My initial thought is also that round would be more casual and, as you said, wouldn't dent or mar as much.

What did your contract say?

Our builder recognizes that it is an error, and the contract is for rounded corners. So he will do whatever pleases us with no expense to us. I just hate the thought of prolonging our move and wasting product/time. In regards to transitions with paint it really shouldn't be a big concern for us. It's an open floor plan and we really won't have an array of colors. Just a soft neutral color in the main areas with any color changes in bedrooms/bathrooms which are separated transitions with doors.

Rounded.

This is a great question. Rounded corners are much more popular in the western US. Rarely seen in the east. My personal preference is crisp, squared lines.

You must be right because I can't even imagine this!!

acm- here are 2 pictures of interior walls with different finishes on the corners. The one with the lighter walls are more rounded. While the latter photo with the brown wall have square or 90s at the corners. To me they're two very distinct looks, what's your opinion?

Since it's the builders mistake, go with the round corners. You will regret it if you don't make the change.

From the way you describe your home, it sounds like rounded corners might complement the other details in your home.

We actually specified square corners on our build rather than the rounded that comes standard because we like the crisp traditional look and it makes paint transitions easier. Another factor for us was that we wanted to eventually add trim around room entryways and I wasn't sure how we'd accomplish that with rounded corners.

It sounds like you prefer rounded corners...so if that's the case, make sure you get what you really want because you'll regret it forever otherwise! As far as dented and chipped corners, well, I've never seen anyone's house with issues from squared corners. I've always lived in houses with squared corners since childhood and never saw any damage so I don't think you should worry about that either way. Just choose the look you love. :) If you have other rounded features like pillars or archways, I'd choose rounded. Our house came with rounded archways but we asked for those to be squared off as well. :)

Our house in the northeast came with rounded corners standard. Our builders 'signature'. So I though, hmmm, it must be ok. We also have rustic timber frame beams and open plan. It does look nice, but I will never ever ever have rounded corners again. My entire first floor is painted the same color. (Except for bedroom) There is no where to stop the paint. Hallway, nope, landing, nope, laundry room, nope, kitchen, nope, stairs to lower level, nope. And the rounded corners seem to wear oddly and get black marks or wear in strange places and have to be touched up a lot, just because the corners don't chip, doesn't mean stuff doesn't rub on them. And all the baseboards have to be rounded as well which I image added to the trim cost.

my home in the northeast has rounded corners.... but thats because its 145 years old and at the time they did large wooden 'dowels' on the corners with the horse hair plaster and lath butted up to them.

I have been a contractor for 46 years, a lot depend on the look. I will definitely tell you round corners dent much much easier than square corners. Look at a square piece of corner beam and a round corner bead and you will see a difference. Now try to dent each one and the round will dent much easier!

Keep them square. The dogs are a non-issue. On balance, there is no maintenance advantage to rounded and you'll move in sooner.

I am not a fan of rounded corners and my builder does them here in TX along with a rough pebbled wall finish. Ugh! I feel like I'm walking into a 1920's or 30's era home. Looks Art Decoish to me. I am hoping he will agree to do the square, clean finish that I like and that it will be a professional job. I'm going for a whitewashed modern Spanish colonial look.

I ve read slot of the comments, and I prefer the square clean look. We’re building our home too, it’s farm house style and I’m going with square though it’s only a single story home.