Hosting in Three Weeks? Five Wall Projects You Can Finish in One Weekend

The invitations are out, the menu is half planned, and you have just looked at your dining room the way a guest will. Three weeks is more time than you think. It is enough to choose a pattern, see a sample, have rolls printed and delivered, and hang a wall with a weekend to spare. Here are five projects, ranked by how much your guests will notice them, and a plan to get one done.

The short answer

Do the dining room wall first, the powder room second, the entry third. Each is a one-afternoon job with peel and stick wallpaper, with no paint fumes and no drying time. Order a sample this week, order rolls next week, and hang the weekend before your guests arrive.

1. The wall behind the dining table

Time: 2 to 3 hours. Rolls: 6 for a 12 foot wall.

This is where your guests will sit for two hours, and it is the background of every photo of the meal. The dining room above is Tiger Lily in Rosy Brown. For a deeper look, Elegant Modern Leaves in Peacock or Midnight Floral; for something quieter, Cozy Plaid or Linen Look Stripes. Full guide: dining room accent wall ideas. Shop the dining room collection.

2. The powder room

Time: 3 to 5 hours for the whole room, 1 to 2 for the sink wall. Rolls: 10 to 12, or 2 to 3 for one wall.

The one room every guest visits, and the one where a bold pattern is always right. Full guide: the one-afternoon powder room plan. Shop the bathroom collection.

3. The entry

Time: 1 to 2 hours. Rolls: 3 for a 6 foot wall.

First impression, coat drop and the background for the arriving-guests photo. A plaid, a texture look or a stripe behind a console table and a mirror. Shop the mudroom and entry collection.

4. The wall behind the sofa or the tree

Time: 2 to 3 hours. Rolls: 4 for an 8 foot zone.

Where everyone ends up after the meal, and the most photographed wall in December. Full guide: what to put on the wall behind the tree. Shop the living room collection.

5. The stairs

Time: about 10 minutes a step.

Patterned risers are visible from the front door and take an evening. Shop stair riser decals.

The three-week plan

• This week: pick the wall and measure it. Order $5 samples of two or three patterns. Look at them in the evening, under the lights you will use when guests are there.
• Next week: order rolls. Wall width in inches divided by 24, rounded up, plus one spare. They are printed to order in New Jersey in 2 to 3 business days, then ship in about 3 days to the East Coast and 5 to 6 days to the West Coast. On the West Coast, order at the start of the week.
• The weekend before: wipe the wall down, mark a plumb line, hang, trim. Put the furniture and art back the next day.
• The week of: cook.

Less than three weeks? Overnight shipping is available at checkout. Working to Thanksgiving? The order-by dates for every region, including the final call of Friday, November 20 with overnight shipping, are in our Thanksgiving timeline.

Why wallpaper and not paint

Peel and stick goes up in an afternoon with no taping, no drop cloths, no second coat and no smell, and the room is usable that evening. Paint needs a full weekend and leaves the room smelling for days. The full comparison is in paint or peel and stick before the holidays.

On a budget

Several of these come in under $300. See the $300 room refresh for six projects with the prices worked out.

Frequently asked questions

What is the fastest way to update a room before hosting?

One accent wall in peel and stick wallpaper. Two to three hours, no drying time.

Which room should I update first before guests come?

The dining room if you are serving a meal, the powder room if you are hosting a party. Those are the two rooms every guest spends time in.

Is three weeks enough time to order and install wallpaper?

Yes. Allow about a week for printing and delivery on the East Coast and up to two weeks on the West Coast, plus one afternoon to hang. Overnight shipping shortens that if you need it.

Do I need to hire someone?

No. Peel and stick is a one-person job for an accent wall, and easier with two.

Start on our wallpaper by room page, or send us a photo of the room and we will suggest a pattern and a roll count.