The question of whether you should choose a non toxic wallpaper for your home is a no brainer. If only you could narrow down all the beautiful choices!
Feature image photo credit @ecleticacreranch via Love vs Design. Visit the @eclecticacreranch Instagram page right here.
Do I currently have a lick of wallpaper anywhere in my home? No. No I do not. But that’s not because I don’t want to! I’ve spoken many, many times about how I really like to take my time decorating our house so while I definitely foresee eco conscious wallpaper in our future… I’m just not quite there yet. But I always love searching for and discovering wallpaper prints and brands I would definitely buy from, and this post features one of them – Love vs Design!
When Love vs Design reached out to me, I was super happy to learn about their Glissade Removable wallpaper, which has many of the qualities I prioritize when purchasing things from my home. A few of these qualities are that it’s made from FSC-certified paper that contains 30% recycled content, is printed using GREENGUARD Gold-certified ink, is low-VOC and is PVC-free.
Intrigued? Keep reading to learn about some of the toxins commonly found in wallpaper, as well as a few of the things you should look for when non toxic, eco wallpaper shopping. Or, you can skip ahead to see twelve different wallpaper options (out of the literal hundreds that Love vs Design offers). They’re all fully customizable as far as colours go, and are all made to order – which cuts down on waste.
Featured Video
Traditional Wallpaper Toxins and Why You Should Avoid Them
Sure, we’ve come a long way from when wallpaper used to contain high levels of arsenic, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still find chemicals in some wallpapers that you definitely don’t want in your home. Here is a brief breakdown of five different types of toxins to watch out for when choosing wallpaper.
VOCs
The acronym VOC stands for volatile organic compound and so many of the products and materials we bring into our home emit them. Some of the side effects of being exposed to VOCs are nausea, headaches, fatigue and dizziness. And while it’s unlikely you can avoid VOCs in your home completely, looking for products – such as wallpaper – that are either low-VOC or VOC-free is a step towards better in-home air quality.
PVC Toxins
Many wallpapers on the market today have a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) top layer to help with washability and durability. But is vinyl wallpaper toxic? The main problem is that where there are PVCs, there are likely phthalates. Phthalates are known endocrine disruptors, meaning they mess with your hormones. Further, when PVC products are burned or sent to the landfill at the end of their life-cycle, the release additional toxins. So, yeah – PVC-free wallpaper is kind of a must.
PFAS
PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are known as “forever chemicals,” because sadly once exposed to them they stay in our bodies, well, forever. Typically they are added to wallpapers to make them more water and stain resistant. They’ve been linked to lowered immune function, infertility and metabolic issues. And companies aren’t actually required to disclose if their products contain PFAS so make sure you ask!
Heavy Metals
Heavy metals may sound like one of those household toxins of days gone by, but unfortunately that isn’t the case. Some products, including wallpapers, contain heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, mercury and the aforementioned arsenic. Heavy metals build up in our bloodstream and can cause issues at a cellular level, which then impacts how our organs function. And yet these types of toxins can still be found in some wallpapers!
Flame Retardants
Flame retardants aren’t typically added to wallpaper anymore. That being said, it isn’t completely unheard of and should still be watched out for. Brominated flame retardants, which are the most common type, have been linked to thyroid disfunction. Meanwhile, other types of flame retardants can pose risks to bone and brain health. Knowing this, I’d say it’s pretty important to make sure your wallpaper doesn’t contain any flame retardants.
What to Look for in Non Toxic, Eco Friendly Wallpaper
Now that we know what we DON’T want in our wallpaper, here are some things to keep an eye out for that you DO want.
FSC-certified wallpaper
I talk quite a bit about FSC-certification on Of Houses and Trees, but here’s a quick rundown for those of you still unsure of what that means. FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council and paper and other wood products certified by this third party organization are guaranteed to have come from sustainably-managed forests.
Greenguard-certified wallpaper
Another third-party certification that helps to make more conscious choices when selecting a wallpaper is Greenguard. A product that has been awarded one of the three levels of Greenguard certification meets strict chemical emissions standards, meaning they are far less harmful to indoor air quality.
Recycled wallpaper content
Any product from any category that contains recycled material piques my interest and that includes wallpaper. And while I really appreciate a product made from 100% recycled content, I also understand this isn’t always feasible and thus any amount is worth noting. (Just watch my house tour from a few years back, where I happily point out all finishes with any amount of recycled content in them.)
Made-to-order wallpaper
The traditional product manufacturing model is create a bunch of items and then try to sell them all. And when the products don’t sell, where do you think they end up? Yup. In the trash. Or the incinerator. Or floating in the ocean somewhere. Which is why made-to-order is a much more sustainable production model because items aren’t made unless someone has already placed an order for them.
Washable wallpaper
Last up in this section, a wallpaper that is easy to wash and care for is going to last longer than something that is more finicky. That does not mean you should buy a plastic-based wallpaper that is touted as “ultra durable.” You can find non toxic products that are made from more sustainable wallpaper materials that are also highly washable.
Need help choosing eco-conscious furniture and decor for your home? That’s what I’m here for!
12 Non Toxic Wallpaper Ideas for Your Eco Friendly Home
Non toxic kid’s room wallpaper
Non toxic wallpaper for a nursery or a kid’s room is a must. Other than that, you can go any direction you like! Cute, classic, fun, funky. The choice is yours – and if your kid is old enough to express their opinion, it’s kind of their choice too!
Non toxic floral wallpaper
I am a floral wallpaper gal through and through. Not the big, modern florals, but the tiny, dainty ones that look like they’d be right at home in a country cottage. That being said, some people like big and modern and that’s okay too!
Non toxic geometric wallpaper
Would a geometric wallpaper print be my personal choice? No. But is it yours? Maybe! This type of print adds an element of fun to a room and these three examples illustrate how.
Non toxic striped wallpaper
Ah… the classic stripe. A tried and true wallpaper style that works in any room in the house. Go bold with a light background and dark stripe, or keep things subtle with a background and stripe that are only a few shades apart. (I also included a plaid, because a plaid is just a mix of horizontal and vertical stripes, right?)
Are you feeling inspired to start wallpapering every blank wall in your home? Okay, maybe that’s excessive, but starting with a wall or two is totally acceptable. Or, if your more of a paint person (and you can be both – I totally am), check out my post all about how to pick the right paint colours for your home.
Thanks again to Love vs Design for sponsoring this post!
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Posted on September 2, 2024
Need help choosing eco-conscious furniture and decor for your home? That’s what I’m here for!
Former architectural technologist. Current treehugger.
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