To Protect & Serve: 6 Wonderful Wallcovering Looks

Turf, Wood Textures. Photo by Kendall McCaugherty

It’s hard to dispute the numerous performance attributes of vinyl: extreme durability, low maintenance, and cost efficiency, to name a few. Likewise, no one can argue that vinyl is eco-friendly because it is not—not by a long shot. But here’s the good news: According to the Global Wall Covering Market report, while vinyl continues to be an industry player, wood and other bio-based options are steadily eroding its dominance, as owners target LEED credits and lower embodied carbon.

Crafted from materials such as recycled sneaker cork, cellulose composite, and post-consumer PET, these six new wallcoverings offer benefits beyond wall protection, including acoustics, green cred, and a range of unique artistic expressions for commercial interiors.

Carnegie, Studio Collection, Timber, Briarwood, and Sap (left to right)

Carnegie

A certified B Corp since 2014, Carnegie is known for its high standard of social and environmental responsibility, with all of its textiles, acoustic products, and wallcoverings being 100% PVC-free. Its latest three vinyl-alternative wallcoverings from Carnegie’s Studio Collection resembles wood, each with a distinct aesthetic. Timber features a timeless wood grain texture, Briarwood reflects a delicate sun print of branches, and Sap has a watercolor-inspired hibiscus bloom pattern. Printed on non-woven substrates and made from a 38% polyester and 62% cellulose composite, sourced from FSC-certified forests, these wallcoverings are free of chlorine, formaldehyde, heavy metals, ozone-depleting chemicals, and plasticizers.

Submaterial, Cork | Planar

Submaterial

Forget bulletin boards and wine stoppers—cork is showing up everywhere, from home accessories to high-performance interiors. Submaterial taps into the potential of this versatile material with Cork | Planar, a modular cork wall tile handcrafted in the U.S. Offered in natural, smoked, color-tinted composite, and recycled sneaker cork, the system delivers built-in acoustic benefits, flexible formats, and a low-VOC, formaldehyde-free, PET-based, LEED-friendly substrate, made with 60% post-consumer recycled content.

Casalgrande Padana, Imagina Collection porcelain wall tiles

Casalgrande Padana

Porcelain tiles have a way of creating quite a design impact on walls—especially when they come in an oversized format like Casalgrande Padana’s new Imagina Collection. These large-scale porcelain floral tiles create seamless wallpaper-like effects that turn ordinary walls into works of art. Available in 23-by-47 inch and 47-by-109-inch tiles, Imagina can be used indoors and out for a dramatic effect. Each tile consists of two slabs that, when placed side by side, create a single decorative composition.

Wall/Pepper, Atlas Collection with Swarovski crystals

Wall/Pepper

Let it shine! This new wallcovering from Wall/Pepper positively sparkles. The luminous Atlas Collection is highlighted with Crystal Fabric, a transparent base material covered with small, cut and uncut Swarovski crystals that accentuate each design. The three shimmering Art Deco-inspired patterns are contemporary portraits of figures from Greek mythology—Asteria, Hesperos, and Eos.

Turf, Wood Textures. Photo by Kendall McCaugherty

Turf

Having mastered reproducing stone looks in felt, Turf has taken on a new challenge with the Wood Textures line—three new patterns that emulate the artistry and variety of wood veneer cuts. Rather than mirroring traditional wood grains, these patterns are digital, artistic interpretations that draw inspiration from different cuts of wood or veneer. With Turf’s specialized printing process and technology, the patterns are printed onto 9mm PET felt (at least 60% pre-consumer recycled content) using black water-based, UV-cured ink.

Wolf-Gordon, Binya|Comya collection, Wrought Ironwork

Wolf-Gordon

The Binya|Comya collection of digitally printed, PVC-free wallcoverings from Wolf-Gordon pays homage to the Gullah Geechee, descendants of enslaved West Africans, who blended their African culture and language with the influences of the coastal southeastern U.S. The patterns translate, through photographic means, original paintings and 3D objects—sweet grass baskets, cast nets, ironwork—into two-dimensional mural images and patterns. Appropriate for commercial and residential interior walls, the collection comes in a range of sizes, scales, colorings, and even printing substrate options.

—Rita Catinella Orrell