Wallpaper vs Paint: Which one is a better option for walls?

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Paint Industry Insights

Painting or applying wallpaper is considered to be the fastest way to bring transformational changes in the overall look/ambience of a space.

And recent statistics by Fortune Business Insights indicate that the global paints and coatings market size is projected to reach USD 217.66 billion at a CAGR of 5.4% by 2028.

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Wallpaper Industry Insights

Giving a tough competition to the global paint market size is the manufacturing of wallpapers. The wallpaper market analysis by Mordor Intelligence forecasts the industry to register a CAGR of 3.59% by 2026.

The rapid rise in urbanization is the root cause of this historic transformation. Due to increased consumer demands, wallpaper is all set to become the next trend setter in the world of design and decor.

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Besides imparting a modern look to the house, wallpapers are expanding their geographical popularity across nations. In comparison with paint, the wallpaper market is new.

But they are considerably becoming a preferable choice among home decorators, leaving the space owners to swing between wallpaper vs paint options.

By the end of this blog you will have a clear idea which one is a better option between paint vs wallpaper, and we will also answer some of the popular questions asked by common users. Let us dig in.

Can You Use Wallpaper As An Alternative To Paint?

Although wallpaper has its own advantages, when it comes to strength and long-life span abilities, wallpapers are not a suitable option. In addition, wallpapers are more prone to easy tear and wear and they cost almost equivalent to re-paint applications.

Applying paint once can relieve you from having to rethink about applying paint for the next 10 years. But with wallpapers, you need an application of an entire roll if it damages from one place.

But as a general rule, wallpapers can be used as an alternative to paint when the walls do not receive excess moisture.

Do You Have To Have Both Paint and Wallpaper?

For those who want to enjoy the best of the worlds, wallpaper and paint are a good option. You don’t have to swing between wallpaper vs paint. You can apply paint in rooms which are most susceptible to children’s activities, and use wallpaper in drawing rooms, halls, where there is less children’s activity.

Today, many homeowners like to incorporate both paint and wallpaper into their designs. The usual process is by applying wallpaper to do a feature wall, and using paint to create a contrasting and stunning appearance on the rest of the walls.

Wallpaper vs Paint: Which one is a better option for a wall?

There is no rocket science involved in understanding the fact that both options have some advantages and some disadvantages. It depends on the user which option they find most suitable for their accommodations. Let us clear a few points which will help you decide which is your ideal option between wallpaper vs paint.

Wallpaper
Pros	Cons
Durable Large variety options wallpaper High definition quality Waterproof quality Long lasting Cover large area in one roll application Cost effectively Trending in market Time-saving	Not suitable for moisturized walls Difficult to remove Cannot be repainted Difficult to remove inks Tither easily Prone to tear and wear To patch one mistake reapplication of an entire roll is required
Paint
Pros	Cons
Inexpensive Ease of application Textures appeal Universal application Never go out of style Long-lifespan Color scheme advantage Mistake correcting easy Aesthetic appeal	Limited options available Need maintenance every few years Difficult to remove inks Messy business Health hazards Time-consuming job

Wallpaper vs Paint Cost: What is more expensive?

With huge investments being made in the home design market by consumers, the commercial markets are in upswing which are propelling the market size of wallpaper and paint industry. But at home, everything boils down to budget. Your preference for wallpaper vs paint will severely depend on how much you are willing to invest on the walls as a homeowner.

• Paint cost - Wall paints are easily available resources. The skills, efforts, and time required for their application is relatively less. This means that the overall cost incurred for each paint job is comparably lower.

Starting range of a Sherwin Williams paint bucket can cost you around $28/ gallon. Comparably, paint is more cheap than purchasing the expensive wallpaper rolls. It requires less supplies and skills and preferable among- “I can do it on my own” group.



• Wallpaper cost- A good quality wallpaper can last upto 15 years making it a durable, cost-effective one time investment. Wallpaper is more expensive. According to Homeserve the intense cost of the new-age wallpaper installation can cost you an average of anywhere between $25 to $50 per roll on average.

Before deciding which wallpaper you want to instal, hire a licensed and experienced home improvement contractor to give you an idea regarding the wallpaper cost differences varying from basic, better to best. In addition to that, the prices of the wallpapers keep fluctuating between various companies.