Decorative vinyls; what are they, types and how to put them (Super guide)

Decorative vinyls for home

Renovating the house when space and budget abound is a pleasure, but doing it if they are scarce, and on top of that one is not exactly a handyman, it has much more merit. So today we have to see the many models ofdecorative vinyls and all the features of thiswall sticker Since we recently saw the decorative paint for home walls.

For those who want to give a totally renewed air to the home spending little and with little effort, an excellent option is decorate with vinyls. These stickers are an inexpensive, comfortable and original option, but you have to know a lot about these decorative products.

There are manufacturers specialized in vinyl wall material. So we have talked to Andiar.com decorative vinyl to explain all the details and to create a useful and detailed guide.

The vinyls transform the home decoration in an economical and fast way

With these giant stickers, also called wall stickers (Which we will see exactly what they are), we can decorate any corner of the house in a simple, inexpensive way, and giving the spaces a quick visual renovation with an original and modern touch, what more we want!

What are decorative vinyl

The vinyl for decoration It is a type of special sticker used in the world of interior design. They are durable and resistant, but what has made them a star element in interior design is their affordable price, the ease of installation, their versatility and the possibility of removing them without damaging the original surface.

The material with which they are manufactured is flexible vinyl. An alloyed plastic made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). They can be placed on all types of surfaces and walls such as rooms, bedrooms, living room - dining room, kitchen, bathroom … etc.

These patterns ofgiant stickers can be pasted as a mural on the walls (What is called wall murals), cabinets, tables and anywhere the imagination comes: ceilings, doors, glass, electrical appliances … Of course! to look good it has to be a smooth surface, avoid placing them on stuccoed walls, thick gotelé or rough surfaces.

There are all kinds, from models ofself adhesive vinyls in black that are the most ‘cool’ as a decorative strip in the bathroom, psychedelic flowers and seventies fantasies, dark comic characters or the inevitable face of Audrey Hepburn that are more skylines. Ornamental borders, dream scenes, vintage motifs, sober black and white or a festival of colors: the options are endless.

Its large number of colors, thousands of shapes and the possibility of giving it any shape you want, allows it to be used in different types of decoration and styles.

Stiker in decoration

Here there is a confusion between the decorative stikers and the traditional vinyls used in interior designAlthough both are usually used as decorative elements, they are not the same, the technical difference is that the vinyl will always be of a single color (The background is the wall), while the sticker usually has a range of varied colors in its design (The background is the material of the sticker itself, not the wall).

Types of wall decals

In general, wall decals For interior decoration or even exterior they are sold with two types of finishes that we can use in the home:

  • Normal surface vinyls. We can buy them cheaper, so be careful what we buy if we want them to last.
  • Washable surface vinyls. The latter allow us to wash the sticker with a damp cloth as many times as we want, and they are undoubtedly the most suitable if we want the vinyl to decorate a children's room or any other environment very suffered.

We also have to take into account that there are, to say the least, varieties in the types that we are going to buy just like the wallpaper:

  • Frosted vinyl. It is similar to a traditional vinyl for walls but with the particularity that it lets in light and protects the privacy of the space. They are normally used outdoors and their resistance to external factors or heat is higher. If they are placed - for example - in large windows, they insulate from heat and protect from solar radiation.

Usually we find them more in design with symmetrical patterns of geometric or floral shapes when we put them in a vinyl wall.

  • Cutting vinyl. It is a self-adhesive film, it is used in the labeling of flat and corrugated surfaces or for decoration both indoors and outdoors. This model is die-cut with a plotter (a cutting function that allows cutting large images), they also have the same color on the adhesive surface as on the outside.
  • Printed vinyl. It also has a self-adhesive film, with practically the same uses as the previous vinyl. The difference is that its base is white and is applied by printing on the surface and is used indoors.

The main differences between these wall murals; between the cut vinyl and the printed one is that; the former has a better adhesive as well as a better finish, and they can be cleaned with practically any cleaning product without affecting the colors. The advantages of printed vinyls is that they allow more variety in their designs.

Besides you are wall stickers We will find them depending on the needs we have:

  • Custom stickers. They are those who design them according to our needs, both in shape, color, size … etc. Obviously they are more expensive to acquire but we will have a personalized design for home. Remember that these must be purchased in specialized establishments to obtain a good finish and quality
  • Pre-made adhesives. They are those that are mass-produced in a factory. They are cheaper to buy and can be found practically everywhere.

Ideas for decorating with vinyl

The possibilities of these adhesive for walls in the interior design they are huge, being able to be placed in all kinds of rooms in the home, including bathrooms and kitchens since the material is waterproof. Imagination to power!

One of our recommendations to see how a vinyl on the wall looks is to take a tour of Pinterest from HERE. There are hundreds of very creative ideas that really look good.

In the colored vinyls solid, the decorative load will fall on the form they acquire. They can be acquired in the form of letters to form words or phrases, geometric forms or cut out to imitate a silhouette or simple shape.

For example, if you want a room themed about nature, you can buy a green one in the shape of a plant silhouette on the wall, for example.

They are admissible in all decoration styles, even in the Feng Shui style to harmonize the house or with the pure lines of minimalism for homes

And check out these decorating styles for more ideas where to put them:

  • Feng Shui style to harmonize the house
  • Minimalist style for homes

They offer great possibilities. If a motif is printed on them, for example, a simple pattern, they can be placed on surfaces so that they integrate better with the decoration of the room. Some interior designers place them on electrical appliances, such as refrigerators or dishwashers to integrate them with the rest of kitchen furniture in an efficient and cheap way.

They are also useful to be able to personalize small elements, for example; wastebaskets, furniture, refrigerators or pictures. A basic wastebasket can become a unique object according to personal taste.

Some examples of vinyl decoration for home…

That we can also place them in a dining room like the previous image (See also 12 tips to decorate modern dining rooms) or for the windows of the house. They let in less light and provide privacy in the home. Examples like …

If you want to decorate blinds or curtains, they are also suitable. For example, for a children's or baby room you can decorate some curtains in navy blue with small stars, imitating the night sky. The children's vinyls for kids they are great!

And if you want to know more about the world of textiles, we have a guide article on how to decorate your home with fabrics without being a professional where you will find many tips.

How to place a decorative vinyl

The placement can be carried out by a single person, being simple if the wall sticker it is small in size. To place the larger ones or the wall mural, It is preferable that two people collaborate. Sticking it on the wall is really easy, even the clumsiest will be able to stick them without problems if you choose a non-rough surface.

Be careful! … Do not remove the transfer sheet to better see the vinyl until you reach the step indicated in the instructions.

Tools needed

The first thing we need is to know the appropriate tools to be able to put it consistently. So we leave the following image:

Before gluing it, it is important that we make sure that the alignment of the sticker is as desired, and also that this is where we really want the vinyl, because changing its location, although possible, is complicated. We should take it off without damaging it, and normally what happens is that it deforms and loses grip.

Once the surface is dry, remember that the ornamentation sticker It is purchased with a transparent film that allows them to be handled easily. Now it's time to start the process of step-by-step placement of a vinyl and what better than a good video:

To place it on a smooth surface such as wood, plastic or glass, the area where it will adhere must first be cleaned. Once the surface is dry, it has to begin to stick little by little, peeling off a small part of the paper that covers the adhesive and sticking it to the place where it will be placed.

The paper will be peeled off gradually to stick the vinyl to the surface, and with the help of a spatula, any remaining air pockets will be eliminated.

Step-by-step process for laying a vinyl

To clarify and simplify the process of put a picture on the wall we leave the following infographic:

It is advisable that we use a plastic spatula (which usually comes with the purchase package) to remove air bubbles, so the drawing will be smooth on the wall. Once glued, we just have to gently remove the conveyor film, and that's it.

To remove the vinyl from these types of surfaces, it must be done carefully and slowly, so as not to damage the surface on which it has been placed. In most cases, it can be reused.

Placing a vinyl for glass or windowsAlthough we must follow the same steps that we have previously outlined, we do have to be careful in its final part. It is always good to see how it is placed by the hand of a professional:

If you want to place a textile, for example curtains, the previous steps have to be followed and, to finish the process, a medium power iron has to be used to maximize the fixation. They can be ordered in screen printing shops special vinyls for textiles. Parts placed on this type of surface cannot be removed later.

And in case it is not clear, here we leave some answers to the doubts that we normally ask ourselves …

  • Where can I put the vinyls?… They can be applied to any flat and smooth surface including painted and wallpaper walls, tiles, plaster, smooth concrete, wood, metals, plastic, mirrors, doors and glass. There are also special materials that can be applied on textured surfaces, they are much more expensive and should be installed by professionals.
  • Where can they not be put?… Not recommended for use on excessively textured surfaces, including textured wallpaper, masonry, and other surfaces. On surfaces that appear fragile or show signs of deterioration, including poor paint.
  • Can you put vinyl on the wall of a bathroom?… Yes, but exposure to moisture can shorten the overall life expectancy of the adhesive. Make sure to apply the graphic on a flat, clean and dry, non-porous surface and it will generally stay adhered for as long as you like. (See the article on how to reform a bathroom)
  • How do you clean the decorative vinyls?… Later on we will explain in detail how they should be cleaned to maintain their quality.

  • After to paint… How long do I need to place them?… We recommend that you wait 4-6 weeks between painting and applying the adhesive to the wall. Although it may appear dry to the touch, it contains moisture which can cause the adhesive to loosen.
  • Can the vinyl be removed from the wall?… The easiest method of peeling it off the wall is to gently heat the graphic with a hair dryer to soften the adhesive and gently peel it off the wall.
  • Does vinyls damage the walls?… You have to buy quality! … They are the only way to acquire a tested product for cases in which we want to remove them and that does not cause chipping on the walls.

How to make decorative vinyls

Here imagination is power, well, and a little handyman to assemble geometric shapes, animals, silhouettes of objects and a text or phrase. All the correct steps are detailed in the following video:

Care and maintenance

To maintain the original appearance of the mural and the guaranteed durability, it is important to follow the guidelines of:

  • When cleaning the drawing, use only a damp, lint-free cloth. DO NOT use products that contain bleach or petroleum-based ingredients, in any case with mild soap and water.
  • They should be cleaned frequently to avoid excessive accumulation of dust.
  • Vinyl should only be cleaned by hand. Starting at the top and working your way down.
  • Clean with lint-free rags or sponges. DO NOT use aggressive scourers or sponges.
  • To remove stubborn stains such as colored pencil, choose a citrus-based cleaner to remove the stain, then rinse immediately with a mild soap and water solution.
  • Use a lint-free microfiber cloth to dry after cleaning.

In the world of interior design and decoration, the most important thing is to achieve a pleasant result for those who will use the room, so it is important that the elements and style are adapted to personal taste.

If you cannot remove a vinyl, with a little heat by means of a dryer, you will remove it without problems!

Where to buy decorative vinyls

The truth that the sale of decorative vinyls It is on the rise, either because of the low price or because they are a varied solution to decorate, there are a thousand and one establishments, depending on what shape and style we want we should:

  • Large surfaces of household goods: these types of stores usually have a decoration section, in which you can find patterns of geometric vinyls prefabricated.
  • Screen Printing Shops: these types of establishments work with vinyl materials, so you can order a completely personalized one, in terms of shape, size, color, or even printing an image on it.
  • Specialized web pages: through search engines it is easy to find websites that Do you sell very easy to place vinyls. Depending on the page, these will be prefabricated or can be ordered to taste.

From experience in the vinyl purchase, although large surfaces such as Leroy merlin, Bauhaus or online at Amazon They have a section of decorative stickers, the quality sometimes disappoints. Search and compare, especially in manufacturers specialized in the style of Andiar that usually have quality vinyl materials and at a reasonable price

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