Wallpaper or wall decals: how to choose for your wall
Updated 19 October 2026
Summary
Choose printed wallpaper or a wall mural when you want a photograph, pattern or texture to cover a whole wall. Choose cut vinyl decals or lettering when you want words, a logo or a few shapes on a painted wall, with the paint showing around them. This guide from Prodigy Graphics in Plumstead, Cape Town, compares the two for homes, offices and shops. It also covers wall preparation and removable options for rentals.
What each product is
Printed wallpaper or a wall mural is an image or pattern printed on wallpaper. It is hung in drops, which are vertical strips placed side by side, so it covers the wall from edge to edge. It can be traditional paper hung with paste, or a self-adhesive material.
Cut vinyl decals and lettering are letters, logos or shapes cut out of self-adhesive vinyl. A cutting machine (a plotter) cuts them, and application tape moves them onto the wall. Only the cut shapes go on the wall, so your paint shows between and around them.
There is also a third option. A printed decal is a full-colour print cut to a shape, such as a speech bubble, a character or a badge. It gives you a picture without covering the whole wall.
Wallpaper and decals compared
| Printed wallpaper or mural | Cut vinyl decals and lettering | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | The whole wall, edge to edge | Only the letters or shapes; the wall shows around them |
| Best for | Photographs, landscapes, patterns, brick and wood effects | Words, quotes, logos, room names and simple shapes |
| Colour | Full colour, any image | One colour per piece of vinyl, or a printed decal for full colour |
| Wall surface | Smooth and even, as flaws show through | Smooth and well painted, as the paint stays on show |
| Changing it later | Strip and re-paper the wall | Peel off one piece and replace it |
| Rentals | Self-adhesive versions can be removed | Usually removable; test the paint first |
| Typical rooms | Bedrooms, feature walls, boardrooms, restaurants, washrooms | Offices, receptions, kitchens, shop walls, kids’ rooms |
When to choose wallpaper or a mural
Choose wallpaper when you want a picture to cover the whole wall. Our panorama murals show two examples. A panoramic Table Mountain mural goes around a small room, and a beach sunset runs down a corridor. In both, the mural covers all the paint.
Wallpaper also lets you add a texture or pattern to a wall. The whitewashed wood planks in the cover photo went onto a plain white bedroom wall (see the before, hanging and after photos). We print and hang red brick, botanical prints and damask the same way. The blue and white damask that curves up the stairwell at Lanzerac is one example.
Wallpaper suits:
- feature walls behind a bed, sofa, reception desk or boardroom table
- restaurants, coffee shops and washrooms where you want a bold design
- rooms where you want a photograph or landscape at full wall size
When to choose cut vinyl decals or lettering
Choose cut vinyl when the words matter more than the background, and when you like your current wall colour. Two examples are the “Be Awesome Today” lettering on an office wall and “Have a great day Cape Town” on a white wall. Both are sharp cut vinyl letters with the painted wall around them. See more in our office wall graphics.
Cut vinyl suits:
- company values, slogans and quotes
- a logo on a reception wall
- room names, direction signs and door signs
- kids’ rooms, where you can swap a name or a few shapes as the children grow
You can also use both. A mural on one wall and lettering on the next wall often looks better than putting everything on one wall.
Preparing the wall
Both products need a wall that is smooth, clean, dry and in good condition. Before anything goes on the wall:
- Fill cracks and holes, sand them flat and remove the dust.
- Fix any damp first, because moisture lifts both paper and vinyl.
- Let new paint cure (harden) fully. Follow the paint maker’s instructions, and tell us when the wall was painted.
- Wash off grease and dust, especially in kitchens.
- Check the paint type. Vinyl may not stick well to some scrubbable or “easy clean” paints. Test a small piece first.
- Check the texture. Rough plaster shows through wallpaper and stops vinyl lettering from lying flat. A wall with heavy texture may need a smooth coat of plaster (skimming) first.
You can put wallpaper in bathrooms and guest toilets if the room has ventilation and water does not splash directly onto the paper.
Rentals and removable options
If you do not own the walls, choose materials that come off cleanly. You can peel off self-adhesive removable wallpaper and wall vinyl later. This also suits short-term shops and kids’ rooms that will change. Cut vinyl lettering usually comes off if you warm it gently and peel it slowly. You can also strip pasted wallpaper, but it is more work, so it suits walls you own.
Always ask your landlord or body corporate before you put anything on the walls. Tell us it must be removable when you ask for a quote.
Next step
Send us a photo of the wall taken straight on, with the width and height, and tell us what you want. We will tell you which option suits it. Start on the quote page, or read more about wallpaper and murals and wall graphics and decals.
