Drywall & Wallpaper in Indianapolis
Wallpaper hanging in Indianapolis
A patterned accent wall, a bold powder room or grasscloth in a dining room. Paper is unforgiving: the wall has to be flat, primed and plumb before the first strip goes up.
- Phones answered 24/7
- Walls primed for paper
- Pattern matched at every seam
Quick answer
Wallpaper installation in Indianapolis starts with a smooth wall and a wallcovering primer, then a plumb line, a planned pattern layout that puts the full motif at eye level, and paste matched to the paper. Seams are butted, not overlapped, and the final strip is placed in the least visible corner.
What the job involves
Why the wall matters more than the paper
Updated September 2026
Paper shows every bump, patch and ridge under it, and it grips an unprimed wall so hard that it tears the wall when it comes off. So every job starts with repairs, a skim where needed, and a wallcovering primer that lets the paper slide into position, bond firmly and release cleanly years later.
We plan the layout before cutting: where the pattern starts, how it meets the ceiling, and where the last strip lands so a mismatch falls behind a door. If paper is coming off first, see wallpaper removal; walls in rough shape go through skim coating.
What is included
What a wallpaper installation includes
- Wall repairs and skim coating where the paper would show flaws
- Wallcovering primer on every papered wall
- Roll count calculated with the pattern repeat
- Layout planned so the motif sits at eye level and the last seam hides
- Plumb line on every wall rather than trusting corners
- Seams butted and matched, paste cleaned off trim and ceiling
- Leftover roll labeled for future repairs
Choosing between the options
Traditional, grasscloth or peel-and-stick
| Consider | Traditional paste | Grasscloth | Peel-and-stick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durability | Long-lasting, washable if coated | Delicate, not washable | Shorter, can lift in dry air |
| Seams | Invisible when matched | Visible by design | Visible on some products |
| Best for | Most rooms | Dining rooms, offices, bedrooms | Rentals, short-term changes |
| Removal later | Clean with the right primer | Clean with the right primer | Easiest |
We hang what you choose and will tell you where it is likely to struggle.
What moves the price
What moves the price of wallpaper installation
No sourced market figure is quoted here; hanging is priced by the roll and the wall condition.
- Number of rolls Hanging is usually priced per roll or per strip.
- Pattern repeat Large repeats waste more paper and take longer to match.
- Paper type Grasscloth and hand-trimmed papers take the most care.
- Wall preparation Repairs, skim coating and wallcovering primer come first.
- Room complexity Powder rooms and stairwells have more cuts per strip.
- Ceiling height Tall walls and stairwells need staging.
- Removal first Existing paper is removed and the wall washed before hanging.
Variations of this job
The wallpaper installation jobs we get called for
Accent wall paper
An accent wall is one wall in a room papered in a stronger pattern, usually behind a bed, a sofa or a dining table. It is quick to hang but the layout matters: the pattern should be centered on the wall or the furniture, the motif should break cleanly at the ceiling, and the side edges need to meet the adjacent painted walls with a crisp line. We center the first strip on the focal point and work out to both corners, so both edge strips match in width.
Powder rooms and small baths
Powder rooms are where people take the biggest pattern risks, and they are the hardest room to paper: a toilet, a vanity, a mirror, a window and tight corners in a small space. We remove the toilet tank lid and fixtures where needed, cut around the vanity backsplash cleanly, and choose a vinyl or coated paper that tolerates humidity. In a full bath with a shower, only papers rated for moisture go up, and never inside the shower area, where steam would lift the seams within months.
Grasscloth and textured paper
Grasscloth, sisal, cork and other natural papers have no repeating pattern, and every seam shows as a visible change in color and weave. That is part of their look, but it means strips are reversed or ordered carefully, and paste must not touch the face because it stains. We hang them with a clear-drying paste, handle every strip with clean hands, and advise against them in kitchens, baths and children's rooms where they cannot be washed or scrubbed clean with any real success.
Peel-and-stick paper
Peel-and-stick is popular in rentals and for quick changes, and it hangs well only on a smooth, sealed, fully cured wall. On flat or matte paint it can lift at the seams in dry winter air; on textured walls it bridges the texture and bubbles. We prime or seal the wall as the manufacturer recommends, overlap or butt the seams as the product requires, and tell you plainly when a traditional paste-the-wall paper will hold better through a full Indiana winter.
Local context
How this work runs around Indianapolis
The early-20th-century houses of Meridian-Kessler and the North Meridian Street district were built with formal dining rooms, stair halls and small powder rooms, exactly the rooms that took wallpaper originally and are taking it again now. Their plaster walls are usually flat once repaired, which suits paper well, but they are rarely square, so we plumb every room from its own line rather than trusting the corners.
From your call to the final walk-through
How a wallpaper installation runs
- 01
Call and describe the room
Which walls, the paper you have in mind, and what is on the wall now.
- 02
Visit and measure
We measure, check the wall, and calculate rolls with the pattern repeat.
- 03
Written scope
Prep, primer, rolls and layout plan.
- 04
Prepare the wall
Repairs, skim where needed, wallcovering primer.
- 05
Plan and plumb
Layout marked, first strip plumbed from the focal point.
- 06
Hang and match
Strips pasted, butted, matched and trimmed.
- 07
Clean and inspect
Paste wiped from trim and ceiling, seams checked in daylight.
FAQ
Questions we hear on this job
Yes. A wallcovering primer helps the paper hang and lets it come off cleanly later.
It depends on the pattern repeat; we calculate it at the visit before you order.
Yes. We check the roll labels and batch numbers match before starting.
Yes, with a vinyl or coated paper and never inside the shower.
On a smooth, sealed wall, usually. On textured or flat-painted walls it often lifts.
Only after the texture is skimmed smooth.
Related services
Other drywall & wallpaper work we handle
Faux Finishes & Venetian Plaster
Venetian plaster, metallic and accent finishes and more.
Faux Finishes & Venetian Plaster in IndianapolisWallpaper Removal
Steam removal of vinyl and paper, border removal and more.
learn about wallpaper removalSkim Coating & Wall Texture
Level-5 smooth skim, texture removal and more.
learn about skim coating & wall textureDrywall Repair & Patching
Nail pops and cracked seams, corner bead repair and more.
see our drywall repair & patching pageReady when you are
Tell us the walls and the paper and we will set the visit
Describe the room and the paper you have in mind, and we will book the measuring visit on the call, any hour.
Faber Paint & Blinds service office
3053 Stillcrest Ln, Indianapolis, IN 46217