Wallpapering
Transform Walls With Pattern and Texture
Wallpaper is back in a big way, adding pattern, texture, and personality that paint alone can't match. Whether it's a bold accent wall or a whole room, professional installation ensures crisp seams, matched patterns, and a smooth, bubble-free finish.
Good wallpapering is meticulous work. A good installer preps the walls, matches patterns precisely, and hangs the paper cleanly, and can remove old wallpaper without damaging the wall beneath. That precision is what separates a professional job from a frustrating DIY afternoon.
Abode connects you with local wallpaper pros. Compare specialists, understand the cost, and transform your walls.
Did You Know?
Pattern matching is where most DIY wallpaper jobs go wrong, since even a slight misalignment repeats and compounds across every seam in the room.
Wallpapering Cost. How Much Do Projects Cost?
Most projects run between $3 and $12. The average price is typically around $7.
| Cost Factor | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Installation labor | $3-$8 per sq ft | Hanging and pattern matching |
| Wallpaper material | $25-$100+ per roll | Varies enormously by brand and type |
| Old wallpaper removal | $1-$4 per sq ft | Stripping and prepping walls first |
Typical duration: A few hours to 2 days
Last reviewed: 03/08/2026
Signs You Need Wallpapering
- Wanting pattern or texture on a wall
- A plain accent wall to elevate
- Dated or peeling existing wallpaper
- A design refresh
- Adding personality to a room
Is It Right For You?
Who It's For
- Homeowners adding wallpaper for style
- Anyone removing dated or damaged wallpaper
Who It's Not For
- Simple painting a homeowner prefers
- Small peel-and-stick projects
What to Watch Out For
Designer wallpaper can be expensive on top of labor
Old wallpaper is sometimes stubborn to strip
Alternatives to Consider
| Alternative | Better When | Worse When |
|---|---|---|
| Peel-and-stick wallpaper | DIY-friendly and cheaper | Less durable and harder to pattern-match well |
| Paint | Cheapest wall update | Lacks pattern and texture |
Frequently Asked Questions
Installation labor typically runs $3 to $8 per square foot, plus the wallpaper itself, with old wallpaper removal at $1 to $4 per square foot.
The main drivers are the labor to hang and match patterns, the wallpaper material chosen, and any removal and wall prep needed.
A pro ensures crisp seams, precise pattern matching, and a smooth, bubble-free finish that's hard to achieve DIY.
Wallpaper varies widely, from about $25 to over $100 per roll, depending on brand, material, and design.
Removal is usually a separate charge at $1 to $4 per square foot, since stripping and prepping walls takes extra work.
