Fabric backed wallpaper, our softest and lowest-emission finish
Fabric Backed is a non-woven wallcovering with a soft, lightly textured face. It is the finish we suggest for bedrooms and nurseries, for walls that are not perfectly smooth, and for anyone who wants to know exactly what is going onto their wall — it is the lowest-emission material we carry, and the only one we can name certifications for.
What it is
A breathable non-woven base rather than a plain film, which is what gives it a softer look under light and a more forgiving hang. It goes up with paste, it is easy to work with, and it comes away cleanly when the time comes. The wallcovering is made by Len-Tex in the USA using their phthalate-free Clean Vinyl Technology, formulated without phthalates, heavy metals, formaldehyde or phenol.
Why it suits a bedroom or a nursery
It is certified to SCS Indoor Advantage Gold and tested to CDPH Section 01350 — the indoor-emissions standard written for schools and healthcare interiors. We print it with Canon UVgel 460 ink on a Canon Colorado M-series press, a print system Canon lists as GREENGUARD Gold certified for low chemical emissions, alongside Indoor AgBB and the French A+ indoor air rating. The ink cures as it prints, so there is no solvent smell and a room can go back into use straight away.
Which walls it suits
Bedrooms, children's rooms, and any wall with a light roller finish or a texture a self-adhesive film would struggle to grip. It is one of the two finishes that hold up best in a humid room, alongside premium vinyl, because there is no built-in adhesive edge for condensation to work at. It will live happily in a well-ventilated bathroom away from direct splashes, but no wallcovering belongs inside a shower enclosure or on a wall that is already damp. If you need PVC-free or fire-retardant stock, tell us and we will confirm what we can supply.
Living with it
Dust it with a dry cloth. It takes a gentle wipe with a damp cloth and a little mild soap, which is enough for fingerprints and everyday marks — nothing abrasive, no scouring pads and no solvent cleaners. The paste-up finishes outlast the peel-and-stick ones, so on a sound, dry wall this is a mural you are keeping. Strong direct sun for hours a day will fade any printed colour eventually, ours included.
Designs that suit Fabric Backed Wallpaper
A few from our catalogue that work particularly well in this finish. Every design can be printed on any of our materials — these are simply where we would start.
Compare all eight finishes
See every material side by side, with its texture and its rate per square metre, and read our short guide to choosing between them.
Back to materials →How ordering works
Measure your wall, choose a design and a finish, and watch the price update as you type. We print to your measurements and add a trim margin on every edge.
See how it works →See it before you commit
We post a free A4 printed sample of your design on the material you are considering, with no payment needed. It is the only honest way to judge colour and texture against your own wall, in your own light.