What is better: wallpaper or painting walls in an apartment

When deciding which material to use for finishing, you are always faced with a dilemma of choice, because they all look different from each other, they have different properties and characteristics. So the common man often suffers, unable to make a decision. Irreconcilable rivals in wall decoration are wallpaper and water-based paint - each material is good in its own way, so today let's try to understand the question of which is better, wallpaper or wall painting. Our comparison will also affect the finishing work itself, so the publication promises to be interesting.

Wallpaper or wall painting - selection criteria

To make the final and only correct choice, you should answer some questions for yourself:

How much money are you willing to spend on upcoming repairs?
Who will participate in the design: are you personally or an external design specialist?
Will you carry out the repair work yourself, or with the involvement of specialized repair teams?
In your opinion, how long should this repair last in good condition? After all, each type of wallpaper, be it vinyl or paper, has its own service life.
On what basis will the wallpaper be hung or paint applied and are there any decorative elements? Only paint can beautifully highlight the texture. Modeling against the background of wallpaper will look, at least, ridiculous.

What to choose: paint or wallpaper depends on the individual preferences of each person. But in order to decide, it is necessary to conduct a thorough comparison of all parameters and select an option based on financial capabilities.

Expert advice

Scheme for calculating the area of a room for wallpapering.

When painting walls, colors can be combined within a single room.
Wallpaper can hide some imperfections on the surface of the walls.
It is recommended to change the paint layer every 2 years; wallpaper can last 5 years or more.
Non-woven wallpaper can be painted and repainted up to 5 times.
The best material option for finishing uneven walls with cracks is fiberglass wallpaper. They can be glued in rooms even with high humidity.
In small rooms, plain walls look better. Even small-sized drawings visually conceal the volume of the room.
Water-based paint is more environmentally friendly and safer for humans, but is not wear-resistant.
Acrylic and latex based paints are quite durable and safe in all respects.
Vinyl can release toxic substances into the atmosphere.
Drywall is an excellent finishing material for preparing walls for painting and pasting.
It is recommended to coat moisture-resistant drywall with a primer with the addition of white water-based paint. It will slightly hide the green color of the drywall, which may show through the paint or wallpaper.
It is better to use acrylic primer GKL-1 for drywall, which is applied with a brush.
The seams between the sheets of drywall are taped with lavsan or fiberglass sickle tape, which in appearance resembles an ordinary medical bandage. Then the seams are puttied and leveled.
Paint is more resistant to temperature changes than wallpaper.

Housing should be comfortable and cozy. For this purpose, at all times people decorated their homes with various ornaments and tapestries. Modern materials and technologies make it possible to do this more efficiently. You can use water-based or acrylic paints and wallpaper of different types for finishing.

Each of these materials has its own advantages and disadvantages, so there is no clear answer to the question about methods of decorative wall decoration. Paint or glue - each home owner makes this choice independently, focusing on his aesthetic taste, financial capabilities and experience in carrying out repair work.

What is cheaper - wallpaper or painting the walls?

This indicator can only be discussed if the materials are similar in quality. In specialized stores you can find quite expensive wallpapers based on natural fabric or bamboo, and paints at significant prices. But there are also affordable prices for both paper wallpaper and water-based paints.

In general, to paint a room 4 by 5 meters with a ceiling height of 2.7 m, you will need approximately 7-8 liters of paint or approximately 7-8 rolls of wallpaper (1 m wide). The cost of these materials in such quantities will be more or less the same. Perhaps the wallpaper will cost a little more. Again, it all depends on the preferences and budget of the owners of the premises.

As for the cost of the work performed, it will be almost equivalent to gluing non-woven wallpaper or applying latex paint to the walls. If we consider the presence of the necessary tools, then painting walls requires the presence of:

roller (sometimes several);
painting tray;
brushes (usually a couple of pieces);
containers for paint.

Necessary tools for painting walls
To hang wallpaper, all you need is a roller, glue and a bucket.

It is also worth remembering that painting requires perfectly smooth walls, so before finishing you will have to spend money on leveling them (if necessary). This procedure is not the cheapest, and can reach several tens of thousands of rubles.

To apply wallpaper, the walls must also be smooth, but often small irregularities and defects are hidden by patterns and designs of the wallpaper, so leveling the walls (unless, of course, they are very crooked) is not required. In this case, wallpapering will be about half the price.

Types, advantages and disadvantages of wallpapering

Beautiful wallpaper in the living room and bedroom not only looks expensive and stylish, it gives the room a special coziness and warmth. Photo wallpapers serve as the main element of room decor, its “highlight”. Thick wallpaper acts as a way to heat and sound insulate a room.

For wall decoration, ordinary paper wallpaper is often chosen - it is the cheapest, can be glued with any wallpaper glue, and is environmentally friendly. Paper-based canvases can be thin or “triplex” - triple with a layer of wood in the middle. You can also be 100% confident in the safety of glass wallpaper (fiberglass). They contain fiberglass and other harmless components. Typically, glass wallpaper is white and is used for subsequent painting. They are ideal for offices and wet areas.

The following types of wallpaper are much more expensive:

vinyl;
fabric;
non-woven;
bamboo;
silk;
with acrylic coating;
decorative plaster (liquid wallpaper).

Wallpaper can be smooth and embossed, embossed and even textured - for example, in the form of brickwork. The choice of canvases is very rich, and the advantages of using this type of finishing material are indisputable:

preparation is carried out to a minimum, since small defects in the walls will be perfectly hidden by thick canvases;
wallpaper adheres perfectly to most types of substrates, even bare concrete, provided that special glue is used;
the shades and textures of the wallpaper are incredibly diverse, the surface is soft, delicate, giving the interior “visual warmth”;
wallpaper is practically not capable of causing allergies (we are talking about paper, non-woven materials), modern canvases are safe for humans;
a finishing layer will enhance the effect of noise insulation and reduce heat loss in corner apartments;
paper wallpaper is a vapor-permeable material, it does not disturb the microclimate in the room;
Even a non-professional can glue new wallpaper, the method is simple and accessible - you just need to learn how to combine the pattern and smooth the canvas on the wall;
The service life of the wallpaper is long; many can be washed with household chemicals.

This type of finish also has disadvantages:

in order to tear tightly glued canvases from the wall, you need to try - first you will have to moisten them with water, then scrape them off with a spatula (usually problems arise when replacing paper wallpaper, dense ones are easier to remove);
Dirt and stains from paper strips are difficult to remove, and scuff marks may remain on the surface (washable wallpaper can easily withstand such manipulations);
animals often damage wallpaper and tear it off, so if you have a pet you need to buy a roll of material in reserve;
paper wallpaper is not suitable for rooms with high humidity - bathroom, kitchen, they can peel off or lose their appearance;
under the influence of mechanical factors, the material is easily torn, and thin paper wallpaper can be deformed even with a fingernail.

Preparation before painting

Before gluing wallpaper or painting walls, it is necessary to carry out preliminary preparation of the wall surface. As a rule, this takes the bulk of effort and money.

Particular attention should be paid to bringing the surface to the appropriate condition before painting, since the presence of unevenness and defects will adversely affect the quality of the repair. It is also worth keeping in mind that lack of preparation will negatively affect the adhesion of the surface, so cracks, bulges and dents may appear.

To properly carry out the preparatory work before painting, you should take the following steps:

Dismantle the old covering. But such work will not be necessary if we are talking about newly built residential complexes, where the walls are simply concrete or with minimal thin plaster.
Carefully level the walls. For these purposes, it is worth purchasing putty (gypsum, cement or other). This way you can remove holes, splinters or cracks. Based on the quality of the surface, it may be necessary to apply several layers of putty or use a reinforcing mesh.
Perform final puttying. This will make it possible to make the base smooth and snow-white. The use of finishing is mandatory in cases where the walls are to be painted in light colors.
Sand the surface. This is a very necessary working moment, since the surface must be perfectly flat.
Prime the base. As a rule, from one to three layers are applied. Thanks to the primer, the absorbency of the base is reduced to almost zero, which improves the adhesion of finishing materials to the base of the wall.

Much less hassle with plasterboard walls . In this case, you will have to fill only the seams of the drywall sheets, then prime them several times. This work will take a little time and money.

If you plan to carry out renovation work in the bathroom or kitchen, then the preparatory work becomes more complicated due to the fact that such rooms are a constant source of excessive humidity, so wall finishing materials become unusable with an enviable frequency. The walls in such rooms should be treated with special antiseptic primers and putties, the cost of which is an order of magnitude higher than conventional materials.

Painting features

When a method of painting their surface is chosen to complete the finishing of walls indoors, it is generally believed that this method is the simplest, fastest and most economical, in addition to being extremely reliable and easy to use. Let's consider whether this belief is true.

Scheme for painting a wall with a roller: 1 – a set of paint from a pallet; 2 – wall painting; 3 – trajectory of movement completion.

The advantages of painting walls include the following:

Be sure to prepare the walls before painting, a kind of “health” procedure. After correctly performed preliminary work, there is no doubt that the walls will serve for a long time unchanged without cracks.
If necessary, painted walls can be easily tinted, both the entire surface and partially. The process is quite simple and not labor-intensive. Such modifications will not hurt your pocket.
Painted walls wash well. The walls can be washed even after the marker.
Such walls will not be damaged by animals, as they do not arouse interest.
When using this method of finishing a room, you can create an individual interior design. You can easily divide a room into zones, add brightness and create something unusual.

There are some downsides:

Although preparing the walls will refresh and strengthen them very well, it is quite difficult to complete such a task yourself without skills. Before painting the walls, you need to level them, sand them and carry out a number of other useful procedures, without which you will not get the ideal final result.
To apply the initial coat of paint, you need to know how it is done so that the tone goes on evenly and has one shade. It’s not difficult to refresh the paint, but to apply it, you initially need to adhere to certain skills.
If the paint is not glossy, then such walls must be washed when cleaning the premises.
The paint can withstand mechanical shocks, but not severe ones.
If you're painting the walls of your home, you'll likely want to apply a different tone, pattern, or use a stencil. For such work, textured or designer paint is required, the cost of which is quite expensive.

Preparing walls for wallpaper

The cost of such preparation varies greatly. The price is greatly influenced by the condition of the surface of the walls: their unevenness and the type of wallpaper. If the surface of the walls is initially smooth, and the thickness of the wallpaper is significant, or there is relief in it, then it will be enough to dismantle the old covering and carefully prime the walls. Such actions can be done independently, without the involvement of additional labor. And it doesn't take long.

There is a standard option, which is most common. It requires dismantling the previous wall covering and applying one coat of putty to get rid of cracks, chips and holes in the plaster. Afterwards it is necessary to prime the surface.

With the “zero” option, which implies bare concrete walls or a surface with many defects and irregularities, it is necessary to completely clean the walls of the previous coating, apply a primer to the surface a couple of times, then putty and prime again.

The cost of such work is practically no different from the price of preparatory work before painting. But it is necessary to remember that it is easier to prepare walls for painting than for subsequent wallpapering, since the paint will reveal all the shortcomings of the base of the walls.

Benefits of wallpaper

Before you decide, you need to consider the pros and cons of the two options. Let's start with the wallpaper.

Wallpaper is extremely popular; they began to be used several centuries ago, and are now known to everyone. Due to their practicality and low cost, they are used both in offices and in private homes. However, not everyone knows about the main characteristics. Wallpaper has enough advantages.

They are made from environmentally friendly components that do not cause allergies. Practically do not cause any harm to either humans or animals;
paper wallpaper is a good sound insulator, which is a definite advantage over other coatings. They do a good job of retaining heat in a room;
gluing requires virtually no surface preparation. Most types of wallpaper can hide minor wall imperfections, such as unevenness or cracks. The only thing you need to pay attention to is purchasing high-quality glue;
The wallpaper is soft and superior in beauty to its competitors in finishing. They guarantee a large selection of design solutions;
Even a beginner can hang wallpaper. The process is quite easy and does not require much effort or investment. They are quite cheap, so you won't need to spend a lot of money. The main thing is to carefully consider the cut of the rolls and follow the instructions provided;
the material has good air permeability, which will provide protection against mold on the walls.

The nuances of painting and gluing

You need to know that the thinner the wallpaper with low quality, the more difficult it is to carry out the work of gluing it. When the glue dries, such material may shrink or become deformed when applying the canvases to the walls. The process is also complicated by drawings or original details that must be strictly combined. This also negatively affects the consumption of wallpaper, so you need to purchase it “with a reserve.”

Adjusting the wallpaper pattern

Painting walls is also not an easy task. If the strokes are applied carelessly or too slowly, spots and streaks may appear, which will negate the desired result. After finishing putty, any scratch can negatively affect the quality of the coating.

Paint or wallpaper - which is more environmentally friendly?

Wallpaper based on wood, glass, fabric or paper is considered environmentally friendly. Most of them are not practical and attractive and are used mainly for office premises. Formaldehyde is used to make vinyl wallpaper. And no matter what manufacturers say about their environmental friendliness and the possible presence of odor only at very high temperatures, after gluing such canvases, an unpleasant odor lingers in the room for several months.

As for coloring materials, they are mostly environmentally friendly. This applies to latex, water-based, acrylic paints. Only alkyd-type enamels have a negative effect on the human body, but they are practically not used for painting walls in residential premises.

Paint or wallpaper - which is more practical?

The most practical wallpapers are textile and paper based, but their service life is not as long as we would like. After a short period of time, dirt accumulates on such canvases, stains and smudges appear, and they cannot be washed. And they wear out quickly. If you accidentally touch them with a sharp object, a scratch or even a hole will appear. The service life of vinyl or glass panels, as well as non-woven fabrics, is more significant. They can be easily washed, wipe off any stains that have formed, and their appearance will not be affected at all.

Dirt appears on the paint more often, but washing it is easier and more pleasant. But it must be remembered that frequent wiping of a certain place can lead to its lightening over time and the entire wall (and not just this area) will have to be repainted.

Paint or wallpaper - which is more aesthetically pleasing?

Currently, there is no shortage of beautiful wallpapers and a large assortment of coloring materials. At the same time, rooms can be made unique with one or the other option. But there are certain rules that should be followed. Thus, experts recommend decorating bedrooms with wallpaper, as they create more comfort, warmth and tranquility. As for the colors, they are more “strict”, but you can revive them by using unique prints.

If it becomes very difficult to make a choice, then you can decorate one room with wallpaper, and another with paint. You can also use an alternative in the form of liquid wallpaper, decorative plaster, wood trim or panels. This will encourage variety in design.

Paint or glue - which is better?

It is necessary to add up all the pros and cons again and draw the appropriate conclusion. If you decide to paint, it is better to hire a team of craftsmen to level the walls and prepare them for painting. The coating procedure itself is also not simple; a beginner cannot cope with it efficiently, so again hired labor is required, and qualified ones at that.

Wallpapering walls can be done by an ordinary home craftsman, even alone. At the same time, there is no need to buy complex home appliances that are used extremely rarely. Here you can get by:

scissors;
with a knife;
brush;
brush;
roller;
a basin for applying the adhesive mixture.

In terms of financial investment, it is better to say “yes” to wallpaper rather than paint. When preparing the walls with a hired team, you will have to spend a lot of money. But it’s worth noting that if you paint walls that were perfectly aligned in previous renovations, then buying the required amount of paint will probably be cheaper.

It all depends on the material used. When calculating, it is necessary to take into account that high-quality paint is no cheaper than expensive non-woven or vinyl wallpaper.

In terms of the durability of paint or wallpaper, nothing definite can be said. Currently, wallpapers are produced that are so strong and durable that they will give a head start to any paint. On the other hand, it is easier to change the interior by simply painting the walls a new color.

Pros and cons of wallpaper

To decide on the material, you need to carefully study all its characteristics:

Advantages	Flaws
Preparing the walls does not require much time. Wallpaper is able to hide existing imperfections on the surface of the walls. They adhere perfectly to the concrete base. It all depends on the quality of the glue and its characteristics	They are very difficult to remove due to their excellent tenacity
Pleasant to the touch surface. This material is famous for its softness, delicate colors, comfort and warmth.	Dirt sticks to them. When interacting with wet sponges, they become limp (except washable ones)
No negative impact on human health. Wallpaper does not cause allergic reactions	They are afraid of excessive humidity; they can wrinkle, become deformed and separate from the walls.
Easy to use. There is no need to contact specialized teams for wallpapering. It is enough to have free time, be careful and attentive	They are afraid of all kinds of mechanical damage. This is especially true for places where switches and sockets are located
It is believed that wallpaper “breathes”. Paper is able to allow oxygen to pass through, which prevents mold from forming	They do not tolerate direct sunlight well, from which they “fade” and lose their original appearance.

Advantages and disadvantages of wallpaper

Wallpaper can quickly transform a room. A variety of textures and colors allows you to choose a classic or original design option.

To glue paper sheets, you do not need professional knowledge and skills, you just need to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. Careful surface preparation is not necessary - small defects will be hidden under the canvas.

The best option is two-layer with high density. The porous structure of the material allows the walls to “breathe”, preventing the appearance of mold or fungi. In addition, noise insulation is improved and heat is retained.

Paper and non-woven fabric are safe for people prone to allergic reactions. An interesting interior can be created using photo wallpaper.

The disadvantages include the price - high-quality wallpaper is not cheap.

Besides:

If the pasting technology is violated, the wallpaper will quickly peel off.

Wallpaper cannot be glued in damp rooms - the canvas is deformed and then peels off;
paints fade when exposed to sunlight;
the pasted surface attracts pets;
When renovating, sometimes removing old wallpaper becomes a problem;
if the pattern requires adjustment, the consumption increases (you have to buy an additional roll);
Scuffs often appear on the paper covering (places behind furniture, around sockets and switches).

Pros and cons of painting walls

Many people believe that painting the walls will immediately solve all problems with cleanliness and beauty. But it is worth carefully studying both the positive and negative aspects

Advantages	Flaws
Can be easily updated. If a certain area has been rubbed, you can try to tint it. This is a fairly quick procedure	The process of preparing walls for painting is quite complex and often expensive. This work is not always within the power of an amateur, so there is a need to turn to specialists
Excellent water resistance. Such a surface, if there are stains, smudges, grease stains, or drawings with felt-tip pens, can be easily cleaned with a soapy sponge and warm water, without damaging the original condition.	Requires constant care. It is necessary to regularly clean the surface from dust and dirt.
Big variety. Thanks to this, you can give the room uniqueness by combining different shades, their saturation and texture

Choosing a finishing method

The final choice of wall decoration option is made by the homeowner. The following factors must be taken into account:

Scheme for applying glue to wallpaper.

Gluing wallpaper is easier and faster than preparing a wall for painting and completing it. When preparing a surface for painting, you must at least have the skills to perform plastering work. You will also need a lot of tools and materials. To apply wallpaper you only need a knife or scissors, a glue container and a roller. The work can be done even alone.
Even the most modern and high-quality wallpaper will cost less than the materials and time spent on preparing and painting the walls. If the walls are smooth, without cracks or mold, then painting can be cheaper than wallpaper.
Wallpaper can be changed as often as you like, while making changes to the interior. If the coating is planned to be maintained for several years, then it is better to choose paint. She will withstand this period with proper care.
The paint can be given any shade by tinting. This is much more difficult to do with wallpaper.

You can create a beautiful interior with both paint and wallpaper. Wallpaper is selected in different textures, colors and shades. Walls can also be painted in a diamond pattern, with horizontal or vertical stripes. It all depends on the imagination of the home owner.

Let's sum it up

From this article it is clear that it is quite difficult to give a definite answer about the optimal use of wallpaper or paint. Any coating has its own advantages and disadvantages. When choosing, you should not only take into account the taste preferences of the owner of the premises, but also the quality of the wall surface, compliance with the interior and other features.

So, in a house where the humidity level is constantly elevated, it is best to paint the walls. And if the surface of the walls is uneven, then you should opt for wallpaper.

Wallpaper or painting walls: which is better, which is cheaper?

Wallpaper Finish Painting Wall Repair