Wood effect vinyl wrap

Wood effect vinyl: the designs in this collection

All of them are vinyl sheets in a roll, with the wood grain printed on and the adhesive back protected by a paper. If you are looking for a wood effect vinyl wrap to renew a piece of furniture without painting it, there are different designs by tone, style and width:

• brown sheets for wardrobes and desks, 40 or 50 cm wide, plus an 80 cm wide roll;
• dark and black tones, including a matt black, for doors, kitchen shelves, tables and walls;
• vintage effect and aged wood effect for doors, wardrobes and drawers;
• light or two-tone designs: a light beige and two white and black ones, one of them with a wood or stone effect for the kitchen;
• a 45 × 100 cm format and a roll of 40 cm × 3 m, which also suits walls.

Adhesive paper or PVC vinyl: what is the difference

In shops the two names usually mean the same product, and wood effect sticky back plastic is another name for it. Real paper absorbs water and grease and tears at the edges. PVC film, that is, vinyl, is a thin plastic sheet: it is cleaned with a damp cloth and, warmed a little with the hair dryer, it follows edges and corners.

In this collection, the designs called adhesive paper are also vinyl, so if you want a PVC wood effect adhesive vinyl, they all qualify. Compared with paint, there is no sanding and no waiting for it to dry, and it can be removed. Compared with laminate or wood veneer, it costs less and you can put it on by yourself, but it is still a thin covering: it changes the look of the furniture, but does not hide holes or dents.

How to choose wood effect vinyl: tone, finish and width

The designs are described by colour, not by species: light beige, brown, dark brown, black, white and black. For a light oak, bleached oak or natural elm effect, look at the light beige and the white and black; for a light walnut or cherry effect, the browns; for a dark walnut effect, the dark brown and the black. Black also comes in a matt version, which reflects little light.

Choose a roll wider than the short side of the piece, with 2 cm extra on each side to fold over the edges: a furniture door 40 cm wide fits on the 50 cm roll, while one 60 cm wide needs the 80 cm roll. Two strips side by side leave a visible join. For a whole interior door there is the door vinyl wrap.

Where to use wood effect vinyl wrap: furniture, kitchen and walls

The most common use is on furniture: wardrobe doors and sides, drawers, desks and tables. It sticks well on laminate, melamine and varnished wood, and poorly on raw wood, which is porous. In the kitchen it covers doors and shelves; for other finishes there is the kitchen vinyl wrap, while behind the worktop kitchen tile stickers are more suitable.

On walls you can use the black vinyl for tables and walls or the 40 cm × 3 m roll, a wood effect peel and stick wallpaper that covers 1.2 m²: enough for an alcove or the back of a bookcase. For a whole wall with some thickness there are wood effect wall panels. Keep the vinyl away from the oven, the hob and radiators: the designs are made for indoor use.

How to apply wood effect vinyl wrap for furniture

You need a tape measure, a craft knife with a new blade, a metal ruler, a plastic squeegee or an old card and a clean cloth. The steps are these:

• remove handles and knobs, clean and degrease the surface, and let it dry;
• cut each piece 2 cm larger on every side, with the grain running the same way on every door;
• peel off 10 cm of the backing paper, line up the top edge and press with the squeegee from the centre outwards, removing the paper little by little;
• if an air bubble is left, prick it with a pin and flatten it;
• trim the excess or fold it over the edges, reopen the handle holes and refit the handles.

How to clean and remove wood effect vinyl

To clean it, a soft cloth with warm water and a little mild soap is enough; then dry it. Avoid solvents, bleach, abrasive creams and rough sponges, which dull or scratch the print. If an edge lifts, warm it a little with the hair dryer and press it down.

To remove adhesive paper from furniture, warm it with the hair dryer on a medium setting and peel it off slowly, pulling almost parallel to the surface. Glue residue comes off with hot water and soap, or with a little alcohol on laminate and melamine: test first in a hidden spot. On varnished wood or old paint, some of the finish may come off too.

What wood effect vinyl costs and how much you need

The price depends on the width, the length of the roll and the tone. To compare designs, work out the price per square metre: divide the price of the roll by the area it covers (width × length).

Measure each piece and add 4 cm to the width and height. If the width fits on the roll, add up the lengths: for 4 doors of 40 × 70 cm, with the 50 cm wide roll you need 4 pieces of 74 cm, that is almost 3 m, and 3.3 m with a 10% reserve for mistakes. Then compare the total with the length given on the product page.