So you’ve just closed on your new home, what do you do?  Paint?  Wallpaper? Or both?  As I mentioned in my post, Buyers and Their #1 and #2 New Home Projects, the re-covering of walls – through the use of paint or wallpaper – shows up quite frequently on a new home owner’s priority to-do list.  In fact, often times, it is the first thing home owners do when they move in.

When pondering this question, one thing that I have observed is that often people will paint and wallpaper, but there are some who elect only to paint.  And yet, I have never seen a 100% wallpapered house.  Have you?  Once again, I searched online to find data, but I couldn’t.  So what did I do?  I asked my trusted friends, clients and family members, and here’s what I found:

Paint – 50% of the people polled said they only painted.  In fact, there were a few responders who have painted and wallpapered in the past but now only paint.  And in the responses, I heard the following benefits to painting over wallpapering:

• Painting is less expensive.
• Painting is easy to clean, doesn’t hold odors and doesn’t discolor from the sun – thanks to M.A. for highlighting these positives.
• Painting is less of a commitment and easy to change if you decide you are in the mood for another color or look.
• Painting holds up better in bathrooms, which often steam up, and/or in drier climates.  Believe it or not, my friend, Susie in Colorado says, “Wallpaper doesn’t work as well here as it does in more humid climates” (like the Northeast where we live).
• Painting is just plain more simple.  I love what Karin says, “Wallpaper is too complicated.  I can barely get the kids’ room cleaned.”  I think we can all relate to that at times….

Wallpaper – none of the responders said they exclusively wallpapered.  Though this didn’t surprise me because as I mentioned above, in all of the hundreds of homes I have shown and toured throughout my real estate career, I don’t think I have ever seen one that was 100% wallpapered.

Paint and Wallpaper – The other half of the responders – myself included – painted and wallpapered.  And most of these people painted the majority of the rooms but used wallpaper in a few of the rooms.  The rooms that people seemed to wallpaper most were powder rooms, foyers, dining rooms and some bedrooms.  Several people mentioned using wallpaper as an accent in various rooms or to spice up and have fun with a laundry room or closet.  How creative and inspiring….

Before I leave you, I have to say that I love blogging on all of this.  Moreover, I love all of your ideas and thoughts – thank you to all of my responders – you are the best.  And now back to you….  What are your thoughts about painting vs. wallpapering?  What did you do when you moved into your new home? Did you paint only? Paint and wallpaper? Or just wallpaper?  I can’t wait to hear…..