Wall Murals vs. Wallpaper
What’s the Difference and Which Should You Choose?
Wall murals and wallpaper may seem similar, but they differ in both form and function. Choosing between them depends on your design goals, installation needs, and the ambiance you want to create in a room.
Wall Murals: Art in a Single Scene
Wall murals are typically large, single-image graphics designed to fill an entire wall with a specific scene or piece of art. Think of a misty forest, a downtown skyline, or a child’s favorite cartoon. Murals are statement pieces that bring drama, perspective, or emotion to a space.
Wallpaper: Pattern, Texture, and Repetition
Traditional wallpaper, on the other hand, is designed to create a repeating pattern. Whether you opt for florals, stripes, geometric shapes, or metallic textures, wallpaper offers consistency and subtlety across a room. Traditional wallpaper is usually preprinted in rolls with fixed patterns in widths that are between 18 and 24 inches.
Key Differences:
- Design: Murals = one large image; Wallpaper = repeating patterns
- Customization: Murals are often custom-sized and customizable; wallpaper is often roll-based and static
- Purpose: Murals tend to be focal points; wallpaper acts as a background element
Which Should You Choose?
If you're looking to personalize your space or create a striking design, go for a wall mural. If you want a classic, textured backdrop, wallpaper may be the way to go.
What Makes Wallpaper From Murals Your Way Different
Our wallpaper is not the traditional wallpaper -pre-printed rolls with fixed patterns and found in home improvement stores. Our wallpaper is different. At Murals Your Way we think of wallpaper as a repeating pattern design - not the material it is printed on. When you choose a wallpaper pattern, you then select the material that best suits your need - prepasted, vinyl or peel-and-stick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a wall mural and wallpaper?
A wall mural is typically a large-scale, single image or design that covers an entire wall with a specific scene or artistic composition. Wallpaper, by contrast, uses repeating patterns such as florals, stripes, or textures and is designed to cover multiple walls or an entire room uniformly. Traditional wallpaper is typically sold in pre-printed rolls with fixed patterns.
Are wall murals easier to install than wallpaper?
They are both easy to install. When you order from Murals Your Way, you pick the design (mural or wallpaper) and pick any of our materials - which range from peel-and-stick, prepasted to vinyl and ecofriendly. Since we print in wider panels (up to 52 inches) versus traditional wallpaper (up to 24 inches), installation will be faster because there are fewer panels.
Can I customize a wall mural?
Absolutely. Murals Your Way offers fully customizable murals. You can upload your own image, choose your size, crop the design, and even add branding or text.
Can I customize wallpaper?
Absolutely. Murals Your Way offers fully customizable wallpapers. You can upload your own image, choose your size, and even add branding or text. If you use one of our wallpaper pattern designs, you can even change the color, pattern repeat or add text.
Which option is better for renters or temporary spaces?
For renters and termporary spaces, it is all about the material and not the design (a single image vs a repeating pattern). All of our materials are easy to install and remove with no damage to the wall - as long as you follow our installation and removal instructions.
Which lasts longer — wallpaper or wall murals?
Both - as long as you use the right material. Murals and wallpaper printed on commercial grade vinyl often outlast traditional wallpaper in high-traffic or commercial environments.
Can I use wallpaper and a wall mural in the same room?
Yes! Many designers pair a feature wall mural with complementary wallpaper on other walls to create contrast and balance. This approach works especially well in living rooms, offices, and boutique retail spaces.
The Bottom Line
Wall murals and wallpaper are often confused, but they offer distinct styles for your space. While wallpaper typically uses repeating patterns, wall murals depict a single, large-scale image or scene.
Murals Your Way offers fully customizable murals and wallpaper in several material options — from peel-and-stick to commercial-grade vinyl - so you can find the perfect solution for your space.
Ready To Get Started
Whether you go with a wall mural or wallpaper design, be sure you pick the right material for your space. You can refer to our material comparison guide to help you select or contact us and one of our helpful Account Managers can assist you with your order.
