A division of Hessler Paint & Ace Hardware
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Answers
Should I use wallpaper or paint?
When wallcovering is the better answer, what it costs relative to paint, and how it holds up in Florida humidity.
Choose wallpaper when
Wallcovering does things paint cannot:
- You want texture — grasscloth, linen, cork, or a woven that catches light
- The room is small and you want it to feel intentional rather than plain
- The wall has minor imperfections a heavier substrate will hide
- You need durability in a corridor or commercial space — that's Type II
- The room is a powder room, where the square footage keeps a luxury paper affordable
Choose paint when
Large open-plan walls, ceilings, anything you expect to change within a few years, and rooms with heavy moisture exposure where a paper substrate would be the wrong call. We're a Benjamin Moore dealer too, so we'll say plainly when paint is the better answer.
Doing both
Most of our projects use both — paper on one feature wall or a ceiling, paint on the rest, with the color pulled from the paper. Pick the paper first: papers come in fixed colorways, and paint can be matched to anything.
Also asked
Follow-up questions
- Does wallpaper hold up in Florida humidity?
- Modern substrates do, when the right one is specified. Vinyl and Type II wallcoverings handle humidity and cleaning; delicate paper-backed prints belong in dry, conditioned rooms.
- How many rolls will I need?
- Bring your wall dimensions and we'll calculate it, including pattern repeat, which can add significantly to the yardage on a large-scale print.
Next
Get a real number for your rooms
Bring photos and rough dimensions, or have us come measure.