Wallpaper Tips and Tricks

Expert advice to smooth the way, from San Francisco interior designer Kimberly Ayres and New York City wallpaper master Al Hoxha.

How Can I Test Out Wallpaper?

Wallpaper samples are small (about 8 by 10 inches), so they don’t give you a sense of what a finished room will look like. Most vendors offer helpful wall-size views of their wallpaper designs online. But nothing compares with the real thing, so if you’re almost certain about a wallpaper pick, you might want to invest in just one roll and try it out: Using blue painter’s tape on the back, hang from the very top of the wall to the floor. If you can place the paper opposite a mirror, you’ll have two views, which will offer an even better feel for the final effect.

Can I Hang Paper Myself?

Wallpaper is pricey, and hanging requires skill. Unless you know what you’re doing, it’s best to hire a pro. Find one in your area through the National Guild of Professional Paperhangers (thepaperhangers.com) or, even better, through a personal referral. If you opt to do it yourself and something goes wrong (not to be a downer), call a professional for help immediately. Waiting makes things worse—and therefore more expensive to fix.

What’s It All Going to Cost?

Installation prices vary depending on where you live and the specifications of the space, but for a 10-by-10-foot room with eight-foot ceilings, expect to pay between $500 and $1,200 for labor (and expect the job to take one to two days). Most wallpaper is priced and sold in double rolls that are about 9 to 11 yards long. Your installer will tell you how many to purchase. For the room size above, you would need six to eight double rolls. Depending on the match—how the particular pattern lines up strip to strip—you may need more paper than you think. Your installer will take his best guess and might err on the side of more. This is because it’s nearly impossible to know exactly how many rolls are needed until installation is in progress, and it could take weeks or months for an extra roll to arrive. Also, paper ordered from a new dye lot won’t necessarily match the rolls you have.

Any Money-Saving Tips?

If you have more than one room to paper, you can save a bit by doing those rooms at the same time (rather than, say, one now and one in six months). A chunk of the labor cost is related to setting up (see The Process), so twice the space probably won’t mean twice the price.

Can I Do Just One Wall?

This is a great way to enjoy the thrill of wallpaper without spending a lot. For the most impact, choose a wall with no windows and no doors, and paint the rest of the room the same color as the background of the paper. This makes the space feel cohesive and keeps the feature wall from seeming out of place.