Peel and Stick vs. Traditional Wallpaper

A high-quality wallpaper can truly transform your interior spaces. With a virtually endless array of styles, patterns, and color combinations to choose from, wallpaper can help you achieve your design goals and express your unique personal taste.

Deciding on a design is only one aspect of choosing the right wallpaper for your home. It’s also important to consider which type of wallpaper is right for you and your particular situation. Peel and stick and traditional wallpapers are two of the most popular types of wallpaper currently used in home design, but which should you choose?

In this article, we’re going over everything you need to know about peel and stick vs. traditional wallpaper, including the benefits of both types and how to choose between them.

What is Traditional Wallpaper?

Unlike peel and stick varieties, traditional wallpapers require a separate liquid adhesive such as a paste or glue to be applied to the wall before installation.

Benefits of Using Traditional Wallpaper

There are a number of advantages to using traditional wallpaper in your home design, including:

• Easy maintenance: Traditional wallpaper tends to be more resistant to oil, water, and daily wear and tear, making it ideal for high-traffic or humid environments.
• Versatility: Traditional wallpapers come in a wide range of materials, styles, and designs, offering endless possibilities in terms of look and feel.
• Longevity: Traditional wallpapers generally last at least 10-15 years, making them an excellent long-term investment.

When To Use Traditional Wallpaper

Whether you should choose traditional wallpaper over peel and stick depends on your specific needs and situation. Here are some scenarios in which you may want to choose traditional wallpaper:

• In high-traffic areas: If you want to wallpaper surfaces in a particularly busy area of your home, you may want to choose traditional wallpaper to ensure it withstands daily wear and tear.
• In kitchens and bathrooms: For humid rooms like bathrooms, kitchens, and mudrooms, traditional wallpaper is ideal because it’s generally more moisture-resistant than peel and stick varieties.
• In commercial buildings: The durability of traditional wallpaper is ideal for busy restaurants, hotels, or other commercial buildings that are open to the public.
• If you want a long-lasting option: If you’re a homeowner that prefers to pick an interior style and stick to it, then long-lasting traditional wallpaper is the way to go.

When To Avoid Traditional Wallpaper

There may be situations in which you’ll want to avoid using traditional wallpaper, such as:

• If you’re renting: Renters should avoid traditional wallpapers because the adhesive glue may leave residue or cause damage to the wall itself.
• If you want an easy DIY solution: While you don’t have to be an expert to install traditional wallpaper, the application process is more complicated and time consuming than peel and stick options.
• If you like to switch up your style: Traditional wallpapers are more difficult to install and remove, so they should be avoided if you often get bored of your décor or just like to keep your options open.

What is Peel and Stick Wallpaper?

Peel and Stick wallpaper (also known as removable wallpaper) has a self-adhesive backing, meaning that it doesn’t require a separate glue or paste to install. 

Benefits of Using Peel and Stick Wallpaper

There are many potential advantages to choosing a peel and stick wallpaper over a traditional one, including:

• Convenience: Peel and stick wallpapers are much easier to install because they’re self-adhesive and don't require the messiness or time commitment that comes with using a dedicated glue or paste.
• Versatile designs: Modern peel and stick wallpapers come in a wide array of colors, patterns, and themes, giving you plenty of options to express your personal style. 
• Renter-friendly: Depending on the wall surface and texture, peel and stick wallpapers tend not to leave a residue behind when removed, making them a great choice for renters.

When To Use Peel and Stick Wallpaper

Just like with traditional wallpaper, whether peel and stick is the right option depends on your specific needs and situation. You may want to choose peel and stick wallpaper in the following scenarios:

• If you're renting: Peel & Stick wallpaper is preferable if you're renting or otherwise need to protect the underlying wall surface.
• If you often change your décor: If you like to change up your style frequently, or you’re just not ready to make a decade-long commitment to your wall design, peel and stick is a much better option.
• For the DIYers: If you don’t  want to hire professionals, then peel and stick wallpaper may be the right choice.

When To Avoid Peel and Stick Wallpaper

Here are some situations where you’ll want to avoid using peel and stick wallpaper:

• In humid or high-traffic areas: Peel and stick wallpaper is generally more susceptible to water damage than traditional varieties, and it should be avoided in bathrooms and kitchens to prevent mold and staining.
• If you want something long-lasting: If you want to make sure your wallpaper design lasts for years to come, you may want to choose a traditional wallpaper that’s more durable.
• If you have textured walls: Peel and stick wallpapers are typically less forgiving than traditional wallpaper when it comes to textured walls, so you should smooth your wall carefully before installation.

Choose The Perfect Wallpaper for Your Home

The process of choosing a wallpaper for your interior design is exciting, but it can be difficult to know where to start. Peel and stick wallpapers and traditional wallpapers differ in key ways, but ultimately, they can both be used to help you create the space of your dreams.

Whether you want the convenience of a DIY peel and stick wallpaper, or the longevity of a traditional wallpaper, you need to ensure your design is made from the highest quality materials.

At Mitchell Black, we believe that every homeowner and renter deserves to find the perfect wallpaper to express their unique style and elevate their spaces. We offer type II vinyl, grasscloth, premium paper, and peel and stick wallpapers in a wide variety of beautiful styles. Browse our wallpaper collection or schedule a consultation with our concierge service to learn more!