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We’ll put wallpaper just about anywhere—ceilings, powder rooms, and even inside wardrobes—but ask anyone if you should put wallpaper in your kitchen, and they’ll probably tell you it’s a bad idea. Why? The argument is that it won’t last in a place that’s prone to moisture and food splatter. Because we’re firm believers that if you love something, you should make it a part of your life, we’re always searching for work-arounds. One solution is to give your paper a coat of water-resistant varnish. Another, arguably simpler, fix is to browse Backdrop’s new wallpaper collection.
The brand just released some of its best-selling designs in temporary versions that are easier to clean than its traditional wallpaper—just wipe off any debris with a damp cloth. The assortment spans 14 prints including multiple colorways of Gambit, a two-tone checkerboard pattern that won Domino’s Good Design Award last year.
Unlike many of the other prints, which start at $34 per yard, Gambit is priced at $488 per panel. So while it still doesn’t come cheap to swath your walls in colorful checkers, the peel-and-stick application at least makes it more feasible for DIYers who don’t want to spend money on a professional hanger. Plus if you ever move, you can take it with you when you go.
Gambit isn’t the only easy-to-clean wallpaper in the bunch that almost looks like it could actually be tiles. If you’re looking to pull off an optical illusion in the kitchen or bathroom, consider Wabi-Sabi and Bloomsbury, too.