Quick answer
Wallpaper usually goes up near the end of a remodel: after drywall, texture repair, trim and paint are finished, and before final light fixtures, mirrors, towel bars and outlet covers are installed. Flooring is often done first, but the floor must be protected during installation.
Key points
- Paint ceilings and trim before wallpaper.
- Leave mirrors, sconces and accessories off until paper is up.
- Vanities and toilets can stay in; installers cut around them.
- Construction dust and humidity must be under control first.
A typical order of work
- Framing, plumbing and electrical rough-in.
- Insulation and drywall, tape and finish (Level 4 or Level 5 finish where wallpaper will go).
- Cabinets, vanities and countertops.
- Trim, doors and casings.
- Paint ceilings, trim and any walls not getting paper.
- Wallcovering primer on walls that will be papered.
- Wallpaper installation.
- Final electrical: sconces, light fixtures, outlet and switch covers.
- Mirrors, towel bars, hardware and accessories.
Why paint before wallpaper?
Painting trim and ceilings after wallpaper risks drips and tape marks on the paper. Painting first lets us cut the paper cleanly to finished edges.
Why fixtures after wallpaper?
When sconces, mirrors and towel bars are already installed, the paper has to be cut around them in place, which is slower and rarely as clean. If the electrician can leave sconce boxes ready with wires capped, we paper around the box and the fixture goes on afterward with a crisp edge.
Drywall finish level
Drywall finishers use levels to describe how smooth a wall is. For wallpaper, ask for a smooth finish without heavy texture — and for thin, dark or reflective papers, a Level 5 skim coat. Saying this before the drywall stage can save a separate skim coat later.
Humidity and dust
New construction holds a lot of moisture from drywall compound and paint. Make sure the HVAC is running and the house is at normal living temperature for several days before wallpaper. Sanding and other dusty work should be finished; dust on walls weakens the paste bond.
Coordinating with us
Bring us in early for a measure so the client can order the right number of rolls in time — some designer papers take weeks to arrive. Then book installation for the window between paint and final fixtures. We work with homeowners, designers and contractors in Seattle and surrounding cities; see commercial and contractor work.
Kitchen and bath remodels
In kitchens, wallpaper goes up after cabinets, countertops and backsplash tile, and before hardware and lighting. In bathrooms, after the vanity, toilet, tile and glass are in, but before the mirror, sconces, towel bars and paper holder. That order lets the paper be trimmed to finished edges and keeps fixtures from being installed on top of the paper in ways that are hard to adjust later.
Tell your drywall finisher about the wallpaper
If you know a wall will be papered, say so early. The finisher can leave it smooth rather than textured, and pay extra attention to joints and corners. That one conversation can save a day of skim coating later.
Paint compatibility
Primer for wallpaper should go over the final wall surface, not over a coat of glossy finish paint applied "just in case." If the painter is priming the house, ask whether a wallcovering primer can be used on the walls getting paper. Otherwise, we prime those walls ourselves before installing.
New construction checklist for wallpaper
- Smooth drywall finish on walls getting paper.
- HVAC running and the house at living temperature for several days.
- Dusty work (sanding, cutting, flooring prep) finished.
- Electrical boxes set flush with the wall; devices and covers off or ready to come off.
- Wallpaper on site, checked for batch numbers and damage.
- A clear schedule window before fixtures and accessories go in.
FAQ
Should wallpaper go up before or after flooring?
Usually after flooring, with the floor protected. Baseboards are typically installed and painted before the paper goes up.
Can wallpaper go up before the vanity is installed?
It can, but it is usually better to install the vanity first so the paper is trimmed to it and no paper is hidden behind it.
Should I paint the walls before wallpaper in a new house?
Prime them with a wallcovering primer rather than painting. Finish paint under wallpaper is unnecessary and some sheens make the paste bond less reliably.
