One of the best ways to add unique attributes to your interior design is by implementing different types of materials on surfaces. There are an abundance of flooring choices at our disposal, some more durable than others, and others more beautiful than others. Vinyl flooring tends to bridge the gap between durability, beauty, and, most importantly, affordability. But what about the walls? Are we just limited to paint colors and wallpaper? What if we could use flooring on the walls? This begs the question: Can you use vinyl flooring on walls?
Yes, you can use vinyl flooring on walls to achieve a beautiful and unique appearance. Most wall surfaces are smooth and conducive to the application of floor tiles, sheets, and planks. Vinyl tiles and sheets may be marketed specifically for floors, but they are designed for any flat surface, provided that they can be secured in place with an adhesive.
In some instances, vinyl flooring is engineered and designed with a click-and-lock mechanism that eliminates the need for adhesives during the installation process. But, this was intended for floors and not walls.
A simple solution would be to find an appropriate adhesive that can secure the vinyl flooring on walls.
What Is Vinyl Flooring?
It is a type of flooring made from layers of processed or synthetic material that are compressed together to create a pliable, durable, and affordable type of flooring. Typically, vinyl flooring comes in two forms, namely:
- Luxury vinyl tiles (LVT)
- Vinyl sheets or rolls
As the name suggests, luxury vinyl tiles are a higher end product that can be shaped in the form of normal tiles or planks, mimicking the look of stone or wood.
LVT tiles come in a strong and rigid form or a more flexible and pliable form.
The intention of LVT is to provide an alternative to ceramic, stone, and wood flooring without some of the drawbacks of those natural floors. This is pricier than its counterpart, but it does look more premium and is almost indistinguishable from the types of flooring it is trying to copy.
Vinyl sheets are slightly more affordable given that they are constructed in a larger form that is slightly thinner than LVT.
The texture of vinyl sheets is rather basic, and it often appears less dynamic than that of LVT. However, they still look good and offer a great deal of durability for your home.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Vinyl Flooring On Walls?
1. It provides a variety of design options
With vinyl flooring, you can transform your walls by creating an accent wall, a mosaic feature, or unique borders that bleed into the floor from the wall.
Vinyl comes in a wide variety of prints and designs that mimic many forms of natural finishes like wood, stone, marble, and more.
If applied to the right wall and in the right amount, you could create a feature wall that enhances the overall appearance of a room.
2. It’s cost effective and affordable
One of the main selling points of vinyl flooring is its affordability.
Compared to stone, wood, and marble, it costs significantly less to source and install.
If you’re on a tight budget but want the design options of a higher end material, vinyl flooring for your walls is the way to go.
3. It’s easy to install
As I mentioned earlier, vinyl flooring is designed for easy installation. It either comes in tile or plank form that clicks-and-locks into place or as a sheet that is usually cut and placed onto a surface.
The material used to construct vinyl is strong but designed to be cut and shaped with ease.
Since you’d be using this on the wall, you’d just need an adhesive that can be applied to the vinyl before application.
4. It offers added protection to your walls
The materials and process used to create vinyl floors enhance the durability of this product.
In a lot of cases, this type of flooring offers more moisture resistance, scratch resistance, and overall resilience that is hard to match.
It’s been known to last for many years or decades, minimizing the need for you to paint walls every few years since it won’t really discolor or fade for a long time.
5. It’s easy to maintain and clean
Given that vinyl flooring is water resistant, it can easily be cleaned with a gentle product to ensure that it appears blemish free and pristine.
Unlike natural materials that are porous in nature, the synthetic nature of vinyl makes it less susceptible to damage from exposure to liquids while also minimizing the risk of mold.
How To Install Vinyl On Walls
Step 1: Prepare the surface
Given that you are applying vinyl to the walls, the surface needs to be clean and dry.
You need to dust and wipe down the wall, apply filler to any patches or holes, sand down the rough texture, and level the surface.
Step 2: Prepare the vinyl
Depending on the dimensions of the wall and the design you have in mind, you may need to cut and shape the vinyl.
Make all the necessary cuts and trims to ensure a smooth and problem free application.
Save a few extra pieces of vinyl in the event of an issue arising or if you need to repair a portion of the wall in the future.
Step 3: Secure the vinyl to the wall
Now, apply the correct adhesive to the back of the vinyl before placing it on the wall.
Be sure to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer, taking into account the application technique and drying time that are recommended.
Use a weighted object to hold the vinyl in place as the adhesive dries.
Step 4: Apply trimmings and finish
Once the installation has been completed, you can make the necessary trims to the ends and insert trimmings, baseboards, or skirtings for a polished finish.
Final Thoughts
That brings us to the end of this article on whether you can use vinyl flooring on walls. I’ve used it on walls before and have experience with this type of flooring. I can assure you that it’s a great option for your home and that it will last a very long time.
In terms of appearance, affordability, and durability, vinyl flooring offers it all. Used on walls, you can achieve an end result that is unique, stylish, and high-end at an affordable cost.
Whether you’re aiming for a modern, rustic, abstract, wooden, Asian, contemporary, or traditional look, vinyl flooring offers all sorts of designs for your floors and walls.
With that being said, I hope you enjoyed this article and found it easy to follow. Be sure to check out some of our other helpful resources that I’ve linked below.
Related Posts:
What kind of flooring can you put over concrete?