When or if you decide to remodel or redecorate the interior of your home, for some homeowners or interior decorators you’re probably likely to choose between either paint or wallpaper. Choosing to paint gives you a color foundation from which to build, meanwhile, wallpaper on the other hand can single-handedly make a room special. Research these five factors before starting your redecorating project.
Costs
When comparing the prices of wallpaper vs paint, nine times out of ten, paint will always win the price war, paint is cheaper to purchase and apply than paint. Searching for a Pro and utilizing his/her services to paint is also cheaper than utilizing the services of a Pro WallPaper installer. If you choose to do the work yourself, (DIY) whether it’s painting or installing the wallpaper, it will be a much cheaper route. When painting, the costs of your utensils are more expensive than wallpaper utensils, eg. brushes, rollers, paint pans, and caulking for repair work. Wallpaper comes in rolls, wallpaper rolls run from $25 – $200.
On the bright side of wallpaper, it is rare that one installs wallpaper in the entire house, the majority of the time, a client may just want a room or two, or an accent wall installed with wallpaper.
Wallpaper installation can be costly, but it may be well worth the investment to hire a professional. If in doubt, DIY it and see how it goes
Durability
Which of the two is more durable than the other? Fortunately for wallpaper lovers, wallpaper is more durable than a painted wall. An important issue with painting is that paint chips and peels easily, wallpaper on the other hand does not have this issue. Painted walls require more maintenance effort than wallpapered walls to stay fresh-looking. For instance, modern-day vinyl wallpaper can be cleaned with a little soap and damp cloth without fear of any damage occurring.
Damaged wallpaper can be repaired, repairing wallpaper essentially means replacing the entire sheet, replacing a wallpaper sheet is much more time-consuming and expensive than touching up an area with some leftover paint carefully stored in your basement. Well-maintained wallpaper is known to last approximately 15 – 20 years. During said time and in the paint world, the same wall will have needed several coats of paint to stay in good condition.
Caution: Paper-made wallpaper, should not be installed in rooms with high humidity e.g. bathrooms & kitchens. High humidity levels can cause wallpaper to bubble up and subsequently peel, hence meaning that the wallpaper will need to be replaced sooner rather than later.
Selection
Sherwin Williams & Benjamin Moore paints have a plethora of colors to choose from, the same applies to Philip Jeffries and Milton & King, they too have a plethora of wallpaper designs to choose from. Loads of choices abound for customers in the paint and wallpaper market. Also, in the paint market, customers have finish choices like matte, satin, semi-gloss, and gloss.
Your local hardware stores occasionally, are sometimes franchises of Benjamin Moore, these stores along with the flagship stores of Sherwin Williams carry vast swatches of paint colors to choose from. Also, it’s worth remembering that paint comes in different formulas and finishes, for instance, exterior patios have specially formulated paint that provides specific characteristics for the patio’s protection and the paint’s durability. Paint comes in various finishes, the most popular are matte, satin, semi-gloss, and gloss.
Wallpaper specializes in design and patterns, from monumental buildings to city skylines, bright elegant floral designs, Michael Angelo-inspired designs to fun polka dots – the overall effect of wallpaper can be loud, inspiring, chic, formal, or subtle. Finally, wallpaper comes in various textures, from smooth to rough, or with embossed designs that stand out.
Installation
When comparing the Painting vs WallPaper, it’s fair to say, that painting is a far simpler task to complete than when installing wallpaper. Painting a room in an apartment or whether you’re painting the entire apartment, the procedure is pretty much the same. First, you prep your area, is the room/apartment empty? Clear the area, and cover the floor with a drop cloth. Wipe the walls down with a damp cloth, repair any damaged spots, sand where necessary, or sand the entire wall, all depends on the condition of the wall. Tape off areas you want to protect, eg, light switches and outlets, and start painting. Don’t forget to caulk areas where needed. Painting in general is a non-complicated job/task.
Installing wallpaper is not as simple. Installing wallpaper by a non-expert is time-consuming and technical. When installing wallpaper, the same prep work required for painting will be replicated here, in addition, you will measure the area of the wall to make sure the right amount of wallpaper is delivered. Cut all sleeves to size, leaving a 4-inch overhang. You will be required to match certain sleeves so that the entire design will show. Also while installing wallpaper, you will be required to make way for light switches, power outlet covers, windows, and doors. An adhesive may be required when installing wallpaper, if the adhesive is required, then apply it to the rear of the wallpaper and then hang, make sure the patterns match and make sure the seam is nowhere to be found, i.e. non-noticeable
Peel-and-stick wallpaper does not require adhesive to be applied at its rear, instead, it is required that you peel off the nylon paper covering the sticky side of the wallpaper. Peel and stick wallpaper was invented to provide an easier, less messy, and less complicated installation process.
Lifestyle
Wallpaper can serve as an important home decorating ingredient, it not only complements your home decor, it also reflects on and showcases your very own lifestyle too. Whether you are a home designer or a homeowner with a young and high-energy family, or an individual who has an eye for the latest home decor trends and as a result tends to rotate your interior home design often.
The larger than life personalities who tend to host larger-than-life dinner parties, events, and social gatherings like their homes to reflect their personalities, it is harder to find a home decorating material that can transform a home into feeling more upscale and at the same time make a bold and loud statement to prospective buyers should you choose to sell in the not too distant future.
The Pros and Cons Of Decorating With Wallpaper
There are many reasons why wallpaper is still beloved by many, check out some of the pros below;
The Pros of Installing Wallpaper in Your Home
Wallpaper is simple & easy to clean: With a damp warm cloth, all you do is wipe the wallpaper. Wallpaper does not absorb dirt and grime in the same manner as a painted wall would, the amount of dirt and grime absorbed by a painted wall is much more than the amount absorbed by a wall with wallpaper. A preferred method of cleaning wallpaper is to “Spot Clean” it. You can dust it down first and then spot-clean it.
In highly humid rooms eg the kitchen and bathroom, hopefully, you installed vinyl wallpaper, vinyl paper can be washed with soap and water.
A large selection of various designs to choose from: WallPaper’s largest appealing factor is its collection catalog which contains numerous designs and styles.
Wide variety of design styles: The biggest and single most attractive draw for wallpaper is its vast range of patterns and various styles that are made available to the shopping public. In NYC, the buying public is spoiled for choice, with too many selections to choose from. Well-chosen wallpaper coupled with the right color or properly chosen colors will go a long way in beautifying and decorating your home.
Long-lasting value: Any product that is well taken care of and properly maintained will inevitably last longer, maybe much longer. By maintaining your wallpaper by simply wiping it down and keeping it clean at all times and free from excess moisture and damage, the well-treated wallpaper can last for decades.
The Cons of Installing WallPaper
Tricky to get off: Removing wallpaper may be rather difficult and may harm the wall below, depending on the kind. Compared to earlier wallpapers, newer wallpapers are easier to take off. For almost all varieties, the paper must be scored before the adhesive used to hang it is loosened using chemicals or a steamer.
More expensive: Compared to paint, wallpaper is more expensive upfront. It costs more per square foot, particularly for long-lasting, high-quality wallpaper. If you can do it yourself, hanging it yourself is a terrific way to save money.
May peel in high-moisture areas: Wallpaper may come off walls in areas with a lot of moisture, such as he kitchen or bathroom.
The Pros of Wall Paper and the Cons of Painting
WallPaper’s Pros
Less expensive: Paint is less expensive to purchase and install than wallpaper. You may save even more money if you perform the work yourself.
It’s simple to switch colors if you decide you don’t like them or if you want to keep up with the latest paint color trends. Simply apply a primer and a few coats of paint over. This applies to both homeowners and renters.
Increases your home value & curb appeal: By repainting your home, whether the interior or exterior and subsequently installing wallpaper in some of the rooms is an easy and simple way to increase the value of your home and subsequently make it a tad more appealing to potential buyers
The Cons of Painting Walls
Regular maintenance/cleaning: Painted walls that run through high-traffic areas are cleaned regularly to maintain a clean surface wall. Dust, handprints, scratches, markings, and dirt on the walls and around frequently touched areas such as light switches and electric outlets. Also, the paint on walls tends to chip off the walls with time, these chipped areas will need to be touched up
Limited design choices: Some painters are artistic enough to create a design for a wall(s). Normally walls are painted with one color, sometimes, some walls contain small designs (e.g. middle school hallway walls). Failure to hire a well-experienced and skilled painter, unfortunately, you are going to be limited to one or two colors and nothing more.
Wallpaper vs Paint: Which Is The Better Choice?
Ask yourself the following questions
Do you have a vision for the area to be decorated? Can you visualize the design you have for the area to be decorated? Can you put the design on paper?
What is your budget?
What are your circumstances?
If you happen to be a renter, first seek the permission of your landlord, if they give the go-ahead then, feel free to install wallpaper of your choice and paint color of your choice too. If you want the best of both worlds, choose wallpaper for one room or an accent wall, and paint the rest of your home.
