Paint or Wallpaper
Wallpaper has been around for many centuries and it used to be the only way to finish the wall of the home. All of the affluent older homes were decorated throughout the house with wallpaper. Today it is not as popular as it used to be but many people still use it in at least part of their homes.
Wallpaper comes in many different patterns and types. The older types of wallpaper required extensive gluing to get it to adhere to the wall. Even today you must prep the wall surface before you attempt to hang wallpaper. If the walls are not clean and free of dirt, the paper will not stick. Nothing is more frustrating than to work hard to get the paper hung, only to get up the next morning and find it lying in the floor.
The decision to paper or paint is one that comes down to taste. Wallpaper can be used to bring color and drama to a room as well as texture to the walls. There are some types of wallpaper that are meant to be painted once they are hung but these are the types that have a raised design to give the wall surface a textured appearance.
When compared to painting, wallpaper is a much harder job, but it can give a totally different decorating affect. Bold patterns that are deep in color can bring a certain intimacy to a room where light tones with delicate prints tend to make a room look larger and more spacious.
With paint you can add bold color to a room but you cannot achieve the intricate patterns that can be found in wallpaper. In New York today many people prefer to paint the majority of the room and add an accent wall that is done in wallpaper.
For wallpaper to look great it must be done properly. If you are not comfortable with hanging wallpaper yourself then there are several New York wallpaper specialists that will be glad to do a professional looking job for you.
You need to determine what kind of look you are trying to achieve. You will have choices that range from delicate silks and grasses to the more sturdy vinyl or wood veneers that can actually be sanded and stained to look like paneling. Some of the thicker bamboo wallpaper can be used if you are trying to create a tropical look and feel but it is difficult to hang.
If you are a novice and want to try your hand at papering your walls you should start with a simple pattern that does not require a lot of matching. Learning the trick to butting the seams and matching the patterns are the first consideration. You might want to try a few small panels on a test board to get the hang of how you must do this. If the seams are not correctly fitted and the patterns matched your room will not be pleasing to you.
Most wallpaper today is pre-pasted, but this is not always enough paste for good adherence. If the wall surface has any oils or dirt on them you may find that you have to add glue to either the paper or the wall. In many cases it is easier to "paint" glue on the wall before attempting to hang the paper. Applying sizing to the wall before applying the paper will help the paper to adhere to the wall and will also help with the removal when the time comes that you want to take it down.
When combined with painted walls, wallpaper can create a dramatic effect in the room. Many people will put up a chair rail with paint below the rail and wallpaper above. This is a great way to add decorating interest to the room.
Wallpaper comes in many different patterns and types. The older types of wallpaper required extensive gluing to get it to adhere to the wall. Even today you must prep the wall surface before you attempt to hang wallpaper. If the walls are not clean and free of dirt, the paper will not stick. Nothing is more frustrating than to work hard to get the paper hung, only to get up the next morning and find it lying in the floor.
The decision to paper or paint is one that comes down to taste. Wallpaper can be used to bring color and drama to a room as well as texture to the walls. There are some types of wallpaper that are meant to be painted once they are hung but these are the types that have a raised design to give the wall surface a textured appearance.
When compared to painting, wallpaper is a much harder job, but it can give a totally different decorating affect. Bold patterns that are deep in color can bring a certain intimacy to a room where light tones with delicate prints tend to make a room look larger and more spacious.
With paint you can add bold color to a room but you cannot achieve the intricate patterns that can be found in wallpaper. In New York today many people prefer to paint the majority of the room and add an accent wall that is done in wallpaper.
For wallpaper to look great it must be done properly. If you are not comfortable with hanging wallpaper yourself then there are several New York wallpaper specialists that will be glad to do a professional looking job for you.
You need to determine what kind of look you are trying to achieve. You will have choices that range from delicate silks and grasses to the more sturdy vinyl or wood veneers that can actually be sanded and stained to look like paneling. Some of the thicker bamboo wallpaper can be used if you are trying to create a tropical look and feel but it is difficult to hang.
If you are a novice and want to try your hand at papering your walls you should start with a simple pattern that does not require a lot of matching. Learning the trick to butting the seams and matching the patterns are the first consideration. You might want to try a few small panels on a test board to get the hang of how you must do this. If the seams are not correctly fitted and the patterns matched your room will not be pleasing to you.
Most wallpaper today is pre-pasted, but this is not always enough paste for good adherence. If the wall surface has any oils or dirt on them you may find that you have to add glue to either the paper or the wall. In many cases it is easier to "paint" glue on the wall before attempting to hang the paper. Applying sizing to the wall before applying the paper will help the paper to adhere to the wall and will also help with the removal when the time comes that you want to take it down.
When combined with painted walls, wallpaper can create a dramatic effect in the room. Many people will put up a chair rail with paint below the rail and wallpaper above. This is a great way to add decorating interest to the room.
