Wallpaper Vs Paint: Which Is the Best Choice for Your Home?

Are you team wallpaper or paint?

If you recently moved into a new home or have been living in your current one for a while, but are starting to get tired of your current interior design, it's probably time to spruce it up. Changing the appearance of your walls can greatly enhance the visual appeal of your entire home, but the most common dilemma for wall coverings lies in choosing between paint or wallpaper.

The decision of whether to use wallpaper or paint your walls depends on various factors, including your personal preferences, your budget, and the condition of your walls. We’re here to compare the advantages and disadvantages of wallpaper versus paint so that you can make a wiser decision when decorating your walls! Let’s dive in!

1. Cost

Cost is one of the main factors to consider when making a decision between paint and wallpaper. The prices of these options vary depending on the brand, quality, finish, and type of product. Aside from the cost of paint/wallpaper, the cost of tools and workmanship should also be factored in.

Paint

Painting is a simple project that even homeowners can tackle themselves, but you should consider the expense of supplies such as brushes, paint trays, rollers, tape, and floor and furniture protection.

Wallpaper

Installing wallpaper, on the other hand, will set you back on labour costs. It is a sophisticated procedure that involves precision cutting, correct pattern alignment, and meticulous smoothing out of creases to remove any air bubbles. Ideally, you need to hire a professional to apply your wallpaper; otherwise, it may not adhere well or tear, which may incur unexpected costs.

2. Durability

When picking between wallpaper and paint, durability should also be a key priority. It must be resistant to wear and tear, especially in high-traffic areas.

Paint

Professionally applied paint can usually last for about 10 years before the colour starts to fade, peel, or chip (depending on the amount of traffic in the room). High-traffic areas, such as the playroom or the kitchen, where dirt, grease, and messy hands may frequently touch the walls, may necessitate touch-ups over time. Today, there are washable paint options that are resistant to stains and allow you to scrub your wall clean without removing any of the paint. However, these types of paint are generally more expensive compared to standard wall paints.

Wallpaper

With correct installation and upkeep, wallpaper can survive for 5–10 years (depending on material quality) without fading or peeling in our humid climate. And, depending on the product, there are brands on the market that are extremely stain-resistant, so you can easily wipe blemishes off with a wet cloth.

3. Prep work/ installation process

Whether you choose wallpaper or paint, you’ll need to do a little prep work before you begin. To prepare your walls for decorating, patch any holes, sand them down, and wipe away any dust or dirt on your walls.

Paint

If you're painting a room that already has furniture, you'll need to do some extra prep work, such as clearing the room or covering the furniture and floors to guard against splashes. On top of that, there’s the task of masking the edges of your walls, sockets, and skirting boards to achieve clean lines.

Painting a wall can take more than a day because it may require numerous coats of paint to get ideal coverage. Even premium paint requires 2 or 3 coats to look its best. Because each layer requires time to dry in between, painting a room often takes several days to finish.

Wallpaper

For this reason, if you want a quick and easy way to jazz up your walls, wallpaper is a better option. Only one application is required, and you can typically complete the project in half a day.

4. Design selection

Both paint and wallpaper are available in various designs and colours. Paints come in various finishes, from matte to glossy, while wallpaper comes in various materials, from paper to vinyl. Choosing between the two would depend on your preferences.

Paint

Although paint comes in a large variety of hues, sheens, and qualities, unless you are a gifted artist, it’s difficult to replicate, sometimes very detailed and imaginative motifs on the wall like wallpaper can do. Plus, it is more time-consuming to create a detailed look using paint compared to installing wallpaper with ready-made designs.

Wallpaper

Similar to paint, wallpapers also offer a variety of designs. Be it stripes or floral motifs, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Today, there is even paintable wallpaper and custom-made ones, too, so you can make your home look truly one-of-a-kind, which is not possible using paint.

The latest wallpaper trend is 3D wallpaper designs. As seen in the foyer above, the 3D wallpaper provides an affordable option to create the look of a real brick wall without the high cost of labour.

5. Usage

Wallpaper

Because wallpaper is glued to your walls, it will start to peel off when exposed to moist or humid conditions. This makes it unsuitable for installation in rooms with high humidity and temperature levels, such as the kitchen and bathroom.

Paint

Paints, on the other hand, are suitable for any room due to their ability to repel moisture from their surface. So you can renovate any room without worrying about moisture affecting its appearance.

6. Removal

Paint

If you’re the type of person who likes to change up their interior style often, painting your walls is a more straightforward and economical option because all you need is to repaint your existing walls with a fresh coat of paint.

Wallpaper

The process of removing the existing wallpaper, on the other hand, is more time-consuming than painting because, without proper technique, you might risk damaging the drywall underneath. It involves carefully removing the wallpaper with a scraping tool and water or a wallpaper solvent. It can be a troublesome task when done on your own and costly with the use of wallpaper-removal materials.

To sum up

With all things considered, choosing between wallpaper and paint would depend upon your requirements and home conditions. Both are excellent choices for decorating your walls, but wall paints are more versatile because they can be used in any room, including rooms with high humidity levels. You should also consider consulting with an interior designer to help you make the best choice for your home.

If you’re looking for other alternatives to decorating your bare walls, check out this article.

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