SR app aCHe

Surfaces Reporter’s | Way out Application-Ache

Wallpanels by Ventura International Bisazza Olivina The Crystal Collection Mosaic

How to CHoose?

Wallpaper/ Paints/ Wall Panelling

Our homes reflect our personalities. No matter how spacious your house is, a dull appearance can take away all the charm. In order to highlight the rooms, creating a feature wall is a common practice. But how to create it? That’s a big question that requires constant pondering. Therefore, to overcome the dilemma of choosing between wallpaper, wallpanels or texture paints, SURFACES REPORTER (SR) draws parallels and differences between them so that you can easily make a choice weighing all the pros and cons.

Application-Ache

AffordAbility

This factor doesn’t include only the cost of purchase but also bring focus on the labour as well as the maintenance cost. Wall paints are an easily accessible resource. Since it’s a primitive technique, finding the labour isn’t difficult too. Hence, the cost of completion of painting a room will be cheaper than both wallpaper and wall panelling. But it is limited to the quality of the paint. If you go for basic finishing paint, the onetime cost will be lesser than the other two forms. For panels and wallpaper, the initial cost may be higher but they are usually a one-time investment. The best option for a long term solution

is wall panelling. paints require additional touch-ups and even cleaning up which may scale up the costs.

VAriety

With wall panels, various options are available in the form of an array of designs, colours, finishes, effects and styles. You can choose the option that best matches the decor of your space. Similarly, wallpapers allow you to choose from vinyl, vinyl-coated fabric, solid-sheet vinyl, non-woven, pre-pasted, grasscloth, etc. The revolutionary technology of 3D printing is a boon to wallpapers as one can print any image on the wallpaper and get it installed. Unique images will help you add the personalized touch to a particular space! Lastly, paints have no scarcity of options too. In wall paints too, you can either opt for water and oil-based paints along with different finishes such as matte finish, semi-gloss & gloss finish, eggshell finish and satin finish. You can also experiment with mixing colours and shades. The only limitation is the availability of labour as wall paint mixing can be tricky.

eAse of ApplicAtion

Wall panels are a straightforward, mess-free and quick. They often requires little to no expertise in setting up. Additionally, this also lets you use your room immediately after the work is done. Wall paints are comparatively a more messy and time consuming affair. not to forget the toxic fumes emitted by a majority of paints available in the market. With skilled workers painting a new wall may not be a tedious process but for worn-out walls, it will take significant time. The drying up process is slow too, which means you need to stay clear of the room until the wall paint dries.

Gold Crane wallpaper, Levante collection by Wallpepper Group

For an average Indian household, the costs for painting a standard room, from finding the best quality paint up till the completion could come down to Rs 35,000 to get a 1000-sqft home.

Aquaeductus wallpaper by Wall&decòr

Wallpanel- The panels are available in various materials including wood, aluminium, PVC, cork, stone etc., in almost every shape and sizes depending upon your choice. Their pricing too defer depending upon the material, design, craftmenship etc., as the world of wall paneling know no bounds.

Generally wallpapers can range from Rs 50 to Rs 55 per sq. ft. While the installation charge could vary between Rs 200 to Rs 500 per roll, depending on the contractor you are hiring to do the job.

On the other hand, Wallpapers are the most trickier of them all. They require an expert along with patience. Unlike paint, wallpaper cannot be applied to an already existing one.

durAbility

As already discussed, both wall panelling and wallpapers are your long term partners. The higher costs are covered by their lasting qualities. This is why if you are someone who gets bored easily, wall panelling or wallpaper might not be the best bet. Wall paints do not last more than five years even with the best of quality. If you do not get a repaint done, your wall starts looking dull and lifeless. For areas with good sunlight exposure or traffic, the shelf life is even lesser. Wallpapers are not immune to wear and tear too. Also, for homes prone to drainage issues or termite infestation, the preferable choice is wall paints. Both wall panelling and wallpaper are not immune to such problems.

conclusion

Each one of wallpaper, wall paint and wall panelling have some great features to offer. Depending upon the requirement and choice you can make your choice. Some other aspects to consider include the area that you want to cover and the theme that you wish to give to your room. For an average Indian household, the traditional choice continues to be wall paint but it won’t harm to expand your choices.