Which is better: wallpaper or painting the walls?

During the renovation process, many are faced with a difficult choice - to paint the walls or paste over them with wallpaper? Both room design options are very popular in different types of interiors, and each has a number of advantages and disadvantages. In order not to be mistaken in choosing the right wall covering, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic nuances of pasting and painting.

Wall painting was not always as popular as wallpaper, but over time it began to confidently compete with the usual methods of decorating walls in a house or apartment.

Wall paints have special characteristics:

• paint is a material that can be easily adjusted. Often you have to deal with errors in the selection of colors. If changing the wallpaper in color and pattern can be too laborious and costly in financial terms, then the shade of the paint can be easily corrected by applying an additional layer to the wall;
• with the help of coloring materials, you can choose an exclusive shade for the walls in the room. By competently mixing different tones, you can get a color that is difficult to find on ready-made wallpaper, and create an original room design;

• paint can be selected for various surfaces, while wallpaper is not suitable for all textures. It is much more practical to paint a log surface with a composition specially made for it than to choose wallpaper that eliminates all the originality of the interior;
• dyes are great for those who like to periodically change the interior. The process of changing the color of the walls is not always laborious, you can safely repaint the room, while avoiding the presence of abundant debris and dust, which usually occurs after removing the wallpaper;

• in addition to creating unique shades, you can use paint to create exclusive designs and ornaments. Sometimes the basic color of the room is complemented with wall painting corresponding to the chosen interior concept, and the room turns into a place that fully reflects the individuality of its owner;
• the paint is better suited for houses and apartments that have pets. Cats or dogs can often encroach on the wallpaper, causing significant harm. But with a paint coating, the animal simply has nothing to cling to with its claws or teeth.

The negative aspects of paint compositions for walls include the following nuances:

• painting sometimes does not allow even the slightest defects in the form of chipping and other irregularities, therefore it often takes a long time to transform the surface of the wall and prepare it for applying the composition. Sometimes you can mask a small flaw with accessories in the form of paintings and decorative elements, but such a tool will not always be appropriate;
• when there are painted walls in the room, it is necessary to periodically wash their entire surface. The structure of the substance over time absorbs the smallest particles of dust and dirt, which can subsequently affect the appearance of the room.

When choosing a coloring agent, it is important to consider what function the room being renovated will perform.

Depending on this, paints are chosen from the following types:

• acrylic paint and latex polymers are often painted in rooms in which high humidity remains. These options are perfect for the kitchen and bathroom;
• there are also types of coatings that include PVA glue. They are only suitable for dry rooms, because contact with water and steam will significantly affect their durability;

• for those who have the opportunity to purchase expensive paint, such types as silicone and environmentally friendly coatings are suitable. They are completely non-toxic and hypoallergenic.

Despite the fact that wallpaper is familiar from childhood for most wall coverings, it does not stand still and develops along with the entire interior design industry. There are a number of reasons why consumers prefer wallpaper over paint:

• with the help of modern models of wall coverings, you can create many optical effects. The wallpaper is sold as a pre-patterned canvas that is very easy to fit into an accent wall.

• no less popular is the option of panorama or photo printing, created according to an individual customer's sketch;
• with the help of special technologies for applying wallpaper, you can create a stunning convex relief on the wall, which is difficult to make with a coloring composition. This technology is called liquid wallpaper. This option is great for those who do not want to choose old types of models that form seams between the joints;

• if the walls are difficult to sand perfectly, then the wallpaper will be an excellent means of hiding such shortcomings;
• in a new building or a populous house, the printing cover will become an additional means of sound insulation. It also helps keep you warm;
• Most types of coatings are made from environmentally friendly materials. They do not cause allergies, and also do not allow the development of fungal formations or mold on the walls;

• in various interior styles, the advantage of wallpaper will be the ability to create with their help imitation of various materials. You can find such models of coatings that are made under a brick, under a stone or logs of a tree. A similar wallpaper panel will creatively complement any room;
• modern technologies allow wallpaper to perform a number of additional functions. They can have a magnetic surface, suitable for office or children's rooms. These products contain components that allow surfaces to shimmer and glow in the dark. The coverings even combine elements such as leather and metal inserts in their texture. All these nuances allow us to conclude that from the variety of models one can find a suitable one for any room.

Such wall decoration materials have the following disadvantages:

• the aesthetic appearance of the wallpaper directly depends on the price of the material. Truly high-quality materials, on which flaws are invisible, are more expensive than models available to a wide range of the population. If you chose wallpaper from cheap materials and at the same time decided to glue them yourself, then it will be difficult for you to mask the seams between the joints. But the services of specialists who will help to stick the coating perfectly require additional financial costs;
• products with a complex pattern can be difficult to glue exactly. It is necessary to spend a lot of time to cut and lay out the details so that the pattern matches on the walls and looks organic and uniform;

• coatings are difficult to clean. The paper material can swell from moisture, while other types of products are easily damaged by rubbing with a sponge.With a strong absorbent surface, vinyl models absorb a lot of dirt and are difficult to clean in general.

If you still could not decide on the method of covering the walls, think about the following options for their design:

• combination. With a similar technology of combined wallpaper, you can combine paint on one wall with another coating on an adjacent surface. If you can combine the color of the paint with the elements on the wallpaper, then the interior in the room will look aesthetically pleasing;
• you can purchase textured products that are made specifically for subsequent dyeing. By choosing this option, you can gain extra time to decide which color to paint the room in in the future;

• if you choose wallpaper for a small child's room, painting canvases are ideal. The surface of the wall can also be decorated with a special paint adapted for drawing with crayons. Such a surface will not only make the child's room original, but also save you unnecessary trouble for several years.

When choosing a way to decorate walls, it is important to remember that any option requires preparation and a clear awareness of your desires about design.

In the next video, you will find tips on how to choose wallpaper for renovation.