Planning to redesign your home or maybe just revamp your bedroom, but feeling indecisive about wallpaper or paint? When it comes to home design, your walls can completely change the ambience of a room. Your walls have the power to create an impression and make a statement about who you are; however, it’s up to you to decide how you achieve this.
This brings us back to the question - wallpaper or paint? From a design perspective, this is indeed an imperative question to ask yourself. After all, the right choice can add the perfect dash of colours and vibrancy to your walls, bringing a sense of style and elegance to your home. If you’re stuck in a rut trying to decide, we’ve got you covered.
At Paint The Town Green, we are experts in transforming a house into a home, helping your vision come to life. In this article, we share our top tips and explore the pros and cons of wallpaper and painting, so you are in a better position to make a more informed decision.
If you’re wanting to give your home a real makeover or simply jazz up your walls, contact us now!
Wallpaper Or Paint?
The battle between wallpaper and painting can be a tough decision for many. We will compare both design options based on parameters such as durability, longevity and cost.
1. Durability
Typically, wallpaper material can withstand wear and tear for a longer duration, making it the perfect choice for areas in your home that are usually prone to high traffic. Homeowners commonly choose wallpapers for children's rooms or playing areas, due to their durability.
In addition to this, high-quality wallpaper is easier to maintain as it can be cleaned or scrubbed. While wallpapers are perfect for bedrooms, they aren't the best choice for areas such as bathrooms and kitchens due to the usage of adhesive. These spaces are prone to moisture, making wallpapers peel away easily.
On the other hand, simply painting your walls can be a more inexpensive way to upgrade the interiors of your room. Specific finishes of paint such as wipeable emulsions are more hard wearing than matt emulsions, while eggshell paints provide a durable finish for woodwork.
2. Longevity
More often than not, wallpapers can last up to 15 years if given the right care and maintenance. This number might vary depending on your usage and, with proper maintenance, can last even longer.
It is no wonder that wallpapers are far more durable than paint. In fact, a study revealed that wallpapers tend to last 3 times more than regular wall paint.
Painting gives you a wide variety of designs and techniques to experiment with. However, based on the type of paint used, the longevity will vary. For instance, latex paint can last from 2 to 10 years as compared to chalk paint which lasts up to 5 years.
3. Ease Of Application
The application of wallpapers requires specific skills and aid from professionals. Needless to say, consulting professionals can minimise the wear and tear of your wallpaper. Although wallpapering a room is a one-time job and can typically be finished in a day (for rooms in most average-sized houses), it does require technical skills to get it right.
When it comes to painting, you are more likely to be successful ‘giving it a go’ DIY style, with the help of the right tools and techniques. Moreover, painting offers the flexibility to experiment with different colours and choose the right shade that matches the overall aesthetics of your home.
There can be pitfalls of DIY painting, however, so you may opt to get the professionals in to save yourself from the stress of home decorating!
4. Cost
When it comes to using wallpaper, the costs can sometimes be fairly high when compared with paint. While this, of course, depends largely on the quality and variety of wallpaper, it can become expensive, particularly if you opt for designer brands.
However, in the long run, wallpaper is far more durable than paint, so it could be argued that it is in fact more cost effective!
If we return to the DIY option, the cost of painting your walls yourself would certainly be far less than hiring a professional to apply wallpaper. So if you’re looking for a cheaper, short-term solution, then painting is your go-to.
