The $300 Room Refresh: Wallpaper Projects That Change a Room Before the Holidays

You do not need to redo a room to change how it feels. You need one surface that catches the eye and looks deliberate. With $300 and a free afternoon, wallpaper can do that in the entry, the powder room, the dining room or the living room, and it will still be there long after the guests leave. Here are six projects that fit the budget, with the math done.

The short answer

Three floor-to-ceiling strips of peel and stick wallpaper cover a 6 foot wall for $267. That is enough for an entry wall, the wall behind a powder room sink, a bar nook or a photo corner. With shorter 60 inch rolls at $52 each, the same budget covers a 10 foot half wall or the backs of two bookcases with money left over.

What things cost

Our rolls are 24 inches wide and priced by length. In vinyl peel and stick:

• 24 x 60 inch roll: $52
• 24 x 96 inch roll: $89
• 24 x 108 inch roll: $104
• 24 x 122 inch roll: $112
• Samples: $5 small, $27 for 24 x 24 inches

Fabric peel and stick is $10 more per roll. Orders over $30 ship free in the US.

1. The entry wall: $267

The wall behind the console or the coat hooks is the first thing guests see. Most are about 6 feet wide. Three 96 inch rolls cover it floor to ceiling. The wall in the photo above is Damask Classic in Dark Grey; Cozy Plaid and Linen Look Stripes suit an entry just as well. More in the mudroom and entry collection.

2. The powder room sink wall: $178 to $267

You do not have to paper all four walls. The wall behind the sink and mirror is the one everyone faces. At 4 to 6 feet wide it takes two or three 96 inch rolls. Choose vinyl for a bathroom. Our powder room plan covers the full room if you decide to keep going.

3. A half wall above a chair rail: $260

If your dining room has a chair rail or wainscoting, the area above it is usually under 60 inches tall, which means the $52 roll. A 10 foot wall is five rolls. This is the most wall for the money, and wallpaper above white panelling is a classic look. Ideas in the dining room collection.

4. The backs of two bookcases: $208

Lining the back of a bookcase makes it look built in. A standard 30 to 36 inch wide bookcase takes two 60 inch rolls, so two bookcases are four rolls. Choose vinyl for a smooth furniture surface, and a pattern darker than the shelves so the books and objects stand out.

5. A bar nook or coffee station: $178

A 4 foot stretch of wall behind a bar cart or a coffee station is two 96 inch rolls. It is where guests gather, and a marble, brick or dark floral behind it makes the corner feel like part of the plan. See the marble collection.

6. A holiday photo corner: $267

Three strips behind where the tree will stand, or where the family lines up, change every photo you take in December. Details in what to put on the wall behind the tree.

How to keep it under budget

• Measure the wallpapered height, not the ceiling height, and buy the shortest roll that clears it with a few inches to trim. Method in how much wallpaper do I need.
• Spend $5 on a sample first. It is the cheapest insurance against the wrong colour.
• Pick the wall people face. One wall in the right place does more than three in the wrong one.
• If the budget allows, add a spare roll. On a three-roll wall with a fixed budget, measure twice and cut carefully.
• Choose vinyl if you are between the two; it is $10 less per roll.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to wallpaper an accent wall?

A 6 foot wall with an 8 foot ceiling is three rolls, $267 in vinyl or $297 in fabric. A 12 foot wall is six rolls, $534 in vinyl.

What is the cheapest way to update a room before guests arrive?

One small, well-placed wall. The entry, the powder room sink wall and a half wall above a chair rail all come in under $300.

Is wallpaper worth it for just one wall?

Yes. A single accent wall is the most common wallpaper project, and it is the one with the best return for the money.

Can I do it myself?

Yes. A 6 foot wall takes about two hours with peel and stick, and the only tools are a squeegee, a blade and a level.

Browse by room on our wallpaper by room page, or send us the wall size and we will price it for you.