The case for paint
Paint is quicker to apply, cheaper per square metre and easy to touch up when the walls get marked. It's simple to change if you get tired of a colour, and it works on almost any surface. For hallways, kitchens, bathrooms and children's rooms, paint is usually the practical choice.
The case for wallpaper
Wallpaper brings pattern and texture that paint can't easily match. It can make a plain room feel finished and characterful, and it's very good at disguising walls that are slightly uneven or covered in hairline cracks. Many modern papers are washable and hard-wearing.
The downsides are cost – good paper and skilled hanging aren't cheap – and the fact that a damaged patch is harder to repair invisibly than paint.
What state are your walls in?
This often decides it. Paint, especially in darker or shinier finishes, shows every bump and repair. If your walls are old, uneven or patched, a decorator might suggest lining paper under paint, or wallpaper instead. Lining paper is a plain paper hung first to give a smoother surface, and it can be painted over.
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Rooms that suit each
There's no fixed rule, but these broad patterns work for most homes:
- Paint: kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, stairs and children's rooms
- Wallpaper: bedrooms (often the bed wall), dining rooms, downstairs cloakrooms, chimney breast alcoves
- Either: living rooms – a papered feature wall with painted walls is a common mix
Hiring a decorator for wallpaper
Not every painter hangs wallpaper, and patterned papers that need careful matching take real skill. Mention wallpaper when you request quotes so you hear from decorators who do it regularly. Expect the quote to cover stripping any old paper, preparing the walls, lining if needed and hanging.
