It can be difficult to choose the right wallcovering application for your particular project. In some cases, all paint is the way to go, while in other cases wallcoverings may be the best option. You can even mix the two and have the best of both worlds. Here are some things to consider when choosing the best finish for your project.
PAINT. With paint, you have the ability to change colors often at a lower cost basis than wallcoverings. Durability is the key here. If you are working on walls in a high traffic area, know that the paint will need to be redone more often than in a lower traffic area. For instance, a hall that serves many offices will often get more traffic than one of the offices themselves. The office area is a perfect choice for paint, as it won’t need cleaning as often as the communal hall. How often you’ll need to clean can also help determine the type of paint finish used. Semi-gloss and glossy paints tolerate being cleaned often better than flat paints. Flat paints do hide minor wall imperfections better since they don’t reflect as much light.
WALLCOVERINGS. There are a myriad of wallcoverings to choose from, including vinyl, paper and fabric –just to name a few. Vinyl wallcoverings are perfect for high traffic areas. The coverings are easier to clean than paint and can be cleaned more often. In addition, wallcoverings tend to last much longer than paint, which saves money in the end.
COMBINATION. Using a combination of wallcoverings and paint allows you to put wallcoverings in the high traffic areas and paint in lower traffic areas. For instance, a hall or communal room could have wallcoverings on the bottom or top portion of the wall – whichever is more likely to get touched or dirty. The other half is painted in a contrasting or complimentary color shade. Often, a chair rail or other border divides the two mediums. Since it is likely that the wallcovering will last longer than the paint, you have the option of freshening up the area simply by changing the paint.
At Celtic, we are well versed in the various paint and wallcovering options. We are more than happy to help you find the right application for your project.