The age old question
The debate on wallpaper vs paint has been heated, to say the least in the past decade. While some can’t stop talking about the many merits of the new-age wallpapers as the best option to adorn and protect walls, others vehemently oppose any questions challenging the goodness of traditional paint.
While it is entirely an individual choice which team you side with, it is important to be objective when you are picking an option for your home. Your requirements will play a decisive role whether you pick wallpaper or wall paint to adorn your four walls. Now, let us see what fits your needs better!
Cost Analysis
Everything, big or small, boils down to your budget. This makes it absolutely necessary to do a cost analysis beforehand to ensure your budget fits.
Here is where it gets tricky.
Wallpaper and paint both have different prices depending on the product however, one thing to note is that the installation costs for wallpaper are more expensive compared to the installation costs for paint. This mean if you choose to go the DIY route, the cost of having wallpaper in your home decreases significantly.
As a general rule of thumb, you can expect wallpaper to cost up to 2 times the cost of Paint should you go the DIY route and 2.3x when engaging a professional to do both.
Wallpaper rolls also comes in varying sizes based on their country of origin.
European wallpapers rolls come in the standard form of 0.53M(W) X 10M(L)
European Wallpaper
Japanese Wallpaper rolls come in 0.92M(W) X 1M (L)
Japanese Wallpaper
Korean Wallpaper rolls come in 1.06M(W) X 15.5M(H)
Korean Wallpaper
Undoubtedly, the prices also differ. As a rule of thumb, Korean wallpapers are the cheapest in terms of Square meters per dollar. European wallpapers tend to be the most expensive option with Japanese wallpapers falling somewhere in the middle.
The cost of one roll of European wallpaper starts from $98 and can go up to over $300 for the premium models. Korean wallpaper start from $148 per roll can cover 3 times more surface per roll than European wallpaper. Japanese Wallpapers sell by the meter starting from $14 per Meter.[br]
If you decide to go for a paint job, the cost would reduce by a good amount. Depending on the paint brand and the contractor one picks, it would cost the owners around $1500 to get a 5 Room HDB Painted. Even if you choose only the best of all standard materials, it will not cost over $2400 to get a 5 Room HDB painted.
Time
Now, let’s assume you will not be going the DIY route and will be hiring contractors for their installation or painting services. Painting a 5 Room flat is relatively quick and will take 2 or 3 days. Installing wallpapers will usually take a day longer than paint jobs.
Do note that if your walls are in poor condition and require patching and other works, your contractors will take more time to complete the project.
Lifetime
In terms of lifetime use, good quality wallpapers can easily outlast 15 generations of iPhones! It’s likely that if you applied wallpapers today, you will only need to replace them when the iPhone 27 comes out!
Paint on the other hand would require replacement every few years as they start to crack and peel. This means that while paint is cheaper upfront. In the long run, your wallet will be thanking you for using wallpaper and let’s not talk about the hidden monster that is inflation!
Variety
Today, there are many varieties of paint available! there are many different colour options to choose from and finding a colour tone for your home has never been easier. Paint also come in different base types — water-based or oil-based paints. Various finishes for paint can finalize the look of your home like the matte finish, semi-gloss & gloss finish, eggshell finish or satin finish.
The same can be said for Wallpapers. Some of the most popular types of wallpapers are vinyl, vinyl-coated fabric, solid-sheet vinyl, non-woven, pre-pasted and more.
In regards to design, there are as many colours and designs as grains of sand on the beach! With designs from cultures all over the globe and different colour tones and feature, the sky is truly the limit when it comes to designs for wallpapers.
Area Application
Wallpapers are pasted on your walls using adhesive. Exposure to high amounts of moisture and humidity may cause the adhesive to wear off. Similarly, exposure to direct heat could damage the wallpaper. This is why wallpapers are a strict no-no in areas such as the bathroom, kitchen and outdoor gardens. Paint, too, will not do well under conditions where there is constant exposure to moisture and heat. For this reason, tiles are usually the go-to for the bathroom and kitchen floors and walls.
Maintenance
Paint tends to chip and wallpaper could peel off. If you invest in quality products for either paint or wallpaper, they would bear the wear and tear well for their lifetime. Depending on the products you buy, you may be able to wipe them clean which is especially useful for those with kids or pets. However, these features usually come in premium models for paint while most European wallpapers are cleanable.
Other aspects
Hopefully, the information above will help you make a more informed decision for you! But, before you go, there are some other aspects to consider as well before deciding on wallpaper or paint.
If you choose to DIY your projects, the cost for using wallpapers and paint will drop drastically more so for wallpaper than paint.
With wallpaper, you have to scrape off them when you are want to get new ones. Thankfully, modern wallpaper is easy to peel off and leave little to no residue however, it is still worth it to consider in the event you have to replace the wallpaper for any reason like moving to a new place, changing designs, etc.
Wallpapers can also smoothen out slightly uneven surfaces whereas paint cannot. If your house is older or the walls are not even, it is recommended to get your wall smoothened before applying paint!
Why Wallpaper?
Wallpapers are great due to its variety and texture that is impossible for paint to replicate, as wallpapers can be said to be their own painting rather than just a coat of paint itself. Wallpapers are also extremely durable lasting for up to 15 years.
- Unique beautiful design that cannot be found in paint
- Extreme durability lasting up to 15 years
- More effective in setting tone and mood of the room
- Cleanable for most European wallpaper models
Why Paint?
Paint is a cheaper option and can still get the basic designs done! For minimalist design or designs that incorporate few colour tones, paint may be just right for you. Most paint these days are not as strong on the odour as well and will go within a few days. Painting will also be slightly faster for wallpaper installation for those more strapped for time.
- Cheaper cost
- Faster lead time
- Most paints are low on odour
- Great for simple designs
Do you really have to pick one?
Definitely not! Most home buyers these days are using wallpapers and paint in tandem doing up feature walls and special rooms. Painting the rooms that would just need a single touch of colour. Then, there are texture wallpapers that you could paint. In the world of wall-covering, you may go as far as your imagination takes you.
About Honpo
Honpo is Singapore’s leading Home decor speciality store. Our best selling products are our wallpaper and flooring brought in from direct manufacturers made from fine quality materials. We have over a thousand satisfied customers in Singapore and we wish to spread the DIY culture on this sunny island!
This concludes our round up on wallpaper vs paint, we hope that you have found the answer you are looking for! If not, feel free to give us a call or visit our showroom!
Phone: +65 90893266
Showroom: Oxley Bizhub, 61 Ubi Rd 1, #01-31, 408727
