What Is A Wall Decal?

There are many tools you can use to bring a splash of color and life into an otherwise bland room. You can use paint, furniture, signage, and so many other things to accentuate your space and show off your stylish sensibilities. While all these options are great, a wall decal is one of the easiest—and most affordable—ways to show off.

While they’re accessible to pretty much anyone, there’s some terminology that might trip you up if you’re not careful. For example, while they’re made from similar material, you don’t want to confuse a wall decal with what a window decal is.

Luckily for you, we’re here to make your search a bit easier. We’re going to quickly cover everything you need to know to make an informed purchase and elevate your space.

What this article covers:

What Are Wall Decals?

what is wall decal stickers

Wall decals are decorative pieces of vinyl that can be cut into various shapes. Depending on what you want to do with the space you’re putting them on, there’s a range of options to choose from.

You can use large designs like trees and animals that are made up of multiple decals that need to be stuck together, or you can go for multiple, smaller options that are applied individually.

Another option is text or a quote. This can be something inspirational to help lift your mood, or more utilitarian. For example, many store owners use wall decals on the exterior of their business to advertise their services. Provided you have the right designer, the only real limitation on what you can do is your imagination.

Because wall decals can be cut around negative space, you can show off the color of the wall beneath. This opens up a range of possibilities and design ideas that will make your space unique and eye-catching.

Almost as soon as vinyl decals were invented, people started to see the opportunity they provided to advertise and promote their companies. Though, that doesn’t mean they’re only good for a single purpose. 

If you want to make your child’s room more bright and lively, you can stick up a large decal of a forest scene. If they’re fascinated with science, you could stick a scale model of the solar system to their ceiling.

If this sounds like it could work for you, contact Coastal Creative for our custom-printed wall murals and we’ll help turn your idea into reality.

What Are Wall Decal Stickers?

what are wall decals made of

One area that tends to catch people out is the difference between a wall decal and a decal sticker. This is most often an issue with terminology rather than any manufacturing or material differences. A vinyl decal sticker is, usually, the same thing as a wall decal.

If you’re still unsure, make sure to ask your provider. Differences in terminology tend to be specific to particular companies rather than the industry as a whole. 

Most commonly, the terms ‘stickers’ will refer to smaller vinyl decals that aren’t put together to make a single, larger image. This is what we commonly see in places like car dealerships advertising the price of a vehicle or someone’s name on an office window.

Both smaller decal “stickers” and larger vinyls can be removed without too much hassle or damaging the surface beneath. However, smaller decals are much easier to take off and so they’re often used for short-term, temporary applications.

What Are Wall Decals Made of?

what is wall decal

Our wall decals are made from high-quality vinyl and adhesives. This gives them an excellent lifespan of up to five years. Provided you take the proper care during application and maintenance, they can even last this long outside, making them a great option for advertisers and small businesses.

Depending on the purpose, vinyl decals are made in a few different ways. While the manufacturing of the actual image is more or less the same, what’s most important is the cut. Contoured designs work best with die-bond cut vinyl, while perforated adhesive vinyl is a more involved process.

Conclusion

Of all the things we enjoy about decals, the thing we love the most is their versatility. No matter what your decorative intentions or goals are, there’s probably a way you can achieve them with a quality vinyl decal.

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