The Disadvantages of Wall Fabric

Dated Look

• It is rare to find wall fabric affixed to the walls of a home with a modern decor. As such, using wall fabric to decorate your home will result in a dated appearance. If you visit historical homes or room setups in museums, it's common to see rooms decorated with wall fabric. Choosing this type of wall covering may work if you have antique furniture or desire a retro style, but otherwise, your room will simply look old.

Cheap

• Although its inexpensiveness can be an advantage, a disadvantage of using wall fabric is that it can look cheap. Over time, the fabric can fray and lighten when exposed to sunlight through a window. Paint and wallpaper, by contrast, are more resistant to sunlight. Your room may take on a cheap appearance if it's decorated with wall fabric, especially if the fabric is thin or inexpensive.

Cleanliness

• If you like to keep your home neat, a painted wall is ideal. When the wall becomes dirty over time, you can gently wash it with a wet, soapy rag. Wall fabric is not easy to clean and because it's fabric, it can absorb odors and dust in your home. This is especially disadvantageous if someone in your home or a frequent visitor suffers from allergies. Although you can attempt vacuuming the wall, it is still difficult to remove all the dust.

Wall Damage

• When you apply wall fabric, you typically use glue to hold the fabric in place. The glue is needed because in large sheets the fabric is heavy. If the wall fabric is a dark color, such as green, blue or brown, its color will often be absorbed by the wet glue and transferred to the wall. When you remove the wall fabric during a renovation project, the wall will often be dark in color, requiring several coats of primer, especially if you plan to paint the wall a light color.