One of the most important aspects when it comes to decorating and styling your interiors is the colour and design of your walls. When considering how to best dress your walls, the two options are paint or wallpaper. Both of these choices have their benefits and advantages, both are attractive, so how do you decide which is best for you?
One of the most important aspects when it comes to decorating and styling your interiors is the colour and design of your walls. When considering how to best dress your walls, the two options are paint or wallpaper. Both of these choices have their benefits and advantages, both are attractive, so how do you decide which is best for you?
Preparation and installation
Wallpaper can be hard to remove, so if you’re ever planning on changing it then it’ll require a little more prep work. Wallpaper can also show any imperfections in the wall, so proper preparation of the surface prior to installation is paramount. Paint, on the other hand, is relatively easy as you can simply cover up imperfections, especially if you use a paint with less sheen. If anything gets damaged or stained, paint is much easier to cover up.
Choice of colour and style
Both paint and wallpaper come in a large variety of colours. While paints have varying levels of gloss, wallpaper has various textures and designs or prints. The possibilities of both options are potentially boundless. Another important consideration when discussing choice is the very real possibility of changing your mind based on personal preference or prevailing trends. In this case, paint is much easier to change frequently, and the mixing of colours allows the creation of virtually any tone.
When considering styles, paint is relatively limited when compared with wallpaper. This is because wallpaper is available in a multitude of different designs and effects, combining texture, colour, and other elements in its design. In comparison, paint can be deemed less creative and in-your-face.
Durability
Wallpaper is extremely durable, and tends to maintain its condition better over time than paint; this is particularly evident in high traffic areas such as hallways and corridors. However it’s also susceptible to peeling in areas that have a lot of moisture, such as the bathroom, kitchen, or laundry. If kept well, wallpaper can last in excess of 15 years without requiring much maintenance or replacement.
Paint is generally considered to be less durable in this sense, as it is susceptible to wall damage and can require repainting on a more frequent basis.
Cost
When it comes to budgeting for wall design, paint tends to be more cost effective than wallpaper. This is because wallpaper is usually more expensive to purchase and requires installation.
Paint, on the other hand, can range in price depending on its quality, sheen, and even texture, but is easier for a DIY-er to apply than wallpaper. However, going for a professional installation of paint can be quite comparable in price to wallpaper, particularly when opting for high end, textured paint. Practically speaking, wallpaper that remains for 15 years can actually work out to be cheaper than paint that is repainted every five years.
Both paint and wallpaper options have their own pros and cons, as with anything, but the important thing to keep in mind is your personal taste and what look you’re aiming to achieve. This is why many interior decorators end up using a combination of both wall coverings, as it provides the right application for the right situation. For example, a rich, textured wallpaper used as a feature wall in combination with a low sheen paint can make for a beautiful look.
In addition, planning wall coverings based on room and utility makes home decorating more practical. For example, paint in bathroom and kitchens with wallpaper in hallways or bedrooms is good way to introduce variety in the home. No matter what your preference, the possibilities are endless and you are guaranteed to find the right wall covering and colour for each particular scenario you might encounter. Why not even explore both and be creative throughout the home?
