Artistry for Your Walls, Perfection in Every Detail

This is understandably one of the most common and important questions we receive. The truth is, providing a flat rate for wallpaper installation is impossible because each project is a unique combination of variables. The final cost is a detailed calculation based on several key factors, and understanding them will help you appreciate the value of professional craftsmanship. Our commitment is to full transparency, so your final, detailed quote will have no surprises.

1. The Wallpaper Material Itself: While you purchase the wallpaper separately, the type of material significantly impacts the labor cost.

• Delicate & Natural Materials (e.g., Grasscloth, Silk, Fabric): These materials require a much slower, more methodical approach. They cannot be easily wiped of excess paste, are prone to bruising or staining, and demand specialized techniques. The risk is higher, and the time required is longer, which is reflected in the labor cost.
• Commercial Grade & Heavy Vinyls: These are durable but can be physically demanding to hang due to their weight and stiffness, sometimes requiring stronger adhesives and more effort to achieve perfect seams.
• Murals & Bespoke Graphics: These are priced based on the extreme precision required. Every panel must align perfectly to create a single, seamless image. This often requires two installers and meticulous planning, making it a premium service.
• Pre-pasted vs. Unpasted: While pre-pasted paper might seem easier, professional installers often prefer unpasted paper as it allows them to control the consistency and amount of adhesive for a superior, longer-lasting bond. The cost difference in labor is usually minimal but worth noting.

2. Wall Preparation—The Foundation of Quality: This is often the biggest variable. A flawless finish is only possible on a flawless surface.

• Minor Prep: On smooth, new drywall, prep might only involve a light pole-sanding and application of a specific wallpaper primer. This is the most straightforward scenario.
• Standard Prep: Most walls have some imperfections. This involves filling nail holes, repairing minor dings or cracks, and then sanding and priming.
• Extensive Prep: This applies to older homes or walls in poor condition. It can include repairing significant cracks, addressing water damage stains (with oil-based primers), or, most commonly, dealing with textured walls.
• Skim Coating for Textured Walls: To hang wallpaper on a textured surface (like "orange peel" or "knockdown"), the entire wall must be "skim coated." This involves applying thin layers of joint compound over the whole wall, sanding it perfectly smooth to a Level 5 finish, and then priming. This is a highly skilled and labor-intensive process that can take a full day or more on its own before any wallpaper is even considered.
• Wallpaper Removal: If old wallpaper needs to be removed, the cost will depend on how it was installed. If the wall was primed correctly, it might come off easily. If not, it could involve hours of steaming, scraping, and repairing wall damage underneath.

3. Room Complexity and Layout: A simple, square room with four flat walls is the baseline. The cost increases with complexity.

• Architectural Features: Every window, door, outlet, light switch, niche, or archway requires precise cutting and wrapping, adding significant time.
• High Ceilings & Stairwells: Rooms with ceilings above 10 feet require scaffolding or specialized ladders, which increases setup time and risk. Stairwells are among the most complex and time-consuming areas to paper due to difficult angles and safety considerations.
• Ceilings: Wallpapering a ceiling is significantly more difficult and physically demanding than walls and is priced accordingly.

4. Pattern Matching: The type of pattern repeat affects both the amount of wallpaper needed (waste factor) and the labor involved.

• Random Match: The easiest, with minimal waste and no matching required.
• Straight Match: The pattern matches directly across adjacent strips. This is the most common and requires careful alignment.
• Drop Match: This is the most complex. The pattern matches across the strips, but is offset vertically on each subsequent strip. This requires more planning, more waste, and more time to hang correctly.

In conclusion, the cost is an investment in the final outcome. A detailed, on-site consultation is the only way to get an accurate quote. At Elysian Walls, our proposal will break down these factors, so you know exactly what you are paying for: a perfect, lasting finish crafted by experts.

This is an excellent question that helps ensure the project starts smoothly and efficiently for everyone. The answer is best described as a partnership: we handle all the highly skilled, technical wall preparation, while we ask for your help in preparing the physical space. This division of labor allows our artisans to focus on what they do best, ensuring a perfect installation while keeping your home safe and protected.

What We Handle: The Technical Surface Preparation

You do not need to worry about the condition of the wall surface itself. That is a core part of our professional service. When we arrive, our first task is to create the "perfect canvas" for your new wallpaper. This comprehensive service includes:

• Thorough Inspection: We assess every inch of the wall surface, identifying any issues that could compromise the final finish.
• Minor to Major Repairs: We will fill all nail and screw holes, repair any cracks, and fix any dents or gouges in the drywall.
• Sanding and Smoothing: All repaired areas, as well as any general roughness, are sanded smooth to create a uniform plane. For textured walls, this phase would involve the more extensive skim-coating process as described in our pricing FAQ.
• Cleaning: We wash the walls to remove any dust, cobwebs, or household grime that could interfere with adhesion.
• Priming: We apply a high-quality, wallcovering-specific primer. This is a non-negotiable step that seals the wall, prevents the drywall from absorbing the wallpaper paste, and creates an ideal surface for adhesion. It also makes future removal much easier.

What We Ask You to Handle: Preparing the Room Environment

Your role is to prepare the room's environment so our team can work safely and efficiently. By taking care of these items before we arrive, you help us dedicate our entire scheduled time to the craft of installation.

• Clear Small Items and Decor: Please remove all pictures, clocks, shelves, plants, and any other decorative items from the walls. Please also clear all small items from tables, dressers, and other furniture within the room.
• Move Furniture: We require a clear workspace of at least 3 to 4 feet from each wall we will be working on. Please move all large furniture (sofas, beds, dressers, tables) towards the center of the room to create this perimeter. Our team will then cover all of it with clean, new plastic sheeting.
• Curtains and Blinds: Please remove all curtains, drapes, and blinds from the windows. This prevents them from getting dusty or accidentally damaged and gives us clear access to the wall area around the window frames.
• Wall-Mounted Electronics and Heavy Items: For safety and liability reasons, our team cannot remove large, heavy, or valuable wall-mounted items. Please arrange to have any wall-mounted televisions, large sound systems, or extremely heavy mirrors professionally unmounted before our arrival. We will handle the removal of the smaller, standard outlet and switch plates.
• Control the Climate: If possible, please ensure the room is at a stable, comfortable temperature (ideally between 65-75°F or 18-24°C) for 24 hours before and during the installation. Extreme temperature fluctuations can affect how the wallpaper adhesive cures.
• Ensure Access and Safety: Please ensure there is a clear path for our installers to bring in their tools and materials. For the safety of everyone, we kindly request that children and pets are kept out of the work area for the duration of the project.

By working together, we ensure a seamless, stress-free process that results in the beautiful, transformed space you envision.

The timeline for a wallpaper installation project is one of the most important aspects for our clients to understand for planning purposes. Just like the cost, the duration is not a one-size-fits-all answer; it's directly proportional to the size, complexity, and, most importantly, the level of preparation required for your specific project. At Elysian Walls, we prioritize craftsmanship over speed. Rushing a job leads to imperfections, while a deliberate, methodical pace ensures the flawless, lasting results we are known for. We will always provide you with a detailed, realistic timeline in your project proposal.

Phase 1: Preparation (Can be 50% or more of the total project time)

It's a common misconception that our team arrives and immediately starts hanging paper. In reality, the first day (and sometimes more) is often dedicated entirely to preparation. The condition of the walls is the single greatest factor influencing the project's duration.

• Basic Prep & Priming: For a room in good condition, this might take 2-4 hours. This includes protecting the room, a light sanding, and applying a coat of specialized wallpaper primer. The primer itself needs several hours to fully cure before we can hang paper over it.
• Extensive Prep (Repairs, Skim Coating): If walls require significant patching or a full skim coat to cover texture, this phase can easily consume one to two full workdays. Each layer of joint compound needs time to dry before it can be sanded and the next layer applied. This cannot be rushed.
• Wallpaper Removal: This is a major variable. If the old paper was installed correctly over a primed wall, it might be removed in a few hours. However, if it was applied to bare drywall, it can be a painstaking process of steaming, scraping, and gouging that requires a full day, followed by another day of wall repair and priming.

Phase 2: Installation (The Artistry)

Once the walls are perfectly prepped and primed, the actual hanging begins. The pace here is determined by the material and the room's architecture.

• A Standard Powder Room (e.g., 5x5 feet): This is often a one-day project. The morning is dedicated to prep and priming, and after the primer has cured, the afternoon is for installation.
• A Standard Bedroom (e.g., 12x14 feet with one window and one door): This is typically a two-day project. Day 1 is almost entirely dedicated to meticulous preparation and priming. Day 2 is for the layout, cutting, and precise installation of the wallpaper.
• A Large, Complex Area (e.g., an open-plan living room, a two-story foyer, or a stairwell): These projects can range from three to five days or even longer. They require extensive use of ladders or scaffolding, complex angle cuts, and a significant amount of planning to ensure pattern continuity.
• Specialty Materials: Hanging delicate materials like grasscloth or murals is a slower process. An artisan may hang only a few panels per day to ensure absolute perfection, extending the timeline compared to a standard vinyl paper.

Our Commitment to You

When we provide your project proposal, it will include a day-by-day estimate of the timeline. We will communicate our progress clearly throughout the project and will never sacrifice quality to meet a deadline. Our goal is to work efficiently and respectfully in your home, leaving you with a perfectly finished space that was worth the wait.

Absolutely! Installing wallpaper in kitchens and bathrooms is one of an interior designer's favorite ways to inject bold personality and high style into these functional spaces. However, these are also the most challenging environments in a home due to high levels of moisture, humidity, and potential for splashes. Success in these areas is not just possible but guaranteed, provided a three-pronged professional approach is taken: correct material selection, superior ventilation, and specialized installation techniques.

1. The Critical Importance of Material Selection

This is the most crucial factor. Not all wallpapers are created equal, and choosing the wrong material for a humid environment will inevitably lead to failure, such as peeling seams, bubbling, or the development of mildew.

• Highly Recommended Materials: We strongly advocate for Solid Vinyl or Vinyl-Coated wallpapers. These materials are non-porous, meaning moisture and steam cannot penetrate the surface. They are often marketed as "scrubbable" or "extra-washable," making them incredibly easy to clean and resilient against splashes from sinks or cooking. They are the undisputed champions for durability in kitchens and bathrooms.
• Feasible with Caution: Some modern Non-Woven wallpapers have good resistance to humidity and are labeled as "washable." These can be a viable option, especially in well-ventilated powder rooms or kitchens where the wallpaper is not in a direct splash zone.
• Materials to Avoid: We strictly advise against using any delicate or porous materials. This includes Grasscloth, Silk, Linen, and other Natural Fibers. These materials will absorb moisture from the air, which can lead to staining, expansion/contraction, and will create an environment for mildew to grow behind the paper. Traditional, un-coated paper wallpapers should also be avoided.

2. The Role of Ventilation

Proper ventilation is essential for the longevity of any finish in a bathroom or kitchen. For full bathrooms (those with a shower or tub), a powerful and properly functioning exhaust fan is a prerequisite. We recommend running the fan during every shower and for at least 20-30 minutes afterward to evacuate moist air. In kitchens, a range hood that vents to the outside is highly effective. Good airflow prevents humidity from lingering and settling on surfaces, which is the primary enemy of wallpaper adhesive.

3. Specialized Installation Techniques

Our professional installation process is adapted for these demanding environments to ensure a robust and lasting finish.

• Moisture-Resistant Primer: We begin by applying a primer that is specifically formulated to create a moisture-proof barrier on the wall. This prevents any moisture in the drywall from affecting the wallpaper from behind.
• Mildew-Proof Adhesive: We exclusively use a high-quality, commercial-grade wallpaper adhesive that contains potent mildewcides. This prevents the growth of mold or mildew in the humid environment, which is a common point of failure for DIY installations.
• Seam Protection: We pay extra attention to ensuring every seam is perfectly bonded and sealed. In some very high-moisture commercial applications, a clear, matte seam-sealing liquid can be applied over the seams for an extra layer of protection, though this is not typically necessary for residential projects with the right materials.

In summary, a beautifully wallpapered kitchen or bathroom is a fantastic design choice. By partnering with Elysian Walls, you ensure that the correct materials and professional techniques are used to give you a stunning and durable result that will withstand the demands of the space for many years to come.

This is one of the most important questions a homeowner can ask, and the answer is fundamental to achieving a professional, high-end result. The unequivocal expert consensus is that wallpaper should never be applied directly over a textured surface. While it might be physically possible to make it stick, the final appearance will be deeply unsatisfactory and will look unprofessional, cheapening the investment you've made in your beautiful wallpaper.

Why You Cannot Wallpaper Over Texture

Imagine laying a fine piece of silk over a gravel path. The silk will conform to every bump and peak of the gravel, and the underlying texture will be perfectly visible. The same principle applies to wallpaper.

• Telegraphing Imperfections: Any texture on the wall—whether it's a light "orange peel," a medium "knockdown," or heavy stippling—will "telegraph" through the wallpaper. Every tiny bump and ridge will be visible, especially in rooms with a lot of natural light or under the direct light of lamps and ceiling fixtures. This is even more pronounced with wallpapers that have a sheen or metallic finish.
• Compromised Adhesion: Wallpaper adhesive is designed to bond to a flat, continuous surface. On a textured wall, the paper only makes contact with the "peaks" of the texture, not the "valleys." This results in a significantly weaker bond, which can lead to premature seam separation, bubbling, and outright failure of the installation over time.
• Visible and Weak Seams: It is impossible to create tight, invisible seams on a textured surface. The seams will be more prominent and will be weak points where lifting and peeling will begin.
• Pattern Distortion: On heavily textured walls, the tiny bumps can even cause a slight distortion in fine, geometric, or linear patterns, preventing a truly crisp look.

The Professional Solution: Skim Coating to a Level 5 Finish

At Elysian Walls, we consider providing a perfectly smooth surface to be an integral part of a true wallpaper installation service. The correct and only professional method to address textured walls is a process called skim coating.

Skim coating is an artisanal craft that involves applying thin layers of drywall joint compound (or "mud") over the entire textured surface. Our process is as follows:

1. Initial Sanding: We first sand down any particularly high or sharp points of the existing texture to create a more manageable base.
2. First Skim Coat: Using wide drywall knives, we apply a thin, even layer of joint compound across the entire wall, filling in the valleys of the texture. This coat is allowed to dry completely.
3. Sanding: The first dry coat is then meticulously sanded to remove any ridges or imperfections.
4. Second (and Third) Coat: We repeat the process, applying another very thin skim coat to fill any remaining voids and to achieve a truly flat plane. For a perfect "Level 5 Finish"—the highest industry standard for smoothness—a third coat is often necessary.
5. Final Sanding & Priming: After the final coat is dry, the wall is pole-sanded to a glass-smooth finish. After a thorough cleaning to remove all dust, we apply a coat of high-quality wallpaper primer.

This process transforms your bumpy, textured wall into a pristine, perfectly flat canvas. It is a labor-intensive but absolutely essential step. The result is a wallpaper installation that is not only beautiful and professional on day one but is also durable and adhered correctly for a lifetime of enjoyment.

Yes, absolutely. We see ourselves not just as installers, but as partners in your design journey. We offer a dedicated Design & Material Consultation service because we understand that the world of wallcoverings is vast, and the sheer number of choices in patterns, colors, textures, and materials can be completely overwhelming. Making the right selection is about more than just picking a pretty pattern; it's about finding the perfect wallcovering that harmonizes with your home's architecture, reflects your personal style, and is technically appropriate for the intended space.

Our consultation process is designed to be a collaborative and inspiring experience that empowers you to make a confident decision. Here’s how we can help:

1. Understanding Your Vision & Lifestyle

Our first step is to listen. We want to understand the mood and atmosphere you want to create. Are you aiming for a cozy and intimate space, a bright and energetic one, or a sophisticated and dramatic statement? We'll discuss:

• Your Personal Style: Do you lean towards modern minimalism, traditional elegance, bohemian chic, or something in between?
• Existing Elements: We'll consider your existing furniture, flooring, artwork, and color schemes to ensure the wallpaper complements, rather than clashes with, your current decor.
• Lifestyle Needs: We'll ask about how the room is used. Is it a high-traffic hallway with kids and pets, or a serene master bedroom? This directly impacts the type of material we will recommend for durability and maintenance.

2. Navigating the Technical Aspects

This is where our technical expertise becomes invaluable. We guide you through the practical considerations that ensure a beautiful and long-lasting result.

• Material Suitability: We will explain the pros and cons of different materials (vinyl, non-woven, grasscloth, etc.) and recommend the best options for each room, especially for challenging areas like bathrooms and kitchens.
• The Impact of Light: We'll discuss how the natural and artificial light in your room will interact with the wallpaper. A matte finish can hide wall imperfections, while a metallic or gloss finish will highlight them and can look very different at various times of the day.
• Scale and Pattern: We can help you choose a pattern scale that is appropriate for the size of your room. A large-scale pattern can make a small room feel grander, while a small, busy pattern can sometimes feel overwhelming. We will help you find the right balance.

3. Sourcing and Sampling

We have relationships with a wide range of designer brands and boutique wallpaper houses. We can help you source options you may not find on your own. Most importantly, we will assist you in ordering large samples. We cannot overstate the importance of this step. A small image on a computer screen can never truly capture a wallpaper's color, texture, and scale. We advise our clients to tape large samples to the wall and observe them for a few days to see how they look in different lighting conditions before making a final commitment.

Our goal with this service is to eliminate uncertainty and replace it with excitement and confidence. By combining your vision with our expertise, we can find that perfect wallpaper that you will absolutely love for years to come.