A method of making a decorative flame barrier surface covering in which a first material as a base layer is obtained. A stiffening solution is applied to the base layer, and a flame barrier coating is applied to the stiffened base layer. A second material having a decorative design thereon is obtained as a decorative layer. A functional finish is optionally applied on the decorative layer. The base layer is combined with the decorative layer to form the decorative flame barrier surface covering of the present invention. The decorative flame barrier surface covering of the present invention achieves a Class A certification under American Society for Testing and Materials standard E84-04 without an inherently flame-resistant material as the first or second material.