Wallpaper, also known as wall covering, has its roots in China. In 105 AD, during the Eastern Han Dynasty, Cai Lun invented papermaking, marking the beginning of paper's journey into history. From that point on, our ancestors started using rice paper to cover windows and walls, not only to keep dust away but also to beautify their living spaces. By the Tang Dynasty, people began drawing on paper to decorate their walls, laying the foundation for what we now know as wallpaper.
As trade between the East and West expanded along the Silk Road, papermaking techniques spread to Arabia and Europe. The earliest known wall art in Europe was discovered on the beams of a Christian college in Cambridge, England. It featured a woodcut pomegranate pattern printed on the back of an announcement from the 1509 reign of Henry VIII.
The earliest recorded wallpaper works were found in France. Jean-Michel Papillon, a French print engraver born in 1698 and died in 1776, created a series of continuous woodcuts in 1766, which were used for wallpaper. Because of this contribution, he is often referred to as the "father of world wallpaper."
In the mid-18th century, the British company Morris introduced machine-made printed wallpapers, bringing modern design and production methods into the industry.
Throughout the 1980s, foamed wallpaper became popular. This type, also known as screen embossing or foaming, had a textured surface that felt soft to the touch, giving it a strong three-dimensional effect. It helped enhance the spatial feel of a room.
By the end of the 1980s, with the growth of the plastics industry, a new alternative to foamed wallpaper emerged—rubber-faced wallpaper. Unlike its predecessor, it didn't foam, making the texture firmer and more durable. It was waterproof, moisture-resistant, and offered exquisite printing and embossed designs, allowing for a wide range of patterns. Its improved color expression and practicality marked a new era in wallpaper development. Today, rubber-faced wallpaper accounts for about 70% of global usage.
When rubber-faced wallpaper first appeared, silky, lustrous textures were very popular. Later, as trends in home decoration evolved, matte (cloth-like) wallpaper gained popularity. Wallpapers today offer more vibrant colors and diverse patterns, making them increasingly appealing to consumers. Major manufacturers are now competing fiercely to capture this growing market.
From the late 1990s to the early 21st century, wallpapers with a fabric-like texture became fashionable. At the same time, as people's demand for comfort, leisure, and environmental protection grew, eco-friendly products like non-woven and pure paper wallpapers gained acceptance. Consumers are now looking for more sustainable and natural options.
Today, the penetration rate of wallpaper in Europe and the United States exceeds 70%, while in Japan, South Korea, and Russia, it's nearly 95%. In China, however, the rate is still below 5%. With China's economic growth and rising living standards, I believe that wallpaper will soon become a common household item, just like it is in many other parts of the world.
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