Background vs. Wallpaper: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Background refers to the area or scenery behind the main object of focus, while wallpaper is a material used to cover and decorate the interior walls of homes, offices, and other buildings.
Key Differences
Background refers to the part of a scene or picture that is or seems to be toward the back and provides context, whereas wallpaper specifically denotes a decorative paper applied to the walls of a room.
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Dec 05, 2023
Wallpaper is a tangible, physical material used for interior decoration. In contrast, background can be both a physical setting and a conceptual or historical backdrop.
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The primary purpose of wallpaper is decorative, to enhance the aesthetic of a room. Background serves to provide context or contrast to the main subject in various settings, including photography, art, and computer screens.
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Wallpaper is limited to use on wall surfaces, while the term background is versatile, applicable in various fields like photography, computing, history, and more.
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Wallpaper contributes to the overall ambiance and style of a room. In contrast, a background often recedes in importance, serving to highlight or support the main subject or theme.
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Comparison Chart
Usage
Area or setting behind the main subject.
Material for covering and decorating walls.
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Primary Function
Provides context or contrast in a scene.
Decorative, enhancing room aesthetics.
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Role
Often recedes to support the main subject.
Contributes to the ambiance and style of a space.
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Background and Wallpaper Definitions
Background
The area or scenery behind the main object of focus.
The mountains in the background added beauty to the photograph.
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Wallpaper
To cover or decorate a wall with wallpaper.
They decided to wallpaper the dining room this weekend.
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Background
A person's past experiences or history.
Her background in finance made her an excellent candidate for the job.
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Wallpaper
A pattern or design used in wallpaper.
The vintage wallpaper pattern added charm to the room.
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Background
The underlying situation or conditions.
He gave us some background on the current political climate.
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Wallpaper
A digital image used as a decorative background on a computer screen.
He set a beach scene as his computer's wallpaper.
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Background
The less prominent part of a musical arrangement or piece.
The background vocals complemented the lead singer beautifully.
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Wallpaper
A persistent or pervasive background influence or state.
The constant noise in the city became like wallpaper to her.
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Background
The screen layout or color scheme behind computer icons or windows.
She customized her computer background with a family photo.
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Wallpaper
Paper often colored and printed with designs and pasted to a wall as a decorative covering.
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Wallpaper
A picture or design displayed on the background of a computer screen or cellphone.
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Background
The part of a pictorial representation that appears to be in the distance and that provides relief for the principal objects in the foreground.
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Background
The general scene or surface against which designs, patterns, or figures are represented or viewed.
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Background
A position, area, or situation that is not immediately in one's attention or notice
You can hear traffic moving in the background during the interview.
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Wallpaper
(uncountable) Decorative paper-like material used to cover the inner walls of buildings.
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Background
(Computers) The environment in which programs operate that the user does not engage with directly
Processes that run in the background.
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Background
The circumstances and events surrounding or leading up to an event or occurrence.
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Wallpaper
(countable) A style or design of such material.
He is letting her select the wallpapers for the whole house.
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Background
A person's experience, training, and education
Her background in the arts is impressive.
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Wallpaper
Anything that serves as a background or part of the surroundings.
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Background
The cultural or social environment in which a person was brought up or has lived
A class with students from many different backgrounds.
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Wallpaper
An image or tiled pattern used as the background of a computer desktop.
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Background
Subdued music played especially as an accompaniment to dialogue in a dramatic performance.
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Wallpaper
Generic footage of a building or location that may be used in the background of a related news report.
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Wallpaper
Gaudy mass-produced stamps, typically of little or no value and only produced for sale to collectors.
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Background
Low-level radiation, as from radioactive decay, that exists as part of the natural environment.
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Background
Less important or less noticeable in a scene or system.
Background noise
The antivirus program runs on a background thread.
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Background
One's social heritage, or previous life; what one did in the past.
The lawyer had a background in computer science.
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Background
A part of the picture that depicts scenery to the rear or behind the main subject; context.
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Background
Information relevant to the current situation about past events; history.
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Wallpaper
Decorative paper used for covering walls.
They chose a floral wallpaper for the living room.
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Background
A less important feature of scenery (as opposed to foreground).
There was tons of noise in the background.
The photographer let us pick a background for the portrait.
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Background
(computing) The image or color over which a computer's desktop items are shown (e.g. icons or application windows).
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Background
(computing) A type of activity on a computer that is not normally visible to the user.
The antivirus program is running in the background.
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Background
Ground in the rear or behind, or in the distance, as opposed to the foreground, or the ground in front.
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Background
The space which is behind and subordinate to a portrait or group of figures.
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Background
Anything behind, serving as a foil; as, the statue had a background of red hangings.
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Background
A place in obscurity or retirement, or out of sight.
I fancy there was a background of grinding and waiting before Miss Torry could produce this highly finished . . . performance.
A husband somewhere in the background.
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Background
The set of conditions within which an action takes place, including the social and physical conditions as well as the psychological states of the participants; as, within the background of the massive budget deficits of the 1980's, new spending programs had little chance of passage by the congress.
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Background
The set of conditions that precede and affect an action, such as the social and historical precedents for the event, as well as the general background{5}; as, against the background of their expulsion by the Serbs, the desire of Kosovars for vengeance is understandable though regrettable.
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Background
The signals that may be detected by a measurement which are not due to the phenomenon being studied, and tend to make the measurement uncertain to a greater or lesser degree.
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Background
An agreement between a journalist and an interviewee that the name of the interviewee will not be quoted in any publication, although the substance of the remarks may be reported; - often used in the phrase "on background". Compare deep background.
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Background
A person's social heritage: previous experience or training;
He is a lawyer with a sports background
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Background
The part of a scene (or picture) that lies behind objects in the foreground;
He posed her against a background of rolling hills
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Background
Information that is essential to understanding a situation or problem;
The embassy filled him in on the background of the incident
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Background
Extraneous signals that can be confused with the phenomenon to be observed or measured;
They got a bad connection and could hardly hear one another over the background signals
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Background
Relatively unimportant or inconspicuous accompanying situation;
When the rain came he could hear the sound of thunder in the background
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Background
The state of the environment in which a situation exists;
You can't do that in a university setting
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Background
(computer science) the area of the screen in graphical user interfaces against which icons and windows appear
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Background
Understate the importance or quality of;
He played down his royal ancestry
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
How does background affect photography?
It provides context and contrast to the subject.
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How does background influence a person?
It shapes their perspectives, values, and behaviors.
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Can wallpaper be easily changed?
It depends on the type of wallpaper and installation.
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What is background information?
Contextual details that provide a deeper understanding.
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What materials are used in wallpaper?
Traditionally paper, but also vinyl and fabric.
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What are synonyms for "background"?
Synonyms include backdrop, setting, context, and environment.
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Can wallpaper be used as a metaphor?
Yes, it can represent a persistent or pervasive influence.
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What are common wallpaper designs?
Floral, geometric, textured, and abstract.
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Is "background" a singular or plural noun?
It can be both singular and plural, depending on the context.
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What is a cultural background?
A person's social, ethnic, and educational history.
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Can "background" also refer to a computer screen image?
Yes, in the context of technology, "background" often refers to the desktop wallpaper or screen background.
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Where can I find wallpaper designs for my home?
You can find wallpaper designs at home improvement stores, online retailers, and interior design shops.
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What are some common materials used for wallpaper?
Common materials include vinyl, paper, fabric, and grasscloth.
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Is wallpaper suitable for all rooms?
It varies based on room function and moisture levels.
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Is "wallpaper" a countable or uncountable noun?
"Wallpaper" is typically an uncountable noun.
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Can you paint over wallpaper?
Yes, you can paint over wallpaper, but it's essential to prepare the surface properly to achieve a good result.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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