Paint vs wallpaper?

The most difficult task in renovation is choosing a decorative finish. Paint or wallpaper? Which is more practical for everyday use? Which one is easier to work with when doing the renovation yourself? Which is more cost-effective? We answer all these questions in our article.

What is popular in the world?

An interesting observation – in the USA and European countries, interior paints are widely used, while in the post-Soviet space, people prefer wallpaper. Why is that? For many people from the former Soviet countries, paint is associated with technical rooms, public corridors, and unattractive colors. Wallpaper, on the contrary, symbolizes coziness, exclusivity, and seems simpler and more familiar to work with.

For example, in America it’s just the opposite. Interior paints are used everywhere, with original application techniques and vibrant colors. Experiments in interior design are encouraged, and painting walls once every 1–2 years is considered normal.

Why is this so? It’s due to consumer culture, established traditions, and market development. For example, the first water-based paints for renovations appeared in the USA back in the 1960s, while in Ukraine their production only started closer to the late 1990s or early 2000s. That was also when TRIORA interior paints appeared on the market:

• Eco-friendly, harmless, used in children’s rooms.
• During their service life they allow air to pass through perfectly, letting walls “breathe.”
• They can be easily repainted over without any additional work.

Convenient? Yes!

So what should you choose for your home—paint or wallpaper? Evaluate their main properties and compare their real benefits.

Both materials are quite practical for everyday use and easy to apply. In terms of service life and reliability during use, paints are definitely ahead. And delicate wall preparation before painting pays off with the convenience and speed of future cosmetic repairs.

Moreover, paints can be perfectly applied over wallpaper itself, combined with photo murals or wallpapers with unusual patterns. It’s a practical and interesting material for your home.

We are confident that in the coming years we will confidently catch up with Western countries and successfully master the use of paint in interiors.