Wallpaper vs wall murals: Which one is right for you?

The main difference between a wall mural and wallpaper is in the print itself. They are both provided in easy to hang rolls or panels of wallpaper that feature a pattern or print that will cover your wall. 

A wall mural is the best option for creating a large-scale feature wall that stands out from the rest. It’s like framing your favourite photo or art piece, except it covers the whole wall! At Hovia, we custom-make all of our murals to fit your exact wall size.

Wallpaper is a pattern that repeats itself, which is perfect for seamlessly continuing your wall design across two, three, or even all four walls. It comes on rolls, and at Hovia, we always freshly print your wallpaper to order. 

Wallpaper has been a staple of interior design for centuries, offering a versatile way to enhance walls with patterns, textures and colors. It is provided by the roll, and is made from various materials such as vinyl, fabric or paper. Each roll features a repeating design that is typically small in size, but big on impact!

Modern advancements, such as peel-and-stick wallpaper and specialised coatings, have revolutionised the installation process, making it more accessible and versatile than ever before. At Hovia, our wallpaper and wall murals all come with a dry strippable coating so they're so much easier to remove when the time comes, usually in one piece!

We also offer a choice of paper types, including the versatile self adhesive, or peel and stick wallpaper. Searches for peel and stick wallpaper in the US have exploded recently, proving it to be a popular choice!

Choosing the perfect wallpaper design for your project involves considering various factors, including the room's size, lighting, existing decor and personal style preferences. Popular designs such as florals, geometrics and tropical motifs can change the mood or atmosphere of a room while the color choice can influence the perceived size or ambience of a space, for example lighter colors create a sense of spaciousness or bold prints can make a big statement!

A wallpaper mural is a design that has been perfectly scaled to fit your wall, printed across multiple panels (also known as drops) of wallpaper. Although installed in a similar way as wallpaper, each panel has been pre-measured to fit the wall you will be applying it to. To ease the wall mural installation process, at Hovia we number each panel so installation is a breeze!

A wall mural can be chosen in a variety of pattern repeats that suit various styles and room layouts.

When choosing a wall mural, consider the room's purpose, desired atmosphere and visual impact. Whether you prefer a touch of nature, abstract art or floral pieces, there's a mural to suit every taste. Already have the perfect design in mind? At Hovia, you can use our handy custom wall mural tool to upload an image, enter your dimensions and see a preview of how it will look on your wall!

Unlike traditional wallpaper, wall murals often depict artistic scenes, landscapes or abstract compositions that add visual intrigue and depth to any room. Darker toned murals can bring a sense of drama, but should be balanced with lighter furniture, soft textiles and plenty of natural light so as to not overwhelm the room.

Whichever option you choose, both wallpaper and wall murals offer endless possibilities for elevating your space. Whether you want the dramatic impact of an artistic design such as our Vase of Flowers wall mural, or the more traditional look of a repeating heritage print wallpaper such as our Tansy Teal, our large collection of wallpapers and wall murals will have the perfect design for your next project.

Still not sure which option is right for you? Contact us to chat with one of our experts who will help guide you through our wide choice of designs, colors and paper types to help you realise your interior design vision!