Italian Wallpapers: A True Work of Art

Wallpapers: Italy. Affordable and Not So Affordable Luxury

Italian wallpapers are a blend of classic design, distinct from many other European countries, and modern traditions not only in production but also in wall covering design.

Italian classic style is characterized by exquisite damasks and medallions (shown in the photos below), while the classic catalog of Italian wallpapers is incredibly diverse: you would never have imagined that classical canons could be interpreted in so many ways!

Photo 1 — First Damask model, produced by Tekko (Italy), paper wallpapers on felt

The oldest Italian manufacturers, known since the end of the 18th century, continue to work in this style, as even after two hundred years it has not exhausted itself and remains as popular as ever among consumers.

Italy is renowned for its textile production: such wallpapers have been produced by factories like Sangiorgio, Arlin, Print 4 and Giardini for about two centuries. Italian wall textiles are a perfect complement to exceptional furniture and expensive fabrics used for room decoration.

Besides textile wallpapers, vinyl Italian wallpapers are also well known in the world and are on par with European products in quality. In this category of finishing materials, wallpapers from the catalogs of Janelli & Volpi, Limonta, SIRPI, which have been developing their products for over a decade, are particularly worthy of trust.

Besides classical directions, Italy is dynamically developing the modernist trend—creative accents in any room's interior can be added thanks to photo wallpapers from Wall&Deco. The high price of such coverings is fully justified: there are no analogs in the world in terms of manufacturing technology or design of the pattern applied to the fabric.

Photo 2 — First Class model, produced by Adi (Italy), paper wallpapers on felt with natural pearl coating

The main consumer segment for Italian wallpaper products is the 'elite'. In addition to expensive textiles and photo canvases, Italian manufacturers also produce luxurious wall coverings with natural pearl content. These wallpapers can only be found in the catalogs of Tekko and Adi factories.

Interestingly, the technology for creating pearl extract for wallpapers and subsequently its application to wall coverings was invented in Germany at the Salubra factory. However, local developers failed to come up with a good design, so they patented the technology for sale.

Italian Wallpapers for Walls: A Bit About Manufacturers

SIRPI Wallpapers

SIRPI is one of the oldest Italian wallpaper factories, ranking among the top three manufacturers in Italy.

SIRPI is an acronym formed from the initial letters of the company name: Societa Italiana Rivestimenti Per Interni, which translates to 'Italian Society for Interior Finishing'.

SIRPI was established as a family business in 1890. The company rapidly expanded, and several decades later it began to work not only on the domestic market but also more importantly on exports, supplying most of its products to Western and Eastern European countries and later to America. Interestingly, Russia and Ukraine occupy a significant place in the list of SIRPI's customers: about 15-17% of wallpaper products are imported into these countries.

The production specialization of SIRPI is vinyl wallpapers (e.g., the Decoskin collection). In addition to its well-established silk-screen printing, the factory also produces new types of finishes—vinyl wallpapers with deep embossing. The protective layer is a dense upper layer of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), making this coating more solid and resistant to mechanical damage compared to foam vinyl. The maximum external similarity with fabric is achieved through a thick layer of vinyl and deep, clear embossing. This coating can also realistically imitate leather, plaster, or wood.

SIRPI wallpapers are produced in standard rolls measuring 0.53 x 10.05 meters, as well as in larger format rolls for some new collections—0.7 x 10.05 meters. The advantages of the latter format are evident: such wallpapers can cover a larger room in less time. One disadvantage of using wide wallpapers is the difficulty in covering uneven corners.

SIRPI Alta Gamma Wallpapers

The Alta Gamma line includes several successful collections, with the most popular ones being:

Home SIRPI Alta Gamma – a new collection of panels made according to the stamping principle in various themes.

Alta Gamma Home – vinyl wallpapers with a base for stamping, surface which is digitally printed (base is felt).

The average price of panels is approximately $45-50/m².

Photo 3 — SIRPI wallpapers, Home Alta Gamma collection

Among the Alta Gamma series, one can also highlight:

Sempre Alta Gamma

This is a collection of eclectic wallpapers combining classic design elements—damasks, and minimalist modern designs—leather-like textures, geometric patterns (primarily squares), with most models featuring a surface that imitates plaster with a crackle effect and natural fibers.

The average price per roll is about $45.

Photo 4 — SIRPI wallpapers, Alta Gamma Sempre collection

Alta Gamma Evolution

Another collection in this line is Alta Gamma Evolution. These are vinyl wallpapers on felt. The main theme of the collection is natural materials and surfaces: wallpapers with plant motifs, wallpapers that imitate shell or stone surfaces.

The cost of such wallpapers is approximately $41-50 per roll.

Photo 5 — SIRPI wallpapers, Alta Gamma Evolution collection

Jacquards Wallpapers

Textile Jacquards wallpapers are among the most popular in the textile and tapestry catalogs. They are produced on specialized machines that meticulously replicate the technique of Jacquard weaving, known since ancient times.

These wallpapers are for those who appreciate luxurious shimmer and simultaneously soft, pleasant surfaces (Jacquards wallpapers feel like noble silk).

They are made on a nonwoven base, coated with special protective materials that repel dirt and water, preserving the expensive surface for decades. Today, three collections from the brand are popular: Jacquards 2009, Jacquards 2010, and Jacquards Complete.

Photo 6 — Jacquards wallpapers, Jacquards 2010 collection

The average price for such wallpapers is approximately $97-112 per linear meter.

Limonta Wallpapers

Limonta is one of the most popular Italian wallpaper brands in Russia and Ukraine. This popularity stems from its simple reason: this brand offers quality products at reasonable prices. The company Limonta was founded in 1893 and is now recognized as a historical part of, and a landmark of, the Italian town Costamasnaga. From its first start-up, the factory worked on producing luxurious Jacquard fabrics for curtains and upholstery.

Photo 7 — Limonta wallpapers, Piccolo Paradiso collection

Today, Limonta produces vinyl wallpapers that still carry the best traditions of classical Italian interiors. In addition to classic styles, the manufacturer's catalogs also include several modern collections. For this reason, a separate direction was added to the company group—Domus Parati, which has been producing trendy wall covering collections since 1923.

The average price per roll of vinyl wallpapers on paper base is approximately $57-65.

Zambaiti Parati Wallpapers

Zambaiti Parati is a company that annually receives huge investments for production modernization. The Zambaiti catalog was first introduced in 1974: it began producing the first Italian paper wallpapers, established the first wallpaper factory specializing in this area. By 1979, the company was already producing vinyl wallpapers under the 'Zambaiti' brand. A few years later, it acquired several wallpaper trade brands, thus forming a number of subsidiary companies that took over the design lines.

One of the company's brands, specializing in high-end wall coverings, is TM Zambaiti Parati Murella (Parati Murella).

Murella is an example of high-quality work, a brand that creates the most expressive wall coverings in authentic Italian style.

Today, the factory produces high-end vinyl, paper, and foam wallpapers. The production capacity of the factory is 15 million rolls, and this figure continues to grow each day. Judge for yourself by the demand for their products.

Murella, incidentally, is the only factory to receive the 'Certificate of Excellence in Quality' awarded by the International Association of Wallpaper Manufacturers (in 2002).

The factory invests a lot of time and resources into developing new technologies in wallpaper manufacturing, especially in the vinyl wallpaper category. The luxurious Murella products are rightly called 'capital'—excellent material strength, lightfastness, and eco-friendliness of the coating that keeps walls in their 'pristine' condition for decades.

Photo 8 — Zambaiti Parati Murella wallpapers

The average cost of such wallpapers is approximately $75-98 per roll (1.06 x 10.05 m).

Zambaiti is primarily convenient for application and use, washable, and simply beautiful wallpapers. Unlike most other Italian brands, Zambaiti's wallpaper prices are not as high, so everyone can consider the manufacturer's catalog in search of a suitable solution for their interior.

The price for paper wallpapers on felt is approximately $53 per roll, and vinyl wallpapers on felt cost about $74 per roll.

Photo 9 — Zambaiti wallpapers, Metropolis collection

Wallpaper Production by Zambaiti (VIDEO):

Portofino Wallpapers

In creating Portofino wallpapers, designers were guided by the main idea: walls and furniture in interior design should form a complete composition. Following this idea, the Italian factory Selecta Parati elevated the Portofino brand from scratch.

Photo 10 — Portofino wallpapers, Kashmir collection

The factory uses new technologies in wallpaper production that allow experimenting with the texture and base materials of the coating without harming its ecological properties. For example, vinyl wallpapers with flocking have appeared in the catalogs.

The average price of wallpapers is from $64 to $98.

Sangiorgio Wallpapers

Another 'luxury' Italian factory—Sangiorgio, existing on the interior market for over 30 years. The company produces high-quality textile wallpapers (e.g., the Tuscany series) and also interior fabrics for decorating offices, homes, and hotels.

The brand originally positioned itself as a manufacturer of textile wall coverings that could serve as a symbol of elite and wealth.

Photo 11 — Seamless Sangiorgio wallpapers, Provenza series

The main working style: classic.

A unique development by the factory is seamless wallpapers that can cover a room entirely. Rolls of such material can be up to 3 meters 25 centimeters wide, allowing walls to be covered horizontally instead of vertically as we're accustomed to, making only one seam in the room.

Such wallpapers are also sold by length and rarely as standard-length rolls.

This type of coating will not be cheap: at least $65-73 per linear meter.

Emiliana Parati Wallpapers

Emiliana Parati (Emiliana Parati), just like SIRPI, belongs to the leaders in production of premium Italian wallpapers. In addition, this brand represents one of the largest factories in Italy. Emiliana Parati is also one of the leading companies in wall covering production not only in Europe but in the world!

A significant portion of Emiliana Parati collections consists of vinyl wallpapers (hot embossing on felt or paper base). The standard roll of the brand is not 0.53 meters in width as usual but 70 cm.

Premium vinyl wallpapers from Emiliana Parati have micro-pores that allow the wall surface to 'breathe'.

Photo 12 — Emiliana Parati wallpapers, Esedra brand, Aurora collection

One of the exclusive brands of the company is the Esedra brand. All collections under this brand are high-end industrial products (Aurora, Roberto Cavalli, Brillant). Esedra is classic Italian style: the collections embody ideals of beauty, harmony, balance in color combinations, and design proportions.

The average price for brand wallpapers is approximately $78 to $170 (high-quality designer vinyl wallpapers).

Italian Wallpapers: Buy and Enjoy

As is known, all good things end quickly. Italian wallpapers stand in opposition to this life principle. The money spent on purchasing and wallpapering walls justifies the impeccable quality, pleasant design, and impressive durability of the coverings.

Italian wallpapers can be used in any type of room: in manufacturers' catalogs, you will find wallpapers that perfectly suit a kitchen combined with a dining room or living room, bedroom, hallway, or library.

Italian wallpapers will look particularly advantageous in an office interior, underlining the success of the person working there.

Italian wallpapers, indeed, hardly produce children's wallpapers due to the cost of the coating and traditional classical style, but something in between classical elegance and neutral wall covering for a child's room can be found.

Be prepared to find that even wallpaper in stripes or with roses in Italian master's execution will look unconventional and, therefore, will cost more.

Photo 13 — SIRPI wallpapers, Grand Classic 2011 collection

Prices for Italian Wallpapers

• In Kiev – from 290 UAH/roll;
• In Moscow – from 1,330 RUB/roll.