Dubai defines luxury, cultural richness, and royalty. Its eccentric lifestyle is a dream for almost everyone. Are you still struggling to make the right choice to decorate your home walls? And even if you get out of that debacle, a tough choice awaits. Wallpaper or Paint? The ultimate battle. While both of them have their own prospects and applications, My Sofa is here to help you make the right choice for your walls. This is an extensive blueprint, consisting of a detailed comparison of the two- wallpaper and paint!
Choose Between Wallpaper & Paint | An Expert Comparison
Before you jump straight into the debate, you need to understand Dubai’s climate. Dubai offers a hot and humid climate throughout the year, with scorching sun melting almost everything in sight. With a climate this harsh and unforgiving, you’d need something as stubborn and competent worthy of Dubai’s torrid climate.
Below, you’ll find a detailed comparison of paint and wallpaper, and which option is best suited for your walls. This comparison is based on resistance to climate, their durability, overall cost, their appearance, and other factors.
Longevity & Care
Paint: Even with high-quality paint, it needs retouching every couple of years. The reason for this is that paint can get easily dirty, scratched, or scuffed. These scuff marks give a rough and messy look. That’s why it is generally recommended to paint a new coat every 2-3 years.
Wallpaper: Quality wallpaper, like vinyl wallpaper or water-resistant wallpaper, is durable and lasts longer than paint. This is because of their application method. Wallpaper comes in sheets and doesn’t chip or peel away like paint. A good wallpaper can last up to 10-15 years with ease.
Point: Wallpaper
Visual & Aesthetic Appeal
Paint: Paint is the best choice. If you’re designing your home to be sleek, minimal, and modern, then paint is a great option. But paint usually has limited options. Only painting can’t give a statement look.
Wallpaper: Various types of wallpapers serve different purposes. Depth, accent, or make a statement. All of this can be done easily by a meticulously chosen wallpaper. 3D embossed, textured, or murals can give your wall a whole new signature look.
Point: Wallpaper
Resistance To Dubai’s Climate
Paint: Works well in the scorching heat and humidity of Dubai, if chosen well. Paint does not peel from the heat of the sun or the cold from the continuous AC. A high-quality paint also prevents mold and mildew growth because of its water-resistant qualities.
Wallpaper: Traditional wallpapers, like the ones made from paper or fabric, are susceptible to peeling from the extreme heat of Dubai’s sun. The adhesives used for their installation can also wear off in the cold from the AC, unless you’re using vinyl or moisture-resistant wallpapers.
Point: Paint
Installation & Affordability
Paint: Opting for paint is usually an affordable and budget-friendly option. Paint costs less and does the job very well. Apart from this, paint is also quicker and easier to apply, which means less time is consumed, especially for larger villas and commercial spaces.
Wallpaper: Installing wallpaper is expensive, especially if you’re taking into account the harsh climate and thinking of installing wallpaper specifically made for Dubai. The initial cost alone would be a bit more than paint, let alone the whole procedure.
Point: Paint
Sustainability & Eco-Friendliness
Paint: Eco-friendly paints that are low in VOCs and made from natural dyes are now widely used in Dubai homes to promote environmentally friendly options. However, your space may emit the smell of paint for a few days. Eventually, it fades away.
Wallpaper: Some wallpaper and the adhesives used to install them can contain VOCs that are harmful to breathe in. However, special eco-friendly wallpaper adhesives have also been introduced and can be used safely.
Point: It’s a tie (depending on the choice of product)
Wall Preparation
Paint: Even the minor flaws and bumps are amplified after the application of paint, if not prepped the walls before. Paint needs a smooth and flawless wall; even minor cracks and a damp surface can derail the whole newly painted surface.
Wallpaper: Wallpaper can be applied on slightly flawed walls as well. All you need is a bit of primer and sanding for bigger bumps. After that, you can easily apply wallpaper over the walls and get a flawless finish and an elegant look.
Point: Wallpaper
The Final Say
Above, we have discussed paint and wallpaper in great detail. Both have their pros and vast applications. Both are great options, but wallpaper wins this round by a slight margin. Wallpaper has high endurance, maximum durability, budget-friendly options, and is overall easy and quick to apply. While paint adds a certain depth to any space, it’s more expensive than wallpaper, high-maintenance, and can be damaged easily(if not Dubai-specific paints).
