Why in the World Would You Want to Reuse Wallpaper ?

Interesting question, right? Why would you want to reuse wallpaper? First of all, did you even know wallpaper could be reused? Another thought-provoking question. See the clarification on the term “wallpaper” below.

What do you do with all the wallpaper you’ve just torn down? Well, unfortunately, if it’s typical removable wallpaper, you’ll have to trash it, like this! But, if it’s Casart Coverings, you can reuse it. See our how-to video below.

Most standard peel-and-stick, self-adhesive, repositionable, removable wallpaper is simply meant to be removed and wasted and cannot reliably be reused. That’s really too bad considering too many things seem to be discarded without much care or concern just to be added to the local waste heap. Fortunately, there’s a movement now afoot to think twice about throwing items away. This is for several reasons, but most significantly, not only do you get more bang for your buck by reusing wallpaper but you also help the environment by not contributing to constant growing trash. Simply put, reusing wallpaper just makes good practical sense. Millennials and other generations are looking for ways to be “wallpaper woke” and reuse. Be on the lookout for articles coming out in Forbes and other national publications on the topic of, “The rise of reuse culture.” And, here’s a great article from GreenBiz explaining all the terminology to be aware of in the, “Reuse Makes a Comeback” culture, like: the maker and fix-it movements, recommerce and the circular economy.

Casart Coverings aligns with this philosophy. We have had a solution for over 11 years to challenge the “waste mentality!”

We’ve always used a practical approach at Casart Coverings. Our wallpaper is actually “wallcovering,” which meets strict requirements for commercial-grade use that other competitor removable wallpapers do not have. How do you know if your wallpaper may be wallcovering? Tip, it’s usually 52 inches wide, as Casart is, which also allows for less time and labor in the installation. Wallpaper is about 21 or so inches wide with a lot more sections to apply to cover just one wall.

Casart Coverings uses the word wallpaper for marketing because wallcovering is simply not as well known, nor searched as frequently, nor is always spelled the same, e.g., wall covering and wallcovering. In our interior design industry, we use wallcovering as one word. Here’s a detailed explanation about the benefits of removable wallcovering over wallpaper and what makes Casart wallcovering durability so appealing for reusability.

You should know that typical temporary wallpaper is just that, it is meant to be put up quickly and taken down and thrown away, which is all for customer convenience and to have you buying more and more wallpaper. We agree with the customer convenience factor, however, why does wallpaper need to be discarded so frivolously?

Just read this staggering statistic from SF Gate:

…wallpaper scraps contributing to the waste materials that end up discarded to a landfill, which in 2009 measured more than 130 million tons..

Yikes!! We are cringing to think of what the current stats are over 10 years later!

We state in our Environmental Impact / Green statement within our About Specs (click the caterpillar icon on the page link) that depending on local regulations, wallcovering can be recycled but mostly through reuse. However the Wallpaper from the 70’s site helps with disposal:

(Depending on local regulations, wallpapers may be categorized as construction site waste.) The local authorities responsible for waste disposal (Waste Advice Offices) will be able to give you contact details for the waste disposal associations in your area – or simply consult the internet for local addresses.

If you don’t want to add to the environmental hazard of waste dumps and you can’t recycle your wallpaper, we have these methods to try for Casart reusable wallcovering.

• When you want a change, simply remove your Casart removable wallcovering and reuse in another room or location, for instance, as Bookcase Backings, which is our terminology but also a standard roll size that we sell. You can also use on an accent wall or below a chair rail. If it is Casart Light, it can also be used on the ceiling.

• Transform cabinet or furniture fronts or a screen and even doors (examples from our Customers’ Gallery).

• Use on top of a table and since Casart Regular is high-grade vinyl, it can be wiped, or covered with glass to fit.

• Cut to use on Stair Risers, as we’ve been doing since day one! This is also a visually interesting idea for a mural in an entryway to impress your guests, right when you open the door.

• Use as drawer or shelf liners. (See some of these nifty ideas.)

• Use as wrapping paper. (You can also purchase Casart designer wallpaper.)

• Get creative and use in unexpected ways, as we did in floral arrangements for the Arts in Alexandria festival with Mary Douglas Drysdale’s Signature Color Jefferson Yellow Colorwash for Casart Coverings.

• Donate — Call Habitat for Humanity or your local shelter, church, non-profit, school or theater company to donate the wallcovering so others can reuse it — to help spruce up and personalize their space or use for craft projects and even theater backdrops.

It’s good to know that even though, it’s taken some time to catch on, just like bringing your own grocery bags to the store, reusing wallpaper / wallcovering will be something as common-place as wasting it will be a discarded thought.

So, to answer the title question, “why in the world would you want to reuse wallpaper?” can simply be answered, “Why not?! and yes, for the world!”

Give us a call, we’re happy to help you with using Casart wallcovering responsibly and to your personal benefit.

Here’s how to re-roll to reuse wallpaper with Casart Coverings:

 

Side note: We also want to give Tapeto Wallpaper, a German traditional wallpaper company, just a little older than Casart Coverings, a shout out  for their astute explanation about the environmental impact of paper wallpaper versus vinyl wallcovering and other types of wallpaper. All these subtleties in production make a big difference and we appreciate them providing an educated view to help awareness about materials and methods.

…in vinyl’s [wallpaper] defense, it is an incredibly durable material with a longer life cycle than any other material and it requires half the amount of energy than what is needed to produce a paper product. Furthermore, there is very little waste associated with the production of vinyl as it is completely standard in the industry to reuse almost all pre-consumer waste in the making of more vinyl…Find creative ways to use your leftover wallpaper – waste not!

Cheers! We agree!

Finally, we want to mention that his “reuse revolution” is not exclusive for just this market but is global and very strong in the fashion industry. Just as this was about to post, there was a news story on Good Morning America (GMA), How Major Department Stores are Buying and Selling Second Hand Clothing, featuring Nordstrom’s new See You Tomorrow, reseller program. It’s not only good business but benefits all!

Footnote: Since this publication, National Geographic has made “the End of Trash” their cover story in their March 2020 issue. Read more here.