Vinyl Wall Wrap vs. Wallpaper: Which One Fits Your Wall?

A vinyl wall wrap and printed wallpaper can show the exact same artwork, and from across the room they can look the same. Up close, on the wall and over the years, they are different products. Here is how each one works, where each one wins, and how to pick.

Vinyl Wall Wraps on Smooth Walls

Printed adhesive vinyl, the same family of film used on vehicle wraps, applied straight to a painted wall. No paste: the adhesive is on the back of the film. We laminate it in matte, satin or gloss.

• Seams overlap. Panels overlap about half an inch to an inch. Up close you can see it, but it is low-key. We overlap on purpose: vinyl shrinks a little over time, and a butted seam would open up and show the wall color underneath.
• The wall shows through. Vinyl follows whatever is under it, so every bump, patch and drip telegraphs through on a smooth wall.
• Fast: most feature walls go up in a day.

See samples

Vinyl Wall Wraps on Rough Walls

Rough walls are where vinyl really pulls ahead. With a textured-wall film like 3M LX480mc, brick, cinderblock and a lot of other interior and exterior surfaces become wrappable.

• A different install. We heat the vinyl to over 200 degrees and roll it into the surface with specialized high-heat rollers, so it sinks into every joint and pore.
• Looks painted. Done right, it reads like a painted mural, and on rough surfaces the seams are much harder to see.
• Raw concrete works as long as it is dry, with no moisture coming through. A coat of a sealing primer like KILZ first makes it last much longer.

See samples

Which film we use on brick and block, how we test the wall first, and how long it lasts: Can You Put a Wall Graphic on Brick?

What Wallpaper Is

Wallpaper is pasted to the wall and hung in panels. The seams are butt-cut, edge to edge, for a seamless look, and wallpaper does not shrink, so they stay that way. It comes in far more textures than vinyl, which is why it shows up most in high-end architectural spaces.

• Custom printed wallpaper: your artwork, photo or pattern printed to the exact size of the wall. Most of ours is printed on DreamScape commercial wallcoverings in textures like Matte, Suede, Canvas, Sandblast and Mystical, or Terralon if you need a PVC-free option.
• Pattern wallpaper: rolled wallpaper from a designer's catalog, with the pattern matched at every seam and around every door, outlet and corner.
• Commercial wallcoverings: heavier-duty coverings in textures like linen and leather.

Prep and install: the wall has to be mostly smooth and gets a coat of wallpaper primer first. We can hang with permanent or removable paste; we usually recommend removable. Between primer, paste and hanging panel by panel, it takes longer than vinyl. It is typically an interior-only product.

See samples

Side by Side

Wall surface

Vinyl wrap: smooth walls, plus rough ones like brick, block and concrete with the right film. Wallpaper: needs a mostly smooth wall.

Inside or out

Vinyl wrap: interior and many exterior surfaces. Wallpaper: interior.

Seams

Vinyl wrap: overlapped about half an inch to an inch, visible up close. Wallpaper: butt-cut for a seamless look.

Look and feel

Vinyl wrap: smooth, in matte, satin or gloss; on rough walls it looks painted. Wallpaper: many more textures you can feel, like suede, canvas, linen or leather.

Wear

Vinyl wrap: thinner, so it is a bit more prone to dents and dings. Wallpaper: heavier commercial grades hold up well to daily traffic.

Install

Vinyl wrap: faster, no paste. Wallpaper: primer, paste and panel-by-panel hanging take longer.

Coming down later

Vinyl wrap: most wall vinyl is permanent and will damage the wall when it comes off; some temporary films come off cleaner. Wallpaper: removable paste over wallpaper primer comes off easiest, but expect some residue or patching either way.

Which One Fits

Go with a vinyl wall wrap when:

• the wall is smooth and painted, or rough like brick, block or concrete,
• it is outside, or the graphic is too detailed to paint,
• the graphic may need to change: campaigns, rebrands, seasonal or school murals,
• you need it up fast.

Go with wallpaper when:

• it is an architectural space where a seamless look with texture matters,
• you want a texture you can feel, like linen or leather, or your designer has specced a pattern,
• the wall is indoors and mostly smooth.

The Wall Decides

Whichever you pick, the wall underneath decides how the finish looks, so we check the surface, the paint, the size and anything in the way before we recommend anything. Wallpaper gets a coat of wallpaper primer first, and sometimes more prep. Vinyl goes on the wall as it is, so on a smooth wall the flaws show; on raw concrete, the wall has to be dry, and a sealing primer helps it last.

Quick Questions

What is the difference between wallpaper and a vinyl wall wrap?

Wallpaper is pasted to a primed wall with butt-cut seams and comes in many textures. A vinyl wrap is adhesive film with overlapped seams that goes on faster and works on rough and exterior surfaces too.

Can you install on textured walls?

For heavy texture like brick, block or concrete, vinyl is the better approach: heated wall film conforms right into the surface. Wallpaper needs a mostly smooth wall.

Why do vinyl wall seams overlap?

Vinyl shrinks a little over time. Overlapping the panels keeps the seam closed, where a butted seam would open up and show the wall color.

Can vinyl wall wraps go outside?

Yes, on many exterior surfaces, including brick and block, with a film made for it.

Will it damage the wall when it comes down?

Plan on some damage or residue either way. Adhesive vinyl can pull paint and even the paper face of drywall as it comes off, and most wall vinyl is permanent. Wallpaper hung with removable paste over wallpaper primer comes off easiest, but expect some patching and paint.

How long does an install take?

Most vinyl feature walls go up in a day. Wallpaper takes longer because of the primer and paste. Bigger build-outs we plan in phases.

Tell Us About the Space

Send us wall sizes and a few photos, and tell us about the space: Is it inside or out? Will the graphic ever need to change? Does the wall get bumped or cleaned a lot? We will tell you which one fits. Request a quote