Wallpaper vs Paint: How to Create a Timeless, Soulful Home | Sabina Maria Design
When designing a home, one of the first questions people ask is deceptively simple:
Should I choose wallpaper or paint?
For years, paint has been seen as the “safe” option — neutral, easy, and familiar. Wallpaper, on the other hand, was often treated as bold or risky. But today, that narrative is shifting. Homeowners and designers alike are rediscovering wallpaper as a timeless, soulful way to create depth, warmth, and lasting character.
If you’re deciding between wallpaper and paint, this guide will help you understand the true difference — not just visually, but emotionally.
Paint: Clean, Minimal, and Familiar
Paint has its place. It offers a clean backdrop and works beautifully when you want simplicity.
Why people choose paint:
- Easy to apply and update
- Works well for quick refreshes
- Creates a minimal, quiet look
However, paint alone can sometimes feel flat — especially in rooms meant to feel intimate, layered, or lived-in. Many spaces painted entirely in neutral tones can end up feeling unfinished or lacking personality.
Wallpaper: Depth, Story, and Soul
Wallpaper does something paint simply can’t: it tells a story.
A thoughtfully designed wallpaper introduces movement, texture, and emotion into a room. Rather than sitting quietly in the background, it becomes part of the atmosphere — shaping how a space feels the moment you enter it.
Why wallpaper feels timeless:
- Adds visual depth and softness
- Creates instant character without clutter
- Feels intentional and curated, not trendy
- Brings artistry and craftsmanship into the home
Heritage-inspired floral wallpaper, soft botanicals, and painterly patterns age beautifully. They don’t rely on bold color trends — they rely on balance, proportion, and emotion.
When Wallpaper Is the Better Choice
Wallpaper truly shines in spaces where feeling matters just as much as function.
Bedrooms
Wallpaper creates a cocooning effect — calming, layered, and personal. Soft florals and muted palettes bring a sense of rest that flat paint often can’t achieve.
Nurseries
A nursery isn’t just a room; it’s a memory in the making. Wallpaper adds warmth, whimsy, and a sense of care that feels deeply intentional.
Dining Rooms
Wallpaper transforms dining rooms into spaces that feel elevated and gathered — perfect for slow meals, conversation, and connection.
Entryways
An entryway sets the emotional tone for the entire home. It’s the first space you and your guests experience — a quiet pause between the outside world and the sanctuary within.
Wallpaper in an entryway creates an immediate sense of intention and warmth, even in small or narrow spaces.
Home Offices
Botanical wallpaper can ground a space, improve focus, and soften the visual harshness of screens and modern furniture.
Laundry Rooms
Laundry rooms are often overlooked, yet they’re some of the most frequently used spaces in a home. Wallpaper transforms them from purely functional into quietly beautiful — a place that feels cared for rather than rushed. Because laundry rooms are typically enclosed, they’re an ideal place to experiment with pattern — adding personality in a way that feels joyful, intimate, and low-pressure.
Is Wallpaper “Too Much”? A Common Fear
This is one of the most common concerns I hear — and the answer is almost always no, when wallpaper is chosen thoughtfully.
Wallpaper doesn’t have to overwhelm a room. In fact, it can feel quieter than paint when:
- The palette is soft and muted
- The scale is balanced
- It’s used on a single feature wall
- The design has breathing room
Timeless wallpaper isn’t about making a statement — it’s about creating harmony.
Why Starting With a Wallpaper Sample Matters
Choosing wallpaper is a sensory experience. Light, scale, texture, and mood all play a role — and screens can only show so much.
That’s why I always recommend ordering a wallpaper sample first.
A sample allows you to:
- See the true scale of the pattern
- Experience the colour in your own lighting
- Feel the texture and weight of the paper
- Confidently decide before committing
Often, it’s that small sample taped to a wall that turns hesitation into certainty.
Wallpaper or Paint: The Timeless Choice
Paint offers simplicity.
Wallpaper offers soul.
If you’re drawn to spaces that feel layered, calm, and emotionally rich, wallpaper becomes less of a risk — and more of a return to intentional living.
Timeless homes aren’t created by playing it safe. They’re created by choosing what feels meaningful.
Explore Wallpaper Samples
If you’ve been considering wallpaper but aren’t quite ready to commit, starting with a sample is a beautiful first step. It’s a gentle way to explore how pattern, colour, and feeling come together in your home.