Blank walls are a huge opportunity to bring your brand into a space, add personality or completely change the feel of an interior without a major refurbishment.
Two of the most effective ways to do this are wall graphics and printed wallpaper. Visually, they can achieve similar results, but the materials, finishes and applications are quite different.
So, which is right for your space?
What Are Wall Graphics?
Wall graphics are typically produced using printed or cut vinyl, which is applied directly to a suitable wall surface. They can cover an entire wall or be used more selectively to add logos, lettering, patterns, photography or branded features.
They’re incredibly versatile, making them a popular choice for offices, schools, retail spaces, hospitality venues, sports facilities and exhibitions.
You don’t necessarily need to cover every inch of the wall either. Individual shapes, oversized typography and cut graphics can allow the existing wall colour to become part of the design.
What Is Printed Wallpaper?
Printed wallpaper provides much more of a traditional interior finish, but with complete freedom over the design.
Rather than choosing an off-the-shelf pattern, your wallpaper can be completely bespoke. That might mean large-scale photography, illustrations, brand patterns, textures, maps or graphics designed specifically for the dimensions of your wall.
It works particularly well when you want to transform the entire surface and create something that feels like part of the interior design rather than signage applied on top of it.
Which Gives the Best Finish?
This really depends on the look you’re trying to achieve.
Vinyl wall graphics tend to have a smooth, contemporary appearance and are ideal when you want crisp branding, lettering, logos or graphic elements. Different vinyl finishes can also be used depending on the effect you’re looking for.
Printed wallpaper has a softer, more interior-led feel. A textured wallpaper can add another dimension to the design and works beautifully for feature walls where you want the graphics to feel integrated into the environment.
Neither is automatically better – they’re simply suited to different styles.
Which Is Better for Branding?
If your main objective is introducing your brand into a space, vinyl wall graphics give you enormous flexibility.
Your logo could be positioned behind reception, brand messaging could run through a corridor or individual graphic elements could be repeated around an office without covering every wall.
They’re also brilliant for combining branding with practical information, such as wayfinding, department identification or company values.
Printed wallpaper works particularly well when you want branding to be more subtle. Instead of simply displaying a logo, you can develop colours, patterns, photography and other elements from your visual identity into a bespoke feature wall.
Which Is Easier to Update?
This is where wall graphics can have a real advantage.
If you’re creating campaign graphics, seasonal messaging or branding that’s likely to change, vinyl can provide greater flexibility. Individual elements can potentially be replaced without redesigning the entire wall.
That’s particularly useful in retail environments, exhibitions and workplaces where messages or campaigns evolve regularly.
Wallpaper is better suited to installations you’re expecting to keep for longer, such as a permanent feature wall or interior branding scheme.
Can You Use Both?
Absolutely – and often that’s the best approach.
A bespoke printed wallpaper could create the background to a feature wall, with acrylic signage, fabricated lettering or an illuminated logo installed over the top to introduce depth.
Elsewhere in the same building, vinyl wall graphics might be used for wayfinding, company values or smaller branded features.
Rather than choosing one material for an entire project, think about what each individual space needs to achieve.
Wall Graphics or Printed Wallpaper?
Choose wall graphics if you’re looking for flexible branding, logos, lettering, directional information or graphics that may need to be updated in the future.
Choose printed wallpaper if you’re looking to completely transform a wall with photography, pattern, texture or a more permanent interior feature.
And if you’re still not sure? That’s where speaking to your signage supplier before deciding on the material can make a big difference.
At PB Signs, we design, print and install bespoke wall graphics and printed wallpaper, helping businesses transform offices, schools, retail spaces, hospitality venues and commercial interiors with graphics designed specifically for their environment.
