How Do You Choose: Wallpaper or Paint?

When it comes to home renovation, the first thing we think about is: “What to do with the walls?” For a long time, paint has been the preferred choice for most homeowners. But with changing times, wallpaper sellers are seeing an increase in demand. More and more homeowners are now choosing wallpaper designs for their interiors.

Let’s find out the pros and cons of wallpapers v/s paints.

Installation process

Paint jobs are time-consuming and labour-intensive. The whole process involves several steps like smoothing the walls, applying base coat of primer, and then applying minimum two coats of paint. Moreover, after each step is done, one has to wait for a day to give the walls drying time. Thus, even a small painting job takes at least take 3-4 days.

Hanging wallpapers on the walls is much more hassle-free. Depending on the size of the room and the number of technicians working, wallpaper can be installed in a span of an hour to eight hours. It is a quick and swift process. Putting up wallpapers to cover up your home walls is one of the easiest solutions for interior decor. 

Variety

Wall paints give you plenty of choices with multiple shade cards featuring different colours. If your favorite color is blue, you can choose from more than 30 shades of blues. But paints do not offer any textures or finishes.

In comparison, wallpaper sellers offer a wide variety of patterns, textures, colours and styles. Wallpaper designs vary between classical motifs to contemporary patterns. They also come in different kinds of materials such as vinyl, fabric, foil, embossed textures, suede, and more. Wallpaper designs give home owners more freedom to play around with their interiors. One can also get customized wallpapers to create a personalized look for their room.

Durability

Wall paints do not last for long. Even the best quality paints start to fade and after 5-6 years. Daily wear and tear can lead to discoloured patches and moisture may cause damp stains on the wall. Thus, painted walls usually need a re-touching job every 3 years to maintain the best look.

Wallpaper sellers, on the other hand, highly recommend that wallpapers last for 10-12 years. They are designed to withstand any wear-and-tear inflicted by little kids or pets. Certain wall coverings also come with washable and scrubbable properties. Any crayon marks by children or cooking stains in the kitchen can be easily cleaned. They are easy to maintain, thus, remain in a good condition for a longer period of time.

Eco-friendly

Paint is usually made of chemical substances. They typically have a high rate of VOC emissions, which can adversely affect the indoor air quality of a room.

Wallpapers are made of paper which is renewable and biodegradable. They can also be made of other sustainable alternatives like bamboo, cork, and textile. Wallpaper sellers also claim that the designs are printed digitally using water-based inks which are Eco-friendly in nature.