Paint vs. Wallpaper The Better Choice for Your Walls



Posted: Monday, August 24, 2009

by Greg Wells

Deciding what to do with the interior walls of your home is one of the biggest decisions facing new homeowners. Whether you're moving into a new pad or simply updating your existing digs, changing the look of your walls can completely transform the inside of your home.

Many homeowners don't fully research the pros and cons of wallpaper vs. paint, which is a big mistake in itself. Knowing the benefits and disadvantages beforehand can save you a lot of time and will help you make sure you make the right decision in the end. For those of you who don't know the pros and cons of paint and wallpaper, you can view them below. Hopefully, afterwards you'll have a better idea of which is a better suit for you and your family.

Paint Pros – The pros of using paint as opposed to wallpaper are that paint is easier, quicker and less expensive. Paint also looks much more updated, while wallpaper can sometimes seem outdated and tacky.  The other benefit of paint is that most people will find painting easier than laying wallpaper. If you know how to paint, you're already one step ahead.

Paint Cons – The cons of paint compared to wallpaper are minimal. The two biggest cons are that the walls must be smooth, otherwise the uneven areas will show depending on the lighting and there are relatively no patterns to choose from when it comes to paint. If you want to add flowers, a border or shapes to the design, you'll have to paint them yourself.

Wallpaper Pros – While many homeowners (and renters for that matter) believe that wallpaper is outdated others believe that wallpaper opens up a world of possibilities when it comes to patterns and designs for your walls. Benefits of wallpaper over paint include the array of styles and patterns to choose from, its ability to cover uneven areas on the wall, its longevity and its easy removal should you decide you don't want to use it anymore (sometimes dark colors of paint are hard to paint over).

Wallpaper Cons – There are definitely more than a few cons of using wallpaper these days. Because so many people view wallpaper as being outdated, trying to sell a home covered in wallpaper can be difficult (even though it's easy to remove). In addition, wallpaper is also relatively easy to rip – and when it rips – it's hard to replace, especially if you bought the wallpaper a while ago. Another con of wallpaper is the fact that humidity can cause the material to come apart from the wall.

Hopefully our tips have made it easier for you to make a decision. Good luck with your home improvements!

Jeanette Duvall has been renovating her home all year. She is trying a mix of unique wallpaper designs and modern paint colors to create an inimitable space. Jeanette also shares her tips and tricks with the readers of HomeScapeInterior.com.

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