Comparison of wallpaper and decorative plaster. What to choose and how to combine together?

Wallpaper and decorative plaster are two popular options for wall finishes. Each has special advantages of its own and can drastically alter a room’s appearance. So which one fits best in your area? Making the best decision can be aided by knowing how these two materials differ from one another.

Wallpaper is a flexible option for almost any room because it comes in a wide range of patterns and colors. For people who like to regularly switch up their decor, it’s quite simple to install and replace. It may, however, be susceptible to wear and moisture, particularly in places with heavy traffic.

Conversely, decorative plaster is renowned for its strength and elegant texture. It can produce amazing effects that give walls more depth and personality. Plaster requires less upkeep and can last for years than wallpaper, even though it may require more time and skill to apply.

It’s okay if you have trouble deciding between the two. A striking pattern can be produced by combining ornamental plaster with wallpaper. For instance, you could apply wallpaper to the walls around it to create pattern or contrast, or you could use plaster on one wall to make a strong statement. You can have the best of both worlds in your house in this way.

It’s important to weigh the advantages of each material carefully when deciding between decorative plaster and wallpaper. Decorative plaster provides a more durable surface and a unique texture, whereas wallpaper offers a greater selection of patterns and ease of installation. Combining the two can bring out the best in both, offering texture and design flexibility, depending on your preferences and needs. This guide will assist you in selecting the option that best fits your room and in combining them for a well-balanced, fashionable look.

Roll wallpaper or decorative plaster?

When it comes to interior decoration on a budget, wallpaper is the most widely used material for wall finishing. They can, however, also be highly costly. The country of origin, the picture’s complexity and attractiveness, and the manufacturing technology all have a big impact on the price.

The benefits of wallpaper

• Wallpapering is considered a simpler operation than working with decorative plaster. This is reflected in the prices of construction companies, the work of finishers in this case will be cheaper.
• Due to the simplicity of such finishing, anyone can do it. Wallpaper can be pasted quite well on your own without the help of specialists, obtaining high-quality decorative plaster for an inexperienced person can be a difficult task.
• This is a roll material, knowing its width and length, as well as the area of ​​the walls, it is easy to calculate how many pieces you need to buy.
• High-quality wallpaper of famous brands is stored without losing its useful performance characteristics for a very long time. Unused material can always be used to repair the coating or decorate another room.
• The appearance of the walls can be changed every 2-3 years without a strong burden on the family budget.

Negative aspects

• Standard paper wallpaper is very flimsy, often tears when pasted in the hands of non-professionals.
• Textile absorbs dust and therefore needs to be vacuumed periodically.
• Washable ones do not stick well to the walls, they need an absolutely dry surface.
• They are not suitable for finishing rooms with high humidity.
• If the gluing technology is violated, there is a risk of mold appearing under the wallpaper.

Plaster with texture has long been a rather common choice for finishing. There are solutions with various characteristics and looks; you can plaster any wall if you’d like. Normal locations for the coating to be found are the living room, the bathroom, and the facade. In terms of appearance, decorative plasters come in an equal number of pre-made colors; however, you are unable to create a colorful pattern with them as you could, say, with photo wallpaper.

Benefits of Plaster

• Decorative plaster imitates different materials: marble, stonework, wood, fabric, leather, etc. .
• In the process of application, a unique pattern is created. Self-tinting allows you to get any desired shade.
• There are no seams on the wall.
• The material is durable, heat-resistant and moisture-resistant, resistant to ultraviolet radiation. It can be used outdoors, in the bathroom, pool, kitchen.
• This type of coating acts as additional heat and sound insulation.
• It is possible to plaster the ceiling.
• It lasts about 10-15 years.
• Washing does not harm the coating.

Negative aspects

• To get high-quality decorative plaster, you will have to hire a professional or spend time mastering the application technique.
• It is applied only to a flat prepared surface.
• It is problematic to remove dirt from pores.

The advantages and disadvantages listed are general traits and do not apply to all varieties of decorative plaster.

In the finishing segment, the cost of a product with similar properties can vary several times, depending on the manufacturer and the aesthetic appeal of the decor. It is impossible to say with certainty which finish is less expensive because everything depends on the particular material. There is only one thing that is certain: when plastering, the finishers will charge more for the actual labor.

What is better for painting

It’s possible that the homeowners aren’t ready to refinish the walls every time they want to change the color of the rooms every two to three years. There are two ways to accomplish this: using plaster or specialized painting wallpaper.

Typically, painted wallpaper is made of fiberglass or vinyl on a non-woven foundation, although structured paper can also be used. The coating sheet is thick enough to cover up minor surface imperfections. Just prime the walls; no putty is required beforehand.

Paints such as acrylic, latex, or water-dispersion can be used to paint this type of wallpaper repeatedly.

It takes a lot of work to get a plaster coating that is suitable for painting, unlike gluing wallpaper. A level vertical surface that has been primed and cleared of debris is required; in some circumstances, pre-treating the surface with sandpaper or sanding mesh may also be required.

The cost of plaster and putty will be higher than that of wallpaper. However, because it is impact and abrasion resistant, this base is more dependable.

Liquid wallpaper: how it differs from plastering

It’s still necessary to examine the primary benefits and drawbacks of liquid wallpaper to finish the image. In spite of its name, this material resembles plaster in certain aspects and application technique. This is indicated even by its second name, silk plaster. Cellulose, cotton, and occasionally silk fibers, adhesive binders, plasticizers, and ornamental glitter are all included in the composition.

The benefits of liquid wall coverings

• The damaged area of ​​the coating can be easily repaired if there is unused mixture left at home. In the right place, old wallpaper is scraped off and new wallpaper is applied.
• They are laid not only on vertical, but also on horizontal surfaces.
• The resulting coating has no joints, cracks and voids in the wall are filled with finishing mortar. In this regard, the wall does not need to be pre-filled and leveled.
• Such finishing effectively absorbs sounds and has additional thermal insulation qualities, albeit not great.
• It is easy and comfortable to work with, they do not leave a lot of debris, like plaster.
• They often contain fungicides. They prevent the development of mold.
• In terms of cost, they are usually cheaper than decorative plaster, taking into account the necessary previous work.

The drawbacks of using liquid wallpaper

• They are afraid of water. Which limits their use and makes wet cleaning impossible.
• Low wear resistance, the finish is easy to damage.

Selecting a finishing material is a personal preference. Depending on the homeowners’ preferences, certain parameters may become more important while others may become less so. When a professional designer or architect has created an interior solution and there are no immediate plans to change it, decorative plaster is a good choice for a property that is owned.

Wallpaper is better suited for people who are impulsive and mobile. However, as usual, a particular case must be taken into consideration in order to resolve the problem.

The particular requirements of your room, your budget, and your preferred style will all influence your decision between decorative plaster and wallpaper. With the many patterns and designs available in wallpaper, you can quickly transform the appearance of a space. Conversely, if properly maintained, decorative plaster adds texture and a more distinctive, sophisticated finish that lasts longer.

A clever solution might also involve combining the two choices. For instance, you could wallpaper the other walls and use ornamental plaster to create a focal point on one accent wall. This combination can give your interior design more personality and depth.

Ultimately, the choice you make should showcase both your individual style and the room’s usefulness. Selecting the material that best suits your house and way of life is crucial, whether you decide to use plaster, wallpaper, or a combination of the two.

Video on the topic

WALLPAPER, PAINT, WALLPAPER FOR PAINTING OR DECORATIVE PLASTER? What to choose and what is better? Part 1

WALLPAPER, PAINT, WALLPAPER FOR PAINTING OR DECORATIVE PLASTER? What to choose and what is better? Part 2

Decorative plaster is better and more practical than wallpaper🤙