the structure of the bark and released from it when exposed to high temperatures. This leads to the most important advantage of cork wallpaper: it is a natural and absolutely harmless material from an environmental point of view. The final product is produced, like regular wallpaper, in the form of rolls.

In addition to environmental friendliness, several more advantages inherent in cork finishing can be noted:

Good thermal insulation properties

Since cork is permeated with tiny pores, it effectively prevents heat loss through the outer walls of the room. In light of rising energy prices, this quality is becoming increasingly in demand.

Vapor permeability

An important property of the external walls of a building is the possibility of diffusion of water vapor contained in the room through their thickness. If a wall has good vapor permeability, builders say that it “breathes.”

Of course, the materials for the exterior and interior decoration of such walls must also be highly permeable to moisture, otherwise the advantages of masonry associated with high vapor permeability will be reduced to zero. Cork, like any other wood, fully meets these requirements.

Moisture resistance

Even with the highest humidity in the room, the owner of cork wallpaper does not have to worry about his interior. When exposed to moisture, cork does not warp or lose its color brightness.

In extreme cases, minor deformations may occur, but they quickly disappear after the humidity normalizes and the wallpaper dries.

Aesthetic qualities

With its appearance, cork wallpaper will not disappoint even the most fastidious connoisseurs of the art of design.

In addition to the fact that the cork itself has an interesting texture and many shades, it can be coated with colorless varnish or acrylic and water-based paint.

Leveling effect

Cork wallpaper is a thick and soft material, so you can safely stick it even on uneven walls. Chips, cracks and small protrusions can be left without treatment, thus saving effort and money.

Cork wallpaper in the interior

Cork wallpaper is a universal finishing material that will be appropriate in any type of room. Here's how designers suggest using cork in the interior of an apartment or house:

Kitchen

For wallpapering and dining rooms, manufacturers of cork wallpaper offer models treated with special impregnation.

It prevents the cork from becoming saturated with odors characteristic of these rooms.

The interior of a kitchen with cork wallpaper should be dominated by furniture in natural shades that best match the color scheme of the cork.

Of the materials, of course, wood is the best. The most preferred cork design styles are classic and country.

Children's

A children's room covered with cork wallpaper becomes truly cozy and calm.

The completely natural composition makes cork an ideal material for, this finish completely eliminates the risk of allergic reactions.

However, this option is not suitable for very young children, since the cork is very easy to damage.

Read more in our review.

Living room

It has long been proven that the colors of our surroundings influence our psyche, stimulating it or calming it.

Soft, calm tones of cork wallpaper are a place of complete relaxation and absolute comfort.

If you are a supporter of a pleasant time in good company over a leisurely conversation, tea or board games, you will definitely like this design.

The natural shades of cork harmonize with the decor in brown, brown-green, brown or sand tones.

It should be noted that cork is not suitable for small apartments, which should be decorated in light colors.

We combine cork with other materials

Although cork has a number of advantages, a purely “cork” interior may seem dull due to the monotony of this material. Therefore, experienced designers use cork with other finishing materials.

In this case, you should adhere to two rules:

1. All finishing materials used in combination must be of the same thickness.
2. If adjacent areas still differ in thickness, the joint should be decorated with moldings or other elements.

Since cork can be easily cut in any direction, it can be used to make patterns or ornaments of any configuration. In combination with plain wallpaper in cool shades, this design looks very impressive.

It is important to know that some companies provide a warranty on their products. It makes sense to purposefully look for just such wallpaper.

When purchasing cork wallpaper, you should carefully inspect it, as far as the packaging allows. If even minor defects are found, it is better to refuse the purchase. Experts do not advise choosing the thickest wallpaper; they may turn out to be too brittle.