Vinyl vs Fabric Wall Stickers: Which Should You Choose?

If you’re planning to improve the look of your room, there’s no better way to do that than to decorate with wall stickers. Why wall stickers? Well, wall stickers are fun and unique. They come in different colors, patterns, and textures and so there are many different options for everyone.

Indeed, there are numerous types of wall stickers in the market. Among the most common ones are vinyl vs fabric wall stickers. These two are very popular as they have their own advantages, and they offer unique features to homeowners. Because both of them are great, you might have a hard time making your choice Don’t worry; this guide will help you decide which type of wall sticker to go for.

Features: Vinyl vs Fabric Wall Stickers

Before discussing their differences, let’s talk about each sticker’s features, pros, and cons. In this way, you’ll be able to identify which one is much more ideal for you. Plus, you’d get to compare each kind, allowing you to make faster decisions the moment you buy one.

Fabric Wall Stickers

This type of sticker is basically just like your typical vinyl sticker. They have the same uses as they’re great for decorating a room. However, what makes this different from vinyl is that it has a modern twist to it. This wall sticker uses fabric instead of vinyl, thus emitting a different overall appeal to it.

Like vinyl, the fabric wall decals or stickers are easier to stick and peel off on the walls compared to the traditional wallpapers. However, using fabric wall stickers is the simplest and easiest of them all since they have an excellent removable adhesive. So, if you make mistakes, you can simply remove the fabric wall sticker and start again.

What’s more, the fabric wall sticker is less likely to tear as its material got a fabric structure, which is much more durable. Thus, if you’re going to re-position the stickers, even with the bigger ones, you wouldn’t have a difficult time doing so.

Features

• Non-PVC product, so it’s environmental friendly.
• Matte and textured surface, which makes it look more natural on the wall.

Pros

• Nontoxic and safer for nursery rooms and our homes.
• Got patented removable adhesive, so the decals can be removed right away or even after years later, without any residue left. It’s landlord-friendly.
• Has a fabric structure, so it will not easily tear off.
• Easy to install. You can easily open it, even they’re stuck to each other. So you can relax letting your children decorate their own rooms.

Cons

• Might change in color when it’s subjected to extreme heat.
• Does not do well with moisture. Thus, when you remove it with water, it will eventually loosen.
• A little more expensive compared to the vinyl wall stickers. But it worth for the safety.

Vinyl Wall Stickers

This is your basic type of wall sticker. It’s a common type that you can buy in almost all home improvement stores. This sticker is made out of vinyl. It comes with a lot of styles and may even feature designs, pictures, and words.

While often commonly used in homes, they are not often reusable, though there are already reusable options starting to emerge in the market these days. However, they are hard to find, so you’re most likely going to end up buying the non-recyclable ones.

Fortunately, these stickers use a special kind of adhesive that will allow you to re-position a sticker on the wall multiple times until its adhesive wears off. In this way, though they can’t be used for a long time, you can still re-position them and create new designs from time to time.

This type of sticker is often made from PVC plastic and is cut by using a laser or vinyl cutter. Usually, it comes in a single color. However, some manufacturers offer various designs and shades, even including metallic or glitter finishes on them.

Features

• Glossy or shiny surface as it’s made from vinyl.
• Comes with a lot of styles and may even feature designs, pictures, and words.
• The special adhesive that allows easy re-positioning of the stickers.

Pros

• Affordable.
• Has a lot of varieties.
• Can be re-positioned multiple times.
• Flexible and customisable in terms of the design.
• Easy to find as it’s one of the most common wall stickers in the market at the moment.

Cons

• Has toxic elements to it.
• Often not reusable. Reusable vinyl stickers are hard to find.
• Large vinyl wall stickers are hard to stick and re-position because it can tear quickly. It’s hard to open once they’re stuck to each other.
• Although most of them claim removable, they might eventually harm the paint if you leave the decals on the wall for more than 1 year.

Summary of the Differences

While both are used for the same reasons, they have their own differences, which makes them unique. Of course, this doesn’t mean that one of them is much more superior. It’s just that each sticker can be used and do well on certain walls and rooms.

Now that you already have a background of what each sticker is all about, these are some of their differences that you should take note of:

Toxicity

Especially if you’re looking for nursery wall stickers, it’s best if you’re going to opt for non-toxic wall stickers. If you prefer a safer alternative, fabric wall stickers have no PVC (polyvinyl chloride plastic) in them compared to vinyl.

When it comes to toxins, vinyl has greater contaminants in them. Luckily, there are a lot of safer options today that are credited and approved. So, when buying wall stickers, regardless of what type you’re looking for, always buy the credible ones.

Durability

Both are durable in their own ways. Vinyl, for instance, as it’s made from sturdy materials, can last for a long time, especially when it’s not re-positioned at all times. However, when it comes to tearing and stretching, fabric wall stickers are stronger. This is because fabric wall stickers are much more strong with it’s fabric structure. Vinyl wall stickers, on the other hand, especially those that are made so thinly, can easily rip off.

Though they have different levels of durability, it would still boil down to how you handle the stickers when pasting, removing, and re-positioning them. Thus, as much as possible, always follow each sticker’s instructions to minimize damages.

Reusability

If taken care of properly, both can last long and can even be used multiple times. However, vinyl wall stickers are likely used long-term as they’re harder to remove compared to fabric wall stickers. Vinyl wall stickers are also more likely to tear easily, so they can’t be reused anymore. They might also harm the paint or leave marks on the walls. While fabric wall stickers, on the other hand, can be reused for a longer period of time. However, as they are prone to loosening due to moisture, they, too, can become non-recyclable.

The point here is that you should be able to know how to use and maintain them properly as both stickers can be re-positioned anyway. Just be careful and mindful in handling them. When it comes to vinyl, remove them carefully to prevent them from tearing or damaging paints. For the fabric, don’t place them inside the bathroom or near the kitchen where moisture or steam is abundant.

Knowing how to use them will not only let you maximize each sticker to its fullest but will also help you save your time, and money in the long run.

Removability

If you’re the type who keeps on rethinking your wall decorations, renting or is always moving from one place to another, it’s important that you consider your sticker’s removability. If you’re using vinyl, they can be removed without damages but only when you do it carefully and in short term. Conversely, when it comes to fabric wall stickers, they’re easier to take off as their adhesive is much more advanced.

For those who keep on transferring from one location to another, you’ll do well with fabric wall stickers. But if you’re the type who sticks with one design and does not need a lot of alterations, then vinyl would do wonders for you.

Conclusion

While the fabric is a more modern wall sticker, we can never say that vinyl has no advantages at all. Sure, fabric is safer to use, and it has a lot of perks as well. However, vinyl also has its own amazing features.

Vinyl vs fabric wall stickers, how would you choose? Regardless of what you choose, what’s important is that you pick a sticker that would resonate with you in terms of the design, budget, shape, size, color, and texture. Both have their own styles and have a lot to offer, so you will not run out of options. Just make sure that you’re purchasing an environmentally-friendly and safe sticker.

Use all the information above to be guided in choosing the ideal wall stickers that work for you and your needs so that you can start transforming your room into a stylish haven.