The short answer
Grasscloth is a woven natural wallcovering with visible seams and natural color variation. We install it in Eatonville homes using a tinted primer, careful strip sequencing and humidity control, and we advise where a faux version is the better pick.
Natural grasscloth adds a layer of warmth that paint cannot match. The woven fibers catch light differently across the wall, giving even a plain room depth and a handmade feel. For Eatonville homeowners, about 11 miles north of our Orlando base, grasscloth is a popular way to dress up a living room, a primary bedroom or a small study without adding a printed pattern. It does come with quirks. Natural fiber reacts to humidity, shows its seams and needs a gentle hand during installation. Here is what to know about the material, how we install it and how to look after it in a Central Florida home.
What grasscloth is made of
True grasscloth is woven from plant fibers such as sisal, jute, hemp, seagrass, arrowroot or raffia, then laminated to a paper backing. Some products are dyed, others left in their natural tone. Because the fibers are hand-gathered and woven, each roll has slight differences in color, thickness and texture.
That variation is the appeal. A wall of grasscloth looks organic and layered, never flat. But it means the finished wall will show subtle shifts in tone from strip to strip and a visible line at every seam. We always recommend ordering every roll you need at once, from the same production run, and adding an extra roll for repairs.
- Sisal: fine, tight weave and fairly even color
- Jute and hemp: soft texture with a rustic look
- Seagrass: thick strands and strong natural variation
- Arrowroot: flat, wide fibers with a subtle sheen
Getting the wall ready
Many Eatonville homes have plaster over concrete block or older drywall that has been painted many times. Grasscloth is heavy when wet, and it needs a sound, well-bonded surface underneath. We scrape loose paint, fill cracks and sand patches flush.
Then we apply a pigmented primer, often tinted to match the background color of the grasscloth. Open weaves let the wall peek through, and a mismatched primer can make the finished wall look patchy. A primer made for wallcoverings also slows absorption so the paste stays wet long enough to position each strip.
Installation details that matter
We unroll and inspect everything before cutting. Lengths are numbered and arranged so the color flows across the wall, with any off-tone strips set aside for spots above doors or windows. If the manufacturer recommends it, every other strip is reversed to keep shading balanced.
Paste goes on the back only, never the face, and we work with clean hands and a clean sponge because natural fiber stains easily. Each strip is smoothed with a soft brush rather than a hard plastic smoother, which could crush or mark the weave. Seams are butted closely and trimmed with a straightedge so they stay straight from floor to ceiling.
Trimming grasscloth takes patience, since fibers can pull or fray under a dull blade. We change blades often and cut slowly around outlets and trim.
Humidity, sunlight and long-term care
Summer here brings heat, humidity and nearly daily afternoon storms from June through September, and the drier, mild winter is a sharp contrast. Grasscloth can expand slightly in humid air and tighten in drier months. Steady air conditioning keeps those swings small and protects the seams.
Natural fibers also fade in sunlight. A wall that gets strong afternoon light will lighten over the years, so consider shades or UV-filtering film on nearby windows. For cleaning, a soft brush or vacuum attachment removes dust. Spills should be blotted immediately with a dry cloth; rubbing or wetting the spot can spread the stain.
Rooms to choose and rooms to skip
Grasscloth looks right in bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms and offices, especially behind furniture where it frames the space. We suggest avoiding it in kitchens, full bathrooms and laundry rooms, where steam, splashes and grease would damage the fibers. Homes with pets that scratch or young children may prefer a vinyl that reproduces the woven look and can be wiped clean.
If you are unsure, we can bring both real and faux samples to compare side by side on your wall.
Eatonville and surrounding towns
We install grasscloth in Eatonville and nearby Maitland, Winter Park, Ocoee, Edgewood and Sky Lake. Share your product choice with us early, and we will confirm roll quantities and any special instructions before installation.
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