OK,GUYS:PAINT OR WALLPAPER?

Take it from someone who does this for a living, you want paint! I am a faux finisher and I have to remove wallpaper too much to list and you'll be working your bum off when you want to change it, or have to hire someone like me to take it off. Styles change so much and paint allows us to change with it. I change my walls often (I get bored with them) and could not do this with wallpaper, nor would I want to. There are beautiful wallpapers out there, don't get me wrong but it will cost now and later if you want the change. Most of the time you can recreate the same look with paint. Why do they have more wallpaper in the expensive homes, because they can afford to have it put up and take down!

Actually some wallpaper is very much in. Some of the most expensive houses have wallpaper. If you aren't planning on moving who cares as long as you like it! I love both and don't mind a little inconvenience if it is the look I am after. I love an all toille or all floral bedroom. That's just me but I love decorating all styles.

Wallpaper comes with a variety of price tags and ranges from about $12 up to $200 per roll depending on what the wallpaper is. More involved textures or natural products that have been backed with paper tend to be far more expensive and are best hung by a professional.

Pros:

You can paper lamp shades, wastebaskets and get matching fabrics for upholstered pieces.

It provides an architectural interest to a room that paint just cannot do.

You know just what you are getting when you put it up and it ends up staying years and years.

It can soften a room.

You can add texture and depth.

You can use lively prints for lively areas.

You can line the inside of armoire doors or bookcases.

If not ready to do an entire room:

You can frame it out and do one wall or several panels.

You can frame it out to use as a headboard and use coordinating fabrics for bedding.

Cons:

If using a large pattern, you need to break up the monotony of sameness to create movement.

You do need patience to remove it and priming or sizing the wall first is a must so that you do not damage the walls when or if you do decide to remove it. Spraying it with DIF by Zinsser will allow you to do this but it usually needs a few sprays, one for top layer, one for backing and one final. Or, steam it off but watch out for your hands.

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First thing!!

Are your walls in good condition, with smooth even plaster?

If so, then paint every time. you can be as creative and individual as you like.

If your walls are uneven or covered in lots of filler, paint will look cheap as the rough patches will show up clearly under natural light.

It could work out cheaper to have your walls skimmed rather than buy paper, or buy a paintable wallpaper as a second option.

Don't forget your ceilings too, if you can see cracks where the plasterboard meets, use a thin lining paper to cover the ceiling then paint over it, cheap as chips and will look great for years

Wallpaper is pretty passe' but you can get some nice looks with a faux finish paint that will add some interest to your space. Check out some alternative paints and glazes that are not your run of the mill stuff. Good luck

Paint... not as expensive if you fancy a change too! And its easy to wipe down etc, or you could paint and have a 'feature wall' with some fancy wallpaper on one wall! Hope this helps!

Depends whats on the walls at the moment. If bare plaster you must paper it first with lining paper. Or if already papered pain overt it. If woodchip paper, I know it's out of fashion, but it's simpler to re-paint than strip off. But if you don't like the look damp it well and strip then re paper with 'lining' paper then paint. Or if you are looking for a striking effect patterned paper will give you a quick finish.

Happy DIYing.

I would say paint because wallpaper can get ruined easily. Like, if you spill water or something like that, it might get on the wallpaper and that's not good. So, I would say paint!

Paint because then you can redo it soooo much easier. If you use pain all you have to do to remove it is pain a few coats primer and white over it. If you use wallpaper you have to steam it off the wall.

good luck!!

Plain painted walls is nice, minimal and modern, make one wall in each room a feature with either a roll of expensive wall paper or some vibrant paint colour. then you can accessories using the wallpaper or vibrant colour to tie the whole room together.

Paint is easier and cheaper, but how about doing one feature wall of good quality printed wall paper? This can look really good with the right pattern and colour.