What is Grasscloth Wallpaper and Why Do Designers Choose Grasscloth?

At twenty2 Grasscloth we wholeheartedly believe that grasscloth is the perfect foundation for any room (and most interior designers would agree!). Let’s begin with the basics…

What is grasscloth wallpaper?

Grasscloth wallpaper is a natural wallpaper that has been used for more than 2,000 years, originating in Asia before making its way along ancient trade routes to European shores. “Grasscloth” is a general term used to describe a wallcovering made from eco-friendly, renewable fibers from a variety of plants such as agave, jute, hemp and seagrass to name a few. Each growing season is imprinted on the harvest, ultimately affecting how the fibers absorb the vegetable-based dyes, resulting in the beautifully distinct and subtle variations throughout.

Why use grasscloth wallpaper?

All of our grasscloth wallcoverings are environmentally friendly and free of harmful chemicals, which make it a good choice for people with environmental sensitivities. Grasscloth wallpaper is also sustainable, VOC-free, and naturally fire rated. Most products are packaged in standard rolls of 36” width 8-yard lengths. A few of our woven paper options (Japanese paperweaves) are packaged in 12-yard lengths that also measure 36” wide. 

A natural choice

Interior designers have long been using grasscloth’s textured and timeless beauty to create versatile and durable projects, paving the way for a resurgence in grasscloth among design enthusiasts, homeowners and commercial property owners…and you can understand why!

Using materials from nature to create these breathable hand-crafted wallpapers helps reduce the quantity of chemicals and toxins used in more traditional wallcoverings. Grasscloth wallpaper is a natural choice for adding a unique texture and warmth to any space. In addition to providing a subtle thermal quality, its excellent acoustic properties can help to dampen sound.

A range of styles

With a range of the most beautiful, versatile and design-forward colors and textures we offer, each grasscloth adds its own mood, playing the perfect supporting role to more central design elements in a room. Even a grasscloth accent wall can play a big or a small role in the room, depending on which one you choose.

Designers such as Angela Ireland Interiors had this to say about using twenty2 grasscloth in their work:

“twenty2 Grasscloth wallpaper is our go-to grasscloth! They offer a variety of textures, patterns, and colorways so we are always able to find the perfect wallcovering to complete our designs with just the right amount of depth and texture…”

Whether your style is traditional, casual, modern, refined or maximalist, twenty2 Grasscloth offers something for every taste: Shop our Edits online! We carry a curated selection of neutral wallpapers, beachy blue wallcoverings, pastel color wallpapers, modern textured grasscloth wallpapers, and metallic and shimmer options. You can order samples online as well or visit our Gallery page for inspirational, swoon-worthy designer installations. 

As one of our loyal customers recently wrote: 

“The range of colors and textures offered by twenty2 is incredible - no matter the room, we always find something that “wows” and perfectly compliments our style and design…”

Is grasscloth worth it?

Grasscloth wallpaper is an innately labor-intensive and unique product. Each harvest is meticulously inspected, washed, and air dried before the hand-dyeing process. Once the fibers are sorted for consistency, they are either hand-knotted (as for jutes) or go straight to the looms for weaving. Few products in the interior design world are made with this much hands-on labor, so it is naturally more expensive to cover your walls with a grasscloth wallpaper, as opposed to painting. 

What are the pros and cons of grasscloth wallpaper?

As mentioned earlier, the many pros certainly outweigh the few cons; grasscloth is textured and timeless, durable, versatile, environmentally friendly, and free of harmful chemicals (with no off-gassing!). One thing that grasscloth wallpaper is limited by is its final environment; it does not do well when wet, so we discourage using it in high-use steamy bathrooms (they do tend to be a favorite in powder rooms though). Some of the best rooms to install grasscloth in are bedrooms, dining rooms, living rooms, entryways, and dens. To clean your wallcovering, only soft-brush vacuuming is recommended and you should never wipe it with a wet sponge or use any cleaning products, as the colors will run and damage the look.

If you are a designer, architect or stylist, please consider joining our Trade program for access to designer net pricing and complimentary samples.

Stay tuned on upcoming blogs to learn more about grasscloth wallpaper, including design tips for the best grasscloth-friendly rooms, how to prep a wall for installation, grasscloth seams, and more!