Wallpaper vs. Painting – It’s Not a Binary Choice!

As a color consultant/color expert, I often receive questions from people who want (no pun intended) black-or-white answers; they want a binary answer to a non-binary question. Choosing colors and arranging designs is a spectrum of solutions, and each choice/selection will be different depending on tastes and preferences. 

One of the most common questions I will hear is, “Wallpaper vs. painting, which is better for my design needs?” I get it; some people just desire clear-cut answers to their questions, but which is better, “A or B” simply doesn’t apply here. Every design choice is made by weighing all the variables involved and aiming for the solution that best fits tastes and needs. So, it may not come as a surprise, but wallpaper and wall paint BOTH have their places within your home! 

Wallpaper vs. Painting – The Application and Cost Basics 

For those without lots of experience, wall paint is easier and quicker to apply than wallpaper, which is good for DIYers. It requires surface preparation, including cleaning, priming, and repairing imperfections, but mistakes are relatively easy to fix. Paint offers flexibility and typically costs less upfront, and you can also change colors when you’re in the mood! Let’s face it: It can be easier to get a professional to paint your home than to install wallpaper. 

Wallpaper, on the other hand, offers intricate patterns and textures that paint cannot achieve but is more complex and time-consuming to apply. Professional installation is recommended to ensure a smooth, bubble-free finish, and walls must be properly prepared, potentially requiring the wall surface to be expertly prepared and the removal of existing paint or wallpaper. Wallpaper tends to be more expensive due to the material costs and professional labor involved. If you want to change your design down the road, removing and replacing wallpaper is also more challenging, so it tends to hang around and potentially wear out its welcome more often than paint will.

Wallpaper vs. Painting – What Do Each Introduce Into a Space?

If I had to summarize the differences between wall paint and wallpaper, it would be this: 

Paint can help turn a space into whatever you need it to be. It will help you achieve whichever ambiance and emotional intention you desire. You can create a calm, cool, collected, and harmonious vibe with a selection of soft, muted colors, off-white, greys, and light blues. You can also create a design full of life and energy, like a room with tangerines, teal blues, and purples;  wall paint can be whatever you need it to be when creating a color palette for your design. There are thousands of colors to choose from! Paint can certainly express your style, whereas wallpaper is generally used to add intricacy, ornamentation, focus, texture, and vivid expression into a space. 

Wallpaper vs. Painting – When and Where Should They Be Used?

I should rephrase this question because paint can be used anywhere in the home. If there’s a wall, ceiling, door, or even floor, paint can be used to achieve the desired color/design effect. The more accurate question should be, “Where can you use wallpaper effectively?”

Wallpaper is great for smaller home spaces or areas you’d like to draw focus and attention to. Let’s explore various areas/circumstances where wallpaper can be a great choice. 

Powder rooms/bathrooms 

Wallpaper is an effective way to make smaller, more intimate spaces feel more spacious. For example, if you own an older home with a powder room tucked under the stairway, you can give it a hidden gem-like charm by adding some beautiful wallpaper with a mural or floral design. If the orientation of the design on the wallpaper extends vertically or has vertical stripes, it can help make the room feel taller and more spacious to guests. 

Foyers/entryways 

Wallpaper is a great delineator; it can be very effective at creating visual barriers and designating structural areas that are different from others. For open floor plans and large open-concept spaces, wallpaper is one of my favorite ways to provide visual guidelines. For example, a walk-in foyer could have a rich forest pattern set against an emerald base, and that small area would feel like nature has briefly crept inside and turned the room into a magical place!

Accent/statement walls

Creating a statement or accent wall with wallpaper can dramatically transform spaces by adding a distinct focal point that draws the eye in and amplifies the emotional intention/ambiance of the space.

For example, in the bedroom, a striking wallpaper behind the bed can serve as an extended headboard, infusing the space with depth and character. Rich textured patterns or calming motifs can set the tone for relaxation. Similarly, in a multi-use media room with home theater or stereo equipment, a wallpapered accent wall can elevate the entertainment experience. Whether it’s a geometric design for a modern touch, a cinematic mural for an artistic flair, or a textured metallic finish for added dimension, wallpaper can transform a simple wall into a captivating visual element.

Set behind shelving 

Adding wallpaper behind shelving has become very popular in recent years, and I think it’s a fantastic idea! If you can’t picture what I’m talking about, imagine an in-home bar, built-in bookshelf, or even pantry where the shelving is juxtaposed with the wallpaper behind it. 

For a home bar, royal blue wallpaper with cool vintage, Space Age design patterns may sit behind gorgeous, dark mahogany shelving. For a bookshelf or pantry, picture a gentler, less serious color palette, perhaps a light green, blue, or purple patterned wallpaper behind white-painted shelves. When this design is done well, it pops and helps add life and color to forgotten spaces!

It’s Not a Binary Choice!

You do not need to choose one over the other; I can’t imagine how a home with every wall covered in different wallpaper would function! Painting walls will always be the recommended go-to in most areas of the home. Still, wallpaper offers opportunities to add interesting visual layers and dynamics to the home, so why not give it a try now and then!?

Tell me, how do you feel about wallpaper today? Were you scarred by your ancestors’ homes filled with large floral patterns? Or are you willing to try wallpaper to draw attention to a favorite room or nook? Think of what best expresses your style, and don’t be afraid to have a little fun with colors and patterns along the way!