To Paint or to Wallpaper?

The play of colours, textures and patterns on a wall can uplift the mood of a house several notches. Even though the markets are inundated with varied ways to finish a wall, painting and wallpapering continue to rule as options. Wallpaper goes back 2000 years to a time when the Chinese hung rice paper on their walls; it also became immensely popular in Europe in the late 15th century. Paint, on the other hand is far more ancient. In the prehistoric era, paint was made from dyes and pigments extracted from plants and natural materials.

In today’s times, wallpaper has become an increasing popular option in Indian homes too. So if it’s spruce up time for your walls, find out which option can work the best for you.

Wallpaper

As a design element, wallpaper is engaging, vibrant and sheer delight to the eyes. From pretty paisleys to cartoon characters for the kids’ room to vintage flowers to geometric patterns – wallpapers can be digitally customised through dedicated wallpaper websites. One can pick them up from specialised interiors boutiques too. But how do they stand up to comparison with paint? Here are the pros and cons.
Pros

The life of a wallpaper is much more than that of paint. If taken good care of, it can last for 10-15 years.
Instead of filling up a wall with artwork or heavy murals, an alternative is to wallpaper it. Fortunately, with great breakthroughs in digital printing and wallpaper brands, there’s an endless variety to choose from.
In order to add drama to a room, just a single resplendent wallpapered statement wall can add the wow factor to an interior. Paints can’t match up to a wallpaper’s persona! appeal.
A wallpaper is not just restricted to paper. A chosen design can be printed on fabrics such as silk, suede or even leather.
Installing wallpaper is less time-consuming than getting the house painted

Cons

Removing an existing wallpaper is a tedious job. It can prove detrimental to the wall if it’s not done in the right way.
Putting wallpaper in moisture-ridden areas like bathrooms and kitchens is a total no-no since it can be easily damaged or torn when damp.
If wallpaper is not installed properly, it can develop bubbles, start peeling off at the corners and eventually wear off. Also, it’s impossible to repair it in case of a tear.
The application of wallpaper can be a smelly affair because of its glue.
After a point, seeing the same designs on wallpaper can start to tire one’s eyes and mind. Since it’s not feasible to constantly change wallpapers, revamping the decor will prove to be more costly.
Replicating a wallpaper after a few years may not be possible because of the speed at which its trends are changing. Your exact wallpaper might just not be available anymore

Paint

Water- or oil-based, satin or matte or 3D, paints and versatility go hand in hand. With so much development in the field of design and colour, there is a plethora of paints in the market in an unimaginable range of colours and finishes. Here are the positives and negatives of paint.
Pros

Paint is very durable and can be idea for tough conditions such as messy children’s rooms, places with high levels of footfall and the remotest nook and cranny of a house.
Fabricators are readily available on hire to paint one’s premises, making its application far easier than wallpaper.
Painting is a convenient option in India due to the easy availability of applicators.
Painting a house is far cheaper than installing wallpaper. For example, paint costs can be as low as Rs 15 per square foot, going up to Rs 150 per square foot. On the other hand, good wallpaper can range from Rs 50 to Rs 1000 per square foot.
If one gets tired of a painted wall over time, one can add new paintings or planters to it and change its look completely.
Swatch sampling of a desired shade can be done on site. Even a slight variation in its tone can be achieved in a couple of hours. However, this is not possible with wallpaper.

Cons

Top-quality paint can last up to five years. But if it’s exposed to too much heat and sunlight, it can fade or flake away. Retouching is the only way to firefight the problem.
In winter months, painting the walls becomes a huge issue because it takes a long time to dry, especially if it’s an oil-based paint.
Many paints emit dangerous gases while being applied to a wall. One needs to stay away from the freshly painted area to avoid inhalation of toxic gases.
A lot of care needs to be taken while painting a house. Even a drop of paint here or there can ruin your furniture and floor.
If a particular paint is not applied properly, it won’t produce the desired effect. For example, if a plastic paint is put on a wall without its prescribed base, the results will fall flat.
Highlighting a wall can prove to be pretty expensive, as it can only be done by a skilled artist or painter. Wallpaper, on the other hand, works much better as a highlight since it’s already a highlighted accent.

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