Keeping this in mind, deciding to use paint or wallpaper is a big decision, each with its set of advantages and disadvantages. This article will help you to weigh in the important aspects of each and help you take the best decision for your home.
Paint:
Painting can be a fun and exciting way to light up the room. You may either engage in painting your house yourself or you may hire professionals to perform the task more efficiently. Painting can be one of the easiest and cost-effective tools in the interior designing world. It can be one of the easiest tools to give the room a breath of fresh air and also make the house more sellable if you are planning to put it up for sale in the market.
Variety:
There are many different varieties of paint which are available in the market, you can also create the shade of your choice by mixing two or more colors and adding that perfect finish to the room. Some of the different varieties of paint include-
- Water-based paint: Majority of the wall paint that is sold today has a water base, this is done since it facilitates easy usage. It can be easily cleaned up with water has low levels of toxic emissions, does not fade easily over time and can be used on almost all other surfaces.
- Oil-based paints: Oil-based paints are known for its sleek polish and high durability. Most commonly used form of paint, however, it cannot be easily washed with water. It gives an attractive look and a hard and glossy finish.
Paint comes in a variety of sheen as well as in oil or latex. Latex is more widely used due to its higher durability and easy to clean up. The glossier the paint is, it is that much easier to clean it up. Semi-gloss paints can be a good choice for kitchens and baths.
Matte paint and finish are a great choice for when you wish to hide the imperfections in the walls and the ceilings. It offers a great depth of colors and also helps to act as a standard sheen for the walls.
Durability:
Good quality of paints on the wall can last for a period of almost 5 years or in some cases even more. However, that said, the paint may also tend to fade and flake away over parts which are highly exposed to sunshine. Therefore, retouching of paints every two or three years might be necessary. However, washable paints may also be available which are much easier to clean and maintain. The paint may require touch up over a few years and this touch up may not always match the original color. If a child takes a crayon to the wall or something gets spilled you won't need to repaint the wall, the downside is the finish — it's rough and less visually pleasing.
Cost:
Paint is easily available at any hardware shop and tends to have a lesser initial cost. The price of the color generally varies depending upon the type of color and the type of finishing that you may select. If a cheap paint is used, more than 2-3 coats of paint may be required which may cause it to chip off easily, and the cost will equal to that of a high -quality paint. Therefore, it is preferable to purchase paint of higher grade or medium grade for a long-lasting finish. Paint is also comparatively cheaper than wallpaper and requires lesser labor for application, thus, making it more cost friendly to the user.
Uses:
Painting or coating helps to protect the materials from corrosion in the long run and helps to add a fresher color to the room. Paints are thus used to decorate a surface and to prevent it from any kind of further damage which may be caused through exposure. It can also prove to be useful and effective in terms of hiding any irregularities in the wall or surfaces. Paint is generally used to apply at all the areas of the house.
Pros:
- Paint is the easiest way to hide small imperfections in the house.
- A variety of paint is available to choose from, ranging from semi-gloss to high-gloss, Flat and Matte, Eggshell, Satin finish, Glossy finish, Decorative and Faux finish, etc.
- Paint is easier to apply as compared to wallpaper. With paints, there are no messy adhesives or seams to worry about.
- Paint is comparatively more cost-effective and cost-friendly as compared to wallpaper.
- It is also easier to repaint in case of a mishap or fade of painting rather than removal and further reapplication of wallpaper.
Cons:
- Paint may need to be touched up every 5-10 years which retouch or repainting may not always match up to the original shade.
- Paint needs to applied once issues of the wall are fixed.
- Paint is easier to damage either by furniture, kids or pets, therefore, it may not be very durable in the long run.
- Although paint is easier to apply, it cannot be easily applied it involves a good amount of spackling, cleaning, sanding, washing the wall, etc.
Wallpaper:
Wallpaper can also help to create an absolute brilliant outlook to the entire home. Obtaining a decent wallpaper is also quite easy nowadays and it also helps to save a lot of time from getting the wall painted. Wallpapers greatly help to add to the aesthetics of the room and help to add personality to the house and more so to the entire room.
Variety:
Wallpapers offer an extensive set of designs, shapes, colors, and textures. The different types of wallpapers include:
- Lining paper: This kind of wallpaper is not a traditional type. It is usually applied to bare walls and paintings before painting or adding a new wallpaper, or to hide a strong color.
- Traditional wallpaper: They are easily available in a wide variety of textures and colors, they are also ecological as compared to paint but harder to reapply and they are not easily washable.
- Vinyl wallpaper: They consist of a backing layer, paper or fiber, and a plastic upper coating. Their practical day to day advantages are- they are washable, light-resistant, relatively cheap and extremely durable. There are many different colors and patterns available, however, they do not allow the walls to breathe, sometimes retaining the toxic fumes.
- Embossed wallpaper: These kinds of wallpapers have a unique texture with a delicate and soft fabric with some imprints. They are also very effective in hiding the defects of the wall.
- Other: There are many other types such as liquid wallpaper, non-woven wallpaper, fiberglass wallpaper, bamboo wallpaper, and textile wallpaper.
Durability:
Wallpaper is usually very durable, can hold up to children, does not scrape easily and the majority of wallpapers are easily scrubbable. Wallpapers in bathrooms and kitchens may cause it t easy peel away from the wall. Wallpapers may last up to 15 years. It doesn't require heavy repairing of the wall and can easily be applied. It is ideal for highly usable areas in the home and easy to change in case you are using easily removable wallpaper.
Cost:
Wallpaper commands a more initial cost and it also has a comparatively higher cost of installation and application. Although there is a large selection of wallpapers available it is a costlier option when compared to paint.
Uses:
Wallpaper can be applied in all the parts of the home. However, it is not advisable to use wallpaper in areas typical to moisture and heat such as bathrooms or kitchen. Since wallpaper is relatively easy to damage its use should be avoided in children’s room.
Pros:
- Wallpapers are more durable for a longer period of time making it last up to 15 years.
- It doesn’t require much to prep the wall before the application of the wallpaper.
- There are many different designs of the wallpaper and a wide variety to select from.
- Wallpaper can be easy to change if you are using removable wallpaper.
- Wallpaper is also ideal for highly durable areas in the home.
Cons:
- Although wallpaper has a wider variety, but yet it has a high initial cost.
- The cost of application of wallpaper is also comparatively higher than paint.
- Touch up of wallpaper is not possible and the entire thing needs to be changed over a period of time.
- Removal of wallpaper is a tough, tedious and time-consuming task.
- Wallpapers may peel over time in damp areas especially if applied in bathrooms and kitchens.
Wallpaper vs Paint
1.Cost:
Paint:
Wall paint has a lower initial cost. Further cost needs to be incurred on repainting every 5-7 years.
Wallpaper:
Wallpaper has a higher initial cost. It may last for a longer period of time and not require to be reapplied.
2. Durability:
Paint:
Washable paint is durable and comparatively easier to maintain than any other quality of paint. Paint may require to undertake to touch up every 5-7 years and this touch up may not always match up to the original color of the paint.
Wallpaper:
Washable paint is durable and comparatively easier to maintain than any other quality of paint. Paint may require to undertake to touch up every 5-7 years and this touch up may not always match up to the original color of the paint.
3. Variety:
Paint:
Paint has a wide variety of colors available and you can easily choose a color of your choice or create your own color. However, it is difficult to create textured designs with paint.
Wallpaper:
Nearly limitless designs including geometric, faux brick and wood, floral, damask, & more.Easy to change the design if using peel and stick wallpaper or removable wallpaper.
4. Installation:
Paint:
Painting is comparatively faster than wallpapering the room and there is no need to match any patterns as in the case of wallpaper. However, paints may get messy and have a strong odor.
Wallpaper:
Wallpapers can be easily installed by simple “peel and stick”. However, it requires the old wallpaper to be removed and the pattern needs to be matched with the reinstalling.
5. Use in Rentals:
Paint:
All rentals may not allow you to paint or repaint the walls with a new color. You may be required to approve the color or reapply the original one before you vacate the rented apartment.
Wallpaper:
It is suitable for rentals since it is easy to install and does not damage the wall while removing. Thus, allowing you to easily customize your own rental apartment.
Thus, there are a variety of choices that are available for you to lighten up the room, you may add a fresh coat of paint to give a smooth and polished finish or you may accessorize and add some further personality by adding wallpaper. If you want the best of both worlds and can’t decide which is the apt option, you may also experiment with paint and highlight one wall with wallpaper.
It's rightly said that every coin has two sides and so is in the case of wallpaper and paint. So, weigh in your options and make the aptest choice for your apartment or office.