Wallpaper or wall painting - which is better

Gusevsky Andrey Anatolyevich

The interior of the bedroom with liquid wallpaper

When choosing wall finishes, very often the owners do not know which materials to give preference to. Wallpaper or wall painting, which is better? Both of these options have the right to use, but each has its pros and cons.

In the article we will analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each type, talk about the types of paint and wallpaper for various rooms, and also provide thematic photos.

All about wallpapers

Room interior with subtle wallpapers

To make a choice finish options, and decide which is better: wallpaper or wall painting, you need to know at least something about both materials. Therefore, we will talk about each separately.

Types of wallpaper used

Wallpaper not only serves as the background or the main decoration of the walls, but some types still sound and heat insulate the room to some extent.

For wall decoration in residential buildings and apartments, manufacturers offer the following types of wallpaper:

1. Paper wallpaper.

• Thin.
• Triplex.

2. Fabric or textile.
3. Vinyl.

The combined pasting of walls with vinyl wallpaper

• On a paper basis.
• On a non-woven basis.

4. Non-woven wallpaper.

• On a paper basis.
• On a polymer basis.

5. Cullets.

Fiberglass bathroom

6. Wallpaper for painting.

• Thick paper.
• Non-woven.
• With acrylic spraying.

7. Liquid wallpaper.

Imitation brickwork wallpaper

According to the structure and manufacturing method, wallpaper is divided into:

• Smooth.
• Embossed.
• Textured.
• Structured.

Advantages and disadvantages of wallpaper

If it has not yet been decided which is better: to paint the walls or to glue the wallpaper, then we offer a comparative table on the types of wallpaper being produced. Consider separately the operational characteristics of each type.

Name	Where apply	pros	Minuses
Thin paper wallpaper	Dry rooms with low traffic (bedrooms, children).	Affordable price. Breathable surface. A variety of colors. Ease in sticker. Environmental friendliness.	Weak moisture resistance. Susceptibility to fading. They are afraid of mechanical impact. Careful preparation of the surface of the walls is required. Fragility.
Fabric or textile wallpaper.	Rooms with normal humidity (bedrooms, nurseries, living rooms).	Many colors and shades. Excellent vapor permeability. Aesthetic appearance. Natural material.	A perfectly prepared wall is needed. High price. Exposed to moisture. Not resistant to mechanical stress.
Multilayer paper wallpapers	Dry rooms (bedrooms, living rooms, children).	Huge selection of colors and textures. Able to hide minor wall defects. Durable Stick well. Environmentally friendly. High vapor permeability.	Low moisture resistance. Weak resistance to mechanical and chemical influences.
Paper based vinyl	Premises with moderate humidity (kitchens, bedrooms, living rooms, nurseries, hallways).	Good moisture resistance, can withstand cleaning with a soft sponge using detergents. Strength. Durability. Scratch resistant. Easy to operate. Do not require perfect smoothness of the walls.	Low vapor permeability. It is not recommended for use in rooms with high humidity.
Vinyl non-woven based	Rooms with any humidity and high traffic (kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, living rooms).	High resistance to mechanical and chemical influences. When cleaning, you can use detergents with chemical additives. Stick well. Long service life. Moisture resistance. Well mask small flaws in the walls.	Not vapor permeable, walls with such wallpaper do not “breathe”. It is necessary to apply glue with antibacterial additives so that mold and fungus do not spread. It is not advisable to stick in children's rooms.
Paper-based non-woven wallpaper	Rooms with moderate humidity and increased load (hallways, corridors, kitchens, living rooms).	Strength. Durability. Resistant to damage. Easy to stick. Moisture-resistant surface, resistant to frequent washing. Environmentally friendly, wallpapers do not emit harmful substances. Fireproof.	High price. Low vapor permeability.
Polymer based non-woven	Rooms with high humidity and high traffic (bathrooms, bathrooms, corridors, hallways).	Special durability. Durable Wear resistant. Moisture resistant. Resistant to the use of chemical detergents. Hide significant wall defects. Do not shrink after drying.	Low vapor permeability. Distribution under the wallpaper of fungus and mold is possible, therefore, they require the use of glue with antibacterial additives. Not recommended for use in children's rooms and bedrooms. High price.
Cullet	Any room in the house.	Environmental friendliness. Complete incombustibility. Vapor permeability. Particularly durable, wallpapers are absolutely not afraid of bumps, scratches, claws and teeth of pets. During cleaning, you can use any means, up to a hard metal brush. Service life is up to 30 years. Available in finished tinted form, and for painting. Withstand repainting up to 20 times.	High price. The use of special glue for heavy types of wallpaper. Difficulty with replacement, poorly removed from the wall. With multiple repaints, the relief of the pattern is smeared.
Wallpaper for painting	Premises with moderate humidity (nurseries, kitchens, bedrooms, living rooms).	Strength. No shrinkage after drying. Vapor permeability. The ability to repaint up to 15 times. Affordable price. Durability. Wallpaper perfectly hide minor surface defects.	They require frequent cleaning, since a lot of dust settles on the relief of the paintings, which is dangerous for children and allergy sufferers. Moisture resistance depends on the type of paint used. Repeated repainting blurs the surface texture.
Liquid wallpaper	In dry rooms (bedrooms, nurseries, living rooms).	Environmental friendliness. Thorough preparation of the walls is not required, the wallpapers themselves play the role of putty. Clear breeding instructions. Aesthetic velvety surface. Easy to repair, just apply a little mixture to the damaged area. Good vapor permeability. Heat and sound insulation.	High price. Low moisture resistance. Difficulty removing from walls. Some application skills are required.

All about paint

We continue to find out which is better: paint the walls or wallpaper. We talked about wallpapers, now let's talk about paint for decorating living quarters.

What paint is used for decoration

Paint in the interior of the kitchen

Important! Experts recommend using water-dispersed compounds when decorating residential premises with their own hands. These are water-based paints, without the addition of various solvents and other harmful substances that can cause an allergic reaction in those living in the house. Therefore, almost all paints for walls and ceilings are environmentally friendly and harmless to others.

Paint application in the interior

But in their composition they can have various components that improve the performance of the material.

Manufacturers produce paints containing the following additives:

• Polyvinyl chloride (PVA).
• Acrylic.
• Latex.
• Silicone

The walls in the bathroom are covered with silicone paint

We will tell about each type separately.

Advantages and disadvantages of interior paint

Modern paint for decorating water-based rooms has more advantages than disadvantages. But, sadly, some species still have them, and we cannot say about them. Although, rare cons more than overlap with the exceptional positive qualities of the material.

Name	Where applicable	pros	Minuses
PVA based paint	Dry rooms without a lot of traffic (nurseries, bedrooms, living rooms)	High vapor permeability. Easy to apply. Affordable price. Good hiding power. It is perfectly tinted. Compatible with concrete, brick, plasterboard, gypsum, wood surfaces.	Exposure to the emergence and proliferation of bacteria, so antibacterial supplements must be used. Poor water resistance. Ability to fast abrasion. Do not apply on varnished, metallic, calcareous surfaces. Requires perfectly flat walls.
Acrylic paint	Humid rooms (kitchens (seePaint for walls in the kitchen: which one to choose), corridors, hallways, living rooms, bedrooms)	Creates a "breathing" surface. It forms a thin, even layer. UV resistant. Compatible with almost any surface. Resistant to abrasion. Moisture resistant, withstands wet cleaning with gentle detergents.	You need a perfectly flat surface for painting.
Latex paint	High humidity rooms (bathrooms, bathrooms, kitchens)	Good vapor permeability due to coarse crystalline structure. Durability allows to wash paint even with aggressive alkaline solutions. Durability. High moisture resistance.	Deterioration at low temperatures, it is recommended to use in heated rooms. Application to a carefully prepared surface.
Silicone paint	Rooms with high humidity and high traffic (bathrooms (seeWhat paint to paint the bathroom: consider options), showers, hallways, corridors).	Excellent hiding power. The paint does not absorb dirt and dust, so it almost does not need to be cleaned. Vapor permeable. Resistant to fungus and bacteria. Hides defects up to 2 mm wide. Particularly wear resistant. Service life is up to 15 years.	High price. It is difficult to wash off from surfaces, it is recommended to wash tools and remove drops from the floor immediately.

That's probably all you need to know about paint. Now, comparing both materials, it will not be difficult for you to decide which is better - painting the walls or wallpaper. If you still have doubts, or you like both, then we offer a selection of photos with interiors, the design of which is made with a combination of paint and wallpaper.

Gallery

• A harmonious combination of wallpaper on the central wall, and water-based paint on other surfaces.

Living room with paint and wallpaper.

• Bright bedroom, in which the area of ​​the headboard is highlighted with paint. This emphasis visually expands the space, and serves as a backdrop for decor items and accessories.

Bright bedroom

• In this photo, plain wallpaper is combined with painting to match the primary color. A small canvas with color print and bright furniture enliven the interior.

Living room in gray tones

• The flight of steps is decorated with wallpaper in the upper part, and the lower half is painted with a water emulsion in tone, and made in the form of panels.

Stairwell Walls with Panels

• The walls of the corridor are covered with a neutral color acrylic paint, with bright panels from colorful prints accenting.

Panel in the hallway

• The entrance hall, in the interior of which the walls with wallpaper are harmoniously arranged, and the surfaces of the niche and built-in furniture painted with latex paint.

Hallway with a combination of several types of wallpaper and paint

• Another option with painted walls and wallpaper in the form of a panel. This combination contrasts well with white furniture and dark floors.

Room with a wallpaper panel

• In this bedroom, the coloring is applied in the form of decoration, the middle is highlighted with a contrasting molding, and the rest of the space is covered with wallpaper.

Bedroom in olive tones.

Conclusion

Both wallpaper and water-based paint on walls or ceilings can be applied equally well. In any interior you can harmoniously fit both of these materials. The main thing is to strictly adhere to the chosen style direction, and skillfully combine colors.

And to choose which is better: to glue wallpaper or paint walls, it depends only on your preferences, configuration and dimensions of the rooms in the house, the quality of the walls and financial capabilities. Well, and yet - the presence of some skills in decoration. In conclusion, watch the video in this article for clarity in this matter.