The Great Debate

Are you looking to add a punch of color or energy to a room and debating between a painted mural and wallpaper? A question we get asked a lot is “Should I put up wallpaper or paint a mural?” You would think as mural painters that we would always take the side of murals, but that’s not always the case! There are actually many times that we recommend wallpaper as an option for our clients. If you are deciding between a mural or wallpaper, we’re here to help! We’ve listed all the things to consider when making the choice between wallpaper or a painted mural for your space.

This glam gold pattern is in a client’s powder room. She opted for having a geometric mural over wallpaper.

Availability

Let’s talk options. Wallpaper is making a comeback! The once dated look of wallpaper is now bringing color and energy to rooms everywhere, especially in the form of accent walls. With wallpaper becoming more popular, there are a ton of companies and brands to choose from. Even Joanna Gaines has her own line of wallpaper! You can walk in most stores that sell paint (Sherwin Williams, Hoover Paint, Lowe’s) and flip through those huge books of wallpaper samples. The world wide web also offers a plethora of options from brands like Anthropology, West Elm, and Wayfair just to name a few. And last but not least, online creators like those found on sites such as Etsy also sell custom designed wallpaper. You can find ALL kinds of styles, colors, and patterns.

When it comes to finding a mural painter, the options are usually not as vast. Depending on where you live, there may or may not be a muralist (the technical name for a mural artist) in your area. And if you find a mural painter, just like with any contractor, do your research. Look at their portfolio to see if their style of painting matches the style that you are wanting for your wall. Also, ask for references to see how their quality of work is.

The exception to this is if you are a DIY’er and can paint a mural yourself. If you have the skill and initiative to paint your own mural, then you’ve hit the jackpot in the availability category! We love helping people with mural tips and tricks so if you ever have questions, feel free to reach out. Murals don’t have to be intimidating.

And the winner in the category of availability goes to (drum roll please)…………..wallpaper since there is such an abundance of options.

Design Versatility

So we just talked about how there are all kinds of designs out there, but have you ever had a design in your mind and just can’t find it??? Or found a design and think “Man, I wish this were a different color or larger print?” That’s what happened to me when I was redecorating my home office and looking for the perfect rug. I looked at rugs FOREVER! I had an idea of what I wanted and just couldn’t find it. They just didn’t make it. Wallpaper is pretty much the same way. You are limited to what is out there.

On the other hand, a mural can be completely custom designed to look exactly how you want it. From the size, to colors, to composition, you have complete control. Below is an example of a room where the client used wallpaper as her inspiration, but wanted different colors and for the designed to be more spaced out. Voila! Completely custom mural that fits the space perfectly!

The ability to make your design exactly how you envision wins this category for murals!

Inspired by wallpaper, this mural was designed using colors chosen by the client and more spaced out than the original wallpaper inspiration.

Price Range

This one is tricky and is influenced by several factors. Because there is such a wide range in the cost of wallpaper, it really depends on the design, brand, and quality that you go with as far as cost. We’ve seen them online anywhere from $50 a roll to close to $300. The size of the wall and how many rolls you will need also factors in the cost. Then add in the cost of hiring someone to hang the wallpaper or the time it costs you to hang it yourself.

If you hire a mural painter, the cost of a mural can vary too. We price our murals on complexity, size, and location and range from $15-$35 a square foot. Some mural painters may charge less and some more. It just depends on who is available in your area. Now, if you can paint the mural yourself, the cost is very little-just the time and paint! Our friend Morgan painted her own bathroom mural after seeing one of our tutorials (Modern Arrow Tutorial) and added so much energy and character to her space while saving money by doing it herself!

Bottom line in the cost category: it’s a tie. Do your research and weigh the cost difference.

DIY murals can save a ton of money! The black and white arrows give the bathroom energy and a modern look.

Ease of Removal

This category is easily won by a mural! If you have a mural and are ready for a new design, all you have to do is paint over it. You may have to do a little light sanding depending on how thick the paint was applied, but that’s it!

Wallpaper may be a little harder, depending on what kind of wallpaper you used and how it was applied. We’ve personally have had some terrible experiences taking down wallpaper. When a pediatric office wanted murals for their exam rooms, they also contracted us to take down the current wallpaper borders they had. We had to score the borders using a tool that put little holes in the wallpaper, then use a steamer to SLOWLY peel it off. Very time consuming to say the least. Some wallpapers are peel and stick and may be easier to remove. We also see where many people paint over wallpaper because it is such a hassle to take down. The problem with this is that you can usually still see the seams. We recommend reading the customer reviews. Trust those who have gone before you. How easily was it to apply? Did it peel off over time? Was it easy to remove? These are all good questions to research before choosing this option.

Final Showdown

Now that we’ve gone through some things to consider, the main factors are the design you want and your budget. We hope this has helped you make a decision and as always, if you have any questions we didn’t answer or you are looking for more info like this, follow us @ironbrushmurals on Instagram and Facebook. And if you do your own mural, we’d love to see it!

Happy painting!

Cara & Cynthia

Pros & Cons: Murals vs. Wallpaper