Wallpaper is a good fit when you want pattern, texture or depth that paint cannot give you. A feature wall behind a bed, a powder room with some personality, a dining room that needs warmth: these are the places where paper earns its keep. There are options made for kitchens, bathrooms and busy hallways, and many are far easier to wipe and live with than the papers people remember from decades ago.

The part that goes wrong is rarely the paper. It is the wall under it. Bumps, patches, glossy paint and dust all show through or stop the paste from holding. Alto Pro Painters hangs wallpaper for homes and small commercial spaces, and we treat the wall prep and the layout as the real work. You get a written quote first, listing the walls, the prep, the paper and the timeline.

What wallpaper hanging includes

Measuring the walls and working out how many rolls you need, plus a sensible allowance for pattern matching and waste
A look at the wall surface so any problems are found before paper goes up
Removing outlet and switch covers, and cutting neatly around frames, trim and fixtures
Filling, sanding and priming the wall so the paper sticks evenly
Planning the layout so the pattern is centred where it should be and seams fall in sensible places
Hanging each drop, matching the pattern and smoothing out air bubbles
Trimming at the ceiling, baseboards and corners for clean edges
A walkthrough with you, then clean-up of offcuts and paste

How wallpaper hanging goes

Free written quote. We look at the walls, talk through the paper you have in mind or help narrow the choice, and send a written quote with the scope, the prep and the timeline.
Pre-job call. Before the start date we confirm the paper, the layout and the details, and go over what to clear from the room, such as pictures, shelves and small furniture.
Prep the walls. On the day we cover the floors, move and cover furniture, take off covers and fixtures, and repair, sand and prime the walls so they are clean, flat and ready for paste.
Hang the paper. We start from a plumb line, not from a corner, and hang each drop to match the pattern. Seams are rolled down and bubbles are worked out as we go.
Trim, walkthrough and clean-up. We trim the edges, check the seams in different light, walk the room with you, touch up anything that needs attention, and clean up once you sign off.

The wall prep that keeps wallpaper from failing

Paper shows the wall it sits on. A dent will catch light, a stain can bleed through a pale sheet, and a glossy surface can stop paste from holding. Most seams that lift later were never given a fair surface to stick to.

Washing grease, smoke and hand marks off the wall so paste can bond
Filling nail holes, dents and cracks, then sanding them flush
Repairing damaged drywall so patches do not telegraph through thin paper
Taking off any old wallpaper first, because new paper over old can lift seams and show the old pattern
Priming the wall so the surface absorbs paste evenly and the paper can be repositioned while it is still wet
Checking the wall for moisture problems before anything is hung, since damp walls will push paper off

Choosing the right paper for the room

Think about what the room has to put up with. Kitchens and bathrooms call for papers that are made to handle steam and splashes, and hallways and kids rooms need something you can wipe down. A formal dining room or a bedroom can carry something more delicate. The product label and data sheet will tell you what a paper is rated for, and we are happy to read through it with you.

Texture can solve a different problem. A heavier textured paper hides small flaws on walls that are not perfectly flat, and some textured papers are made to be painted over if you want colour without pattern. Remember that floors, cabinets and natural light change how a pattern looks on the wall, so look at a large sample in the room, at different times of day, before you order the full amount.

What affects the price of wallpaper hanging

We do not publish fixed prices because paper and walls vary so much. Your written quote shows each of these so you can see where the cost comes from.

The wall area and ceiling height, and the number of drops needed
The type of paper, since heavy, textured and large-pattern papers take more time than plain ones
The pattern repeat, which affects how much paper is wasted and how long matching takes
The condition of the walls, including patching, sanding and priming
Old wallpaper that has to be removed first, and any drywall repair
Awkward spaces such as stairwells, sloped ceilings, alcoves and rooms with lots of corners

Common mistakes with wallpaper hanging

Ordering exactly the measured amount. Pattern matching uses extra paper, and a short order can mean a different batch that does not match, so we plan a sensible allowance.
Hanging over an unprepared wall. Texture, glossy paint and stains all show or fail later, which is why priming and sanding come first.
Starting at a corner. Corners are rarely square, so the pattern drifts. We start from a plumb line and work out from there.
Rushing the paste time. Papers need to be handled as the product instructions say, and a rushed drop stretches and leaves gaps at the seams.
Skipping the check for moisture. Paper on a damp wall will blister and peel, so a bathroom or an exterior wall gets looked at before we begin.

Wallpaper Hanging by town

We offer wallpaper hanging in twelve Okanagan communities. Choose your town:

Wallpaper Hanging questions

Can you hang wallpaper that I have already bought?

Yes. Show us the paper at the quote stage so we can check the roll count, the pattern repeat and what the product says about wall prep and hanging.

How long does it take to hang a room?

A single feature wall can often be done in a day. A full room takes longer, mostly because of the wall prep and the pattern matching. Your written quote includes a timeline for your job.

Do you take down old wallpaper first?

Yes, when it is part of the job. New paper over old can lift seams and show the old pattern, so we recommend taking it off. See our wallpaper removal page for how that works.

Can wallpaper go in a bathroom or kitchen?

Some papers are made for those rooms and some are not. Check the product label, make sure the room has good ventilation, and we can talk through placement, such as keeping paper away from direct splash zones.

Will wallpaper hide a damaged wall?

A heavier textured paper can hide small flaws, but it will not fix serious damage. Big cracks and loose drywall should be repaired first, and we include that in the quote.

Is the quote free?

Yes. The written quote is free and lists the walls, the prep, the paper and the timeline before any work starts.

If you have a room in mind, send us the walls and the paper you are considering, and we will put together a free written quote.

Request your free written quote or call (778) 760-0346.

Guides for wallpaper hanging

Metallic Paint, Glazes and Feature Walls: What to Know

Curious how a job runs from the first call to the final walkthrough? Read how our painting process works.

Have a question first? Read the FAQ, learn about Alto Pro Painters or contact us.

Further reading: Wallpaper on Wikipedia and Interior design on Wikipedia.

Watch: wallpaper hanging in action

Hanging wallpaper done right, by This Old House on YouTube.

Wallpaper Hanging in Penticton and the Okanagan