Wallcovering Mural vs. Handpainted Mural: The Pros and Cons

Hand-painted mural created by Tellas

 

Wallcovering murals and hand-painted murals are excellent ways to transform spaces and make a statement. Many businesses leverage both of these mural styles to enhance their branding and overall aesthetic appeal. From big brands and government buildings to corporate offices, residences, student housing, senior living facilities, hotels, and homes, everyone is opting for customized wall murals to visually express their brand or personal message and attract more customers.

Hand-painted murals involve artists painting directly onto interior or exterior walls of a structure. In contrast, wallcovering murals are digitally printed on rated materials, and then affixed to an inside or outside structure. Both options can add depth, dimension, and texture to a room while capturing attention and conveying a unique message to reflect your brand identity.

While both options share similarities and differences, it's essential to weigh their respective pros and cons to determine which one best suits your needs. Keep reading to discover the key similarities, differences, benefits, and insights to make an informed decision that will transform your space.

Wallcovering mural created by ArtFirm

¿What are the similarities between hand-painted and wallcovering murals?

  • Hand-painted and wallcovering murals both offer eye-catching visuals that improve the appearance of a structure and can draw people into a space. Both have the extraordinary ability to create powerful focal points within a room, elevating its aesthetic appeal and ensuring a cohesive brand identity throughout the space.
  • The customization of hand-painted and wallcovering murals makes them an excellent choice for most businesses, as they can be tailored specifically to a space. These murals can feature brand-specific imagery, colors, and messaging, effectively communicating your company's identity to potential customers or clients. By collaborating with a vertically integrated art consultant company specializing in custom designs, like Art Firm, you can create a memorable and impactful environment. Make a lasting impression on clients, customers, and employees with our premium-quality, custom-designed wallcovering murals.
  • Both hand-painted and wallcovering murals can have significant social and economic impacts by promoting local artists and art companies. By choosing customized murals, you support the local art community, fostering creativity and economic growth within your area.
  • Both hand-painted and wallcovering murals require a similar level of creative design investment. The process involves meticulous planning, design conceptualization, and artistic execution to ensure that the final product aligns with your vision. Whether opting for hand-painted or wallcovering murals, artists and designers dedicate substantial time and effort to create visually striking and meaningful pieces.

Hand-painted mural created by "Las chicas que pintan"

¿What are the differences between hand-painted and wallcovering murals?

  • Hand-painted murals involve artists painting directly onto interior or exterior walls of a structure. Wallcovering murals, on the other hand, are created using digital or other printing technology to reproduce an image onto a rated material.
  • Wallcovering murals offer greater flexibility for cleaning and replacement compared to painted murals, providing a more versatile and adaptable solution for long-term use.
  • Hand-painted murals can typically cover larger areas than printed murals. This scalability makes them ideal for bigger designs and expansive spaces such as parking garages or building fascias where a bold statement is desired.
  • Hand-painted murals tend to be more adaptable to exterior environments compared to printed ones: printed wallcovering murals, while durable, may not always be ideal for prolonged exposure to outdoor conditions. Over time, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and moisture can potentially cause fading, peeling, or deterioration of the printed image.

Hand-painted mural created by Tellas

What to consider when choosing between hand-painted and wallcovering murals?

When it comes to deciding between hand-painted and wallcovering murals, it really depends on what look you are going for in your space. Both painted and printed wall murals bring excellent benefits, such as making your space more memorable and unique through impactful designs.

As you try to decide between wallcovering murals vs. handpainted murals, it's helpful to know the pros and cons of each. So, we've got you covered with all the details you need to make an informed choice. 

Pros of Wallcovering Murals

  • Ease of Installation: Wallcovering murals are easy to install and maintain. Unlike Painted murals, they can be quickly wiped down without fear of damage or staining, offering a practical and durable commercial solution.
  • Versatility: Wallcovering murals are versatile, as they can be adapted for installation on windows, walls, and various other applications. They provide numerous options for creating different ambiances.
  • Cost-Effective: Wall covering murals offer a more affordable and less invasive alternative to extensive renovations or major design changes.
  • Fast Replacement: Unlike permanent changes such as handpainted murals, wall covering murals can be easily replaced, enabling flexible decor options as tastes -or- trends evolve.

Wallcovering mural created by Art Firm

Cons of Wallcovering Murals

  • Not Suggested for Expansive Outdoor Public Spaces: In outdoor public spaces such as building fascias, and garages, painted murals are preferable instead of wallcovering murals due to size limitations or exposure concerns.

Pros of Hand-Painted Murals

  • Unique artwork: The hand-painted mural, expertly crafted by an artist, emanates a unique essence, capturing the individual's creativity and distinguishing itself from other artworks.
  • Best option for public spaces: Hand-painted murals are ideal for public spaces because they can cover large areas, making them perfect for expansive locations like parking garages or building facades.

Hand-painted mural created by Tellas

Cons of Hand-Painted Murals

  • Costly Commissions: The artistic cost of commissioning a mural can be high depending on the caliber of the artist, making painted murals potentially more costly, with less flexibility for creative control.
  • Availability of Artists: Hand-painted murals may have scheduling limitations due to the availability of artists. In contrast, wallcovering murals are adapted to the client's design preferences, and companies like Art Firm offer full availability.
  • Extended Lead-Times: When opting for hand-painted wall murals, it's important to account for the additional lead time required for installation. These unique creations are subject to factors beyond our control, such as weather conditions and the availability of assistants for large-scale projects.
  • Maintenance Challenges: While handpainted wall murals are impressive, they aren’t easy to maintain. In indoor settings, printed murals work better, whereas painted murals are more suitable for exterior applications.

Choosing the Right Option

When deciding between indoor and outdoor murals, it's important to consider the type of mural that best suits the setting. For indoor murals, printed options may work best, whereas outdoor settings may be better suited for hand-painted murals. Regardless of your choice, both options have the potential to create visually stunning impacts that capture the attention of the public.

To learn more about our wallcovering mural services or inquire how we can support your projects, contact us at juliana@artfirm.com. To follow us on social media and to stay up to date on our current work, follow us @artfirmco