If you are thinking of redecorating your home, you know just how much of a painstaking job it can be to set the right style. There is one aspect in your interior that can dictate the ambiance and that is what you do with your walls. More often than not the walls and the ceiling are overlooked when it comes to decoration. You can either paint them or use an interesting wallpaper, it is all up to your taste.
While in the recent past wallpapers were considered old-fashioned and outdated, they are now having their big comeback and are here to stay for long. To help you make up your mind, since choosing the right option for your walls may not be such an easy decision to make, here are a few comparisons of the two.
The first thing you are probably thinking of is the speed of painting compared to that of hanging wallpapers. There is a huge difference between wallpapers of the past and the ones that can be found today. New ones are specifically designed to be easy to install and remove which was not the case in previous centuries. There is a vast variety of wallpapers to choose from and you can even do so without leaving your home, just find a reliable wallpaper shop and you will spot the ideal colored wallpaper for your walls. In the case of painting, more time is spent on waiting for the paint to dry than on the painting process itself. Plus, paint can look slightly different in both stages so you always have to make sure you know the shade you are choosing, plus you have to be careful not to damage your flooring or furniture in the process.
Durability is another point that should be considered. Painting the walls may seem the more durable solution, however, hanging wallpapers is the longer lasting one. Depending on the paint you choose, it will start to chip sooner or later. The gloss and sheen wear off and stains will appear so you might find yourself in need of repainting frequently. Materials wallpapers are made of, can be fabric, paper or vinyl. Most wallpapers today are washable so the nightmare of seeing your kids’ art masterpieces on your walls is a thing of the past. As such, wallpapers are also convenient for moist conditions, so it is no surprise designers nowadays use them as bathroom wall decoration too. When properly installed, they can last for years.
The difference in style with painted walls and those with wallpapers is enormous. If you want to add subtlety to your home, then you will opt for painting but if it is individuality and uniqueness you are after, colored wallpaper is the right option for you. Without the additional art pieces, painted walls will turn out to be quite monotonous. With wallpapers, on the contrary, you are sure to bring liveliness to your living nest and you can be as elegant or bold as you wish to be. From the many animal and flower prints to damask and stripes, pick the colored wallpaper you love and you will get the home of your dreams.
Wallpapers are also great for defining a room and visual change. You can create the optical illusion of a small room looking large with the use of light coloured stripes (for instance using Jardin Boheme Bardez Stripe). With a large room, you can make the ceiling seem lower by hanging wallpaper.
Comparing the cost of paint and wallpaper, unlike in previous decades, wallpapers now seem the more affordable option. They are durable, have easy-to-remove stains and you will not have to repeat the process often unless you want to change the style, whereas with painting you will have to be prepared to repaint as often as necessary.