Roll Call: Why Trendy but Tricky Grasscloth Wallpaper Is Worth It

What Is Grasscloth?

Grasscloth is an umbrella term commonly used to describe wallcovering made from hand-woven strands of natural fibers on an unpasted rice paper backing. The fibers include hemp, jute, sea grass, arrowroot grass, bamboo and raffia. Some manufacturers identify the specific fiber type, but others don’t and instead use grasscloth as a catchall phrase.

Grasscloth’s characteristic 36-inch width is atypical of wallcoverings, which usually come in standard 21- and 27-inch widths.

How Grasscloth Differs From Other Wallpapers

Like snowflakes, no two rolls of grasscloth wallpaper are alike. Fibers on one roll may vary in size, color or value from the next roll. The horizontal filaments will never line up side to side from one roll to another. The striated pattern will look offset up on the wall, resulting in a paneled effect. Depending on the fiber type, grasscloth may take dye unevenly, creating beautiful variegation, as in this example.

So you should expect grasscloth rolls — unlike other types of wall covering made in controlled factory conditions, such as printed papers — to be (delightfully) inconsistent. “Hanging natural grasses requires that you bend your brain 180 degrees and ignore, or even celebrate, what would normally be gross variations in a machine-made product,” says wallpaper installer Jim Parodi of Jim Parodi Wallpapering.

In fact, the variation can be so unpredictable that many people initially cite a manufacturing defect. Parodi says he once installed a light green grasscloth project that had one roll with a natural, but fairly bright, red stripe down its center. Color variations like these are not considered defects and are not cause for return. In fact, most manufacturers disclose a disclaimer about it being a natural, hand-made product. Expect a roll or two to visually stick out in some way. For example, the far right side of this dining room installation appears darker than the adjacent pieces.

Also make sure that your significant other is on the same page about the random appearance. If irregularity, or the possibility of it, sends your heart aflutter, then grasscloth will not be your best wallpaper pick.

Location, Location, Location

Despite being the perfect backdrop to most any decor style, grasscloth isn’t the right choice for every room in your house. Living rooms, dining rooms, studies and bedrooms are generally better rooms to indulge one’s grasscloth fantasies. Here’s why:

Water woes. Grasscloth’s nemesis is water. Some grasscloth fiber types are more forgiving than others, but in general, it is highly susceptible to water marks after making contact with water or high humidity. In keeping with the natural material theme, many grasscloth wallpapers are also colored with natural dyes, which can actually bleed off onto other materials and furnishings.

Because water and grasscloth don’t mix, grasscloth wallpaper can’t be cleaned in the traditional sense (I’ll touch on maintenance later). So installing grasscloth near a sink where it can be easily splashed or around a toilet can be a hygienic disaster.

How to use grasscloth in bathrooms. If you’re bent on using grasscloth wallpaper in a bathroom, take common-sense precautions. First, for bathrooms with bathing facilities, make sure that you have a superb exhaust system. Any lingering steam will settle on the wallpaper surface and eventually cause staining or, at a minimum, a shortened life span.

Second, avoid contact with any plumbing fixtures by installing the grasscloth above wainscoting, as in this example. The wall behind this powder room sink is mirrored instead of wallpapered.

Scent sense. Another consideration is indoor odor. Natural materials are porous, and can absorb and hold scent. Parodi says he received a frantic phone call from a client whose grasscloth-papered dining room still smelled like her husband’s cigar-fueled boys’ night in. “Many people do not realize that grasscloth on walls is like having fabric drapes that cannot be sent out and cleaned,” he says.

Besides tobacco, strong food smells, like that of fried fish, can also linger on grasscloth wallpaper. Carefully reflect on your family’s lifestyle before going the grasscloth route.

Not so sunny. Like many other natural materials, grasscloth wallpaper, especially those dyed dark colors, can fade in sunlight. Although grasscloth may seem like a perfect wallcovering for your sunroom, its lifetime there will likely be curtailed.

Instead, interior rooms or those with adequate window shades (or an architectural overhang, such as the exterior porch in this example) are better alternatives.

Get Professional Installation

Parodi says grasscloth is one of the most challenging wallcoverings to install. There are likely a few DIYers out there who have had great success. However, compared with standard wallpaper, its installation is different and requires specialized know-how, tools and impeccable wall prep with particular materials, not to mention an approximately doubled installation time. Not all experienced wallpaper installers are competent with grasscloth installation, so be sure to hire one who is.

Here’s a lowdown on some of its installation complexities:

Custom-cut widths. Unlike other wallpaper installations that maximize the number of full rolls on a wall, and balance out fill-in pieces on the sides, seasoned grasscloth installers attempt, when possible, to install consistent roll widths across a wall. This prevents danglers at the corners.

So on a 100-inch-wide wall, instead of installing two full 36-inch rolls and balancing the remaining 28 inches, competent installers cut three 36-inch rolls down to 33⅓ inches so that they fit equally. This not only requires a great deal of skill, but also the right tools. Parodi says he uses professional Japanese-made shears and razor blades to make grasscloth cuts.

Bending around corners. Abutting two rolls of grasscloth at an outside corner will likely lead to peeling down the road. A seasoned installer has the know-how and tools to bend stiff grasscloth fibers around outside corners like this one.

Cost

One of the reasons to go with a knowledgeable installer is because grasscloth tends to be quite pricey. Although yardage can vary, most bolt prices range from $100 to $550, with the average from $200 to $250. Understandably, any mistakes are extremely costly.

Labor cost for installation is trickier to calculate because the scope of work is much more involved. Labor rates in different areas of the country vary greatly too. Parodi bases his labor pricing on a detailed site visit where he assesses the existing wall condition, architectural details, prep materials and labor required, and the particular specifications of the grasscloth being installed. Based in the New York City area, he says his labor rate for an average-size bedroom or dining room ranges from $725 to $975.

Maintenance

Grasscloth can’t be cleaned like other “washable” or “scrubbable” wallcoverings.

Some manufacturer cleaning instructions indicate to “wipe gently,” but because the finish on some grasscloths can dull with the slightest contact with water, it’s always a good idea to first test it on a leftover piece or an inconspicuous area. Grasscloth can also be lightly vacuumed to remove surface dirt and dust. Just be careful not to abrade the surface.

Get the Grasscloth Look With a Synthetic

If you’d love grasscloth wallpaper in your home but find it too finicky, don’t despair. There are some vinyl grasscloth alternatives on the market. These walls are covered in a faux grasscloth wallcovering by Thibaut.

More
How to Get Past Your Fear of Bold Wallpaper Prints
A Beginner’s Guide to Getting Wallpaper Right