Wallpaper 101: Traditional vs. Peel and Stick, Customization & Eco-Friendly Options

Today I'm excited to share an interview I had with Kelly Dall Antonia of Walls By Me, an eco-friendly wallpaper company that specializes in peel and stick wallpaper (self-adhesive), traditional wallpaper (non-pasted) and wallpaper customization. 

When I first met Kelly at the Sarasota Home Show, I was immediately drawn to her friendly, approachable nature.  I initially had some questions about the beautiful peel and stick wallpaper that was displayed in her booth, but what really piqued my interest was the ability to customize wallpaper to suit my interior decorating clients' needs. 

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Before you know it, I was asking Kelly if she would share her wealth of knowledge and expertise via an interview for my blog - and today I'm sharing that interview with you in today's post: Wallpaper 101:  Traditional vs. Peel and Stick, Customization & Eco-Friendly Options.

The first question I asked Kelly was.........

Q:  What made you decide to get into the wallpaper industry? 
Kelly: My husband and I are natural born entrepreneurs, and we wanted a unique, high-quality product that would stand out and go along with our core values.

Q: Which types of wallpaper applications do you offer?
Kelly: Self-adhesive (peel and stick) and non-pasted (traditional) wallpaper.

Q: What are the benefits of non-pasted wallpaper vs. peel-and-stick wallpaper? 
Kelly: Compared to self-adhesive, the top benefit of our non-pasted wallpaper is the variety of textures (finishes) that the wallpaper offers.

Many customers are looking for plain, subtle colors where texture plays a big role and traditional, non-pasted wallpaper is unbeatable.

On the other hand, our self-adhesive, peel and stick wallpaper is low-commitment and offers incredibly clean removal. The versatility that comes with that is extremely appealing to some people.

 Click here to see how easy Walls By Me peel and stick wallpaper is to remove.

Customers who are dipping their toes into the wallpaper world for the first time may feel more comfortable knowing that if wallpaper is not the right choice, they can peel it off and move along without having to worry about ripping off the paint underneath or having to re-hire the labor to remove the wallpaper and other associated costs like repairing and re-skimming walls as would need to be done with removing traditional wallpaper.

There are several benefits to both applications; it really is more a matter of what works best for your project.

Q: How does your wallpaper stand out from other wallpaper companies? 
Kelly: There are three main reasons I would state why we stand out from other wallpaper companies.

1. We are not just a wallpaper company; we are a wallpaper factory, and therefore, we can customize our prints to adjust to customer needs regarding color, texture, and application type.

We offer extremely high-quality materials from self-adhesive to Commercial Grade Type II. Our self-adhesive is very thick and high quality, covering most of the “orange peel texture walls” commonly found in Florida.

Our wallpaper is PVC-free, formulated without lead, cadmium, or phthalates and the inks used are Greenguard Certified, as well as nontoxic. Our commercial line is a Type II wallcovering with a Class A-Fire-Rated Material used mainly by our commercial customers, along with restaurants, and hotels.

2. We offer an end-to-end solution, from assisting with design to installation, and our customers simply love that.

They love the fact that they are acquiring a wallpaper product locally (Sarasota, FL) from a local company that they can browse online but also go in-person and touch and see the material, talk to real people, and have the peace of mind that they know they are buying from a local company a high-quality product. 

Customers love knowing who will be at their home doing the installation yet have a reliable company with a physical location they can trust and rely on.

3. Finally and above all else, we take pride in our top-notch customer service. We simply adore assisting our customers with whatever projects they may have, big or small. When a customer says, “Thank you so much; this is exactly what I was looking for.” It really makes our day. I say “ it makes our day” because the entire team is engaged in the customer project at some point, assisting with the design, ordering, or installing, therefore sharing the excitement.

Read more Google reviews here.

Q: I know you offer customization.  Can you tell me more about it?
Kelly: Yes. Absolutely. Suppose you like one of our designs but the color does not quite work for your project. In that case, you can customize the color, remove or insert elements, or even create an entirely new design from scratch!

Many commercial customers who are looking for a wallcovering to communicate their core values or want to make their brand stand out use Walls By Me to help them. 

Q: What's the turnaround time for a custom project?
Kelly: Normally, the design team needs 2-3 business days to work on your project. After it is approved, the wallpaper should be ready to install or shipped within 1-2 business days. If the design is not approved, it returns to the design team for adjustments until the customer is completely satisfied. 

Q: How many different wallpaper colors/patterns do you offer? 
Kelly: Walls By Me has more than 800 designs, not counting customizations or color changes. We can also print the same design in different types of material (finishes—textures), which totally changes the print, so the options are endless.

Q: What should people consider before choosing a wallpaper?
Kelly: I suggest customers have three things in mind when selecting wallpaper.

1. Before picking the design, decide where you will install it: whether in a bathroom, a living room, or an office, and whether it is the entire room or just an accent wall.

2. Then, decide if the design needs to match your home decor or if you can go wild or a bit bold.

For instance, if the wallpaper is for a powder bath or an office, you do not need to match your current home decor or style. Those are “secluded” areas and a place where you may want to “wow” your guests or make a statement about your personality, which differs from a living room wallpaper that normally needs to converse with the current home decor.

3. Consider your budget, decide whether this is a DIY or if you are hiring a professional, as well as the type of design you have in mind to then decide if the material needs to be textured or not.  I suggest even thinking about the long run, such as whether you will be selling soon, or if you think you need to remove or change the wallpaper 3-4years from now because those things are important, and you choose to weigh them all in before making a decision.

Things are not as they used to be, where you would have wallpaper for 10-20 years before removing it. Due to the fast pace, decor becomes obsolete much faster now compared to how it used to be.

Q: How should someone prep their walls for wallpaper application? 
Kelly: This is a tricky question as it will depend tremendously on the type of surface and material you are using.

It also depends on your level of tolerance. I will explain. Most customers are fine with the wallpaper being applied to the wall as it is, even if it shows a slight texture. Depending on the texture of the wall, the lighting in the room, and the type of design, whether it is a white or dark color background, it may show more or not show at all. These considerations apply equally to non-pasted material or to self-adhesive.

However, suppose you have a moderate texture wall. In that case, you are better off with a traditional wallpaper as it is a thicker material and will not only hide the wall texture but also prevent it from falling once you are using a paste that will permit it to adhere 100% to the wall.

The tolerance level I mentioned earlier is according to each individual as some customers do not even notice subtle wall textures and do not want to spend the time and money to skim-coat a wall, while for others, this is non-negotiable.

Q:  Is there anything else you'd like people to know?
Kelly: Yes. As an online seller myself, I strongly recommend ordering samples before purchasing. Colors do vary from monitor to monitor, and not only that, even after you have a physical sample, it will vary depending on the light in the room. This means it will look different in my home from yours - not to mention one’s perception.


I always joke around with my customers, saying that what is blue to me may be green to you and aqua to someone else.

Also, please note that not all wallpapers are created equal. Just because it says to peel and stick, not all will be easily removable or easy to install. There are several different types of peel-and-stick materials, and many of them resemble contact paper and have a lesser-quality look, which is not what you want when refreshing your home decor.

The same applies to the traditional wallpaper and even more to installation. So, just like anything else, check your sources, do your research well, and make sure you are comfortable with the company you are doing business with. That is important.

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Omgosh!  Isn't she great!  As we wrap up our exploration of wallpaper, it's clear that the choice between peel and stick and non-pasted wallpaper isn't just about application methods—it's about aligning design with values. With a focus on craftsmanship, customization, and sustainability, Walls By Me offers a diverse range of options to suit every style. 

As a thank you to our readers, Kelly is offering a 10% discount to anyone who's looking to update their home with wallpaper.  Use the code ORANGETREE INTERIORS at the checkout to redeem,

If you have any questions about  any of Walls By Me's wallpaper products, contact Kelly and her team here. 

NOTE:  Walls By Me's also does installation in the Sarasota, Florida area. Contact the team  to see if they service your area.

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See some of our projects and how clients felt about the services we offer via our portfolio here and testimonials here.


Or if you’re more of a do-it-yourselfer, take our DIY Interior Design Course.  It teaches my entire design process step-by-step so you can execute a beautiful design without wasting time or making costly mistakes. 

 

As always, thanks for reading.  Until next time, happy decorating!

Certified Interior Decorator, eDesigner & Founder
Orangetree Interiors

P.S.  Painting your house any time soon?  Get our FREE Perfect Paint Colour Checklist & Coordinating Paint Colours Guide!