It isn't just paper anymore! Contemporary wall coverings are manufactured with a variety of materials including paper, fabric, and vinyl.  Decorating choices vary according to design, color, texture, and durability. What exactly is wallpaper? How does it differ from other types of wall coverings?
    Wall coverings: Wall coverings/wallpaper refers specifically to decorative, flexible coverings that fall into four general categories:

1] Embossed: a wall covering usually made of a paper substrate that features embossed or raised elements. Frequently, design elements will be raised above the background or "negative space" on the covering.
2] Fabric (woven): a wall covering that features fabric or other woven fibers. Fabric "wallpaper" may be coated with vinyl or materials.
3] Paper: wallpaper that is made of paper usually consists of a paper substrate-ground combination, which is then printed with inks. A coating may cover the ink, making the touchable surface less porous than the paper beneath it. However, paper coverings vary considerably in content, strength and texture.
2] Vinyl: a strong, flexible ethylene derivative most appropriate for high-moisture or high-impact rooms. Wallcoverings may be either paper-backed vinyl or vinyl-coated paper.

Most wall coverings are comprised of three broad layers (decorative, intermediate, and substrate) although materials vary according to the type of paper.
    Types of wallpaper vary considerably in their appearance.  ...more  As with paint, the appropriate use of wallpaper depends on the context of the walls or where it will be placed. Moisture, traffic, sunlight, and exposure to food or elements affect the durability of wallcoverings.

• What are the benefits and drawbacks of different types of wallcoverings?  ...more

Shape and Coverage.  Wallcoverings may be used to cover entire walls, or just parts of them. They are manufactured into three cuts or sizes:

• Accents: a single picture or design element that is meant to be applied over a section of a wall.
• Borders: scrolls of flexible material designed to cover a horizontal or vertical strip of a wall.
• Rolls: (usually labeled as wallpaper) scrolls of flexible paper or other material designed for application over entire walls or ceilings.