Hiring someone to hang wallpaper costs on average €12–25 per m² including materials and labour. Do it yourself and you pay only for the wallpaper and materials: €4–15 per m² depending on the type of wallpaper. For a room with 40 m² of wall surface, that’s a saving of €320–400 in labour costs alone. Wallpapering is one of the most accessible home improvement tasks, especially with modern paste-the-wall (non-woven) wallpaper. In this article you’ll find everything you need: from choosing the right wallpaper to a concrete step-by-step guide.
What Does Wallpapering Cost? DIY vs. Hiring a Professional
Cost Overview
| Wallpaper type | Price per roll (approx. 5 m²) | Price per m² | Professional per m² |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paste-the-wall / non-woven (standard) | €12–25 | €2–5 | €10–18 |
| Paste-the-wall / non-woven (designer) | €30–80 | €6–16 | €14–25 |
| Paper wallpaper | €8–20 | €2–4 | €10–18 |
| Vinyl wallpaper | €15–35 | €3–7 | €12–20 |
| Textured / velour wallpaper | €20–50 | €4–10 | €14–22 |
| Photo wallpaper (bespoke) | €60–200+ (per drop) | €20–50 | €12–18 (labour) |
Worked example: living room with 40 m² of wall, paste-the-wall wallpaper (€5/m² material)
- DIY: approx. €200 materials
- Professional: approx. €560–720 (materials + labour)
- Saving: €360–520
When is DIY worth it?
Paste-the-wall (non-woven) wallpaper is ideal for beginners: the paste goes on the wall, not on the wallpaper, and it is more forgiving of mistakes. Paper wallpaper is more difficult: it stretches after pasting and requires more experience. An experienced DIYer should allow about 1 hour per drop of paste-the-wall wallpaper. A room with 40 m² of wall can be finished in a day.
Which Wallpaper Should You Choose?
| Type | Properties | Difficulty | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paste-the-wall (non-woven) | Strong, does not shrink, paste on wall | Easy | Living rooms, bedrooms, beginners |
| Paper wallpaper | Cheap, fragile, stretches when pasted | Difficult | Experienced paperhangers |
| Vinyl wallpaper | Washable, damp environments | Moderate | Kitchen, hallway |
| Textured wallpaper | Coarse relief, can be painted over | Easy | Ceilings, imperfect walls |
| Photo wallpaper | Bespoke, large format | Moderate | Accent wall, children’s room |
| Velour wallpaper | Luxurious feel, sensitive to touch | Difficult | Living room, bedroom |
Pattern repeat: Wallpaper with a large pattern repeat has more waste. With a 64 cm repeat, add approximately 15–20% to your calculation.
How Many Rolls Do You Need?
Calculate:
- Measure the total wall perimeter (in metres)
- Multiply by the room height
- Subtract the surface areas of doors and windows
- Divide by the coverage per roll (stated on the label, usually 4.5–5.5 m²)
- Add 10% for waste (15–20% with a large pattern repeat)
Example: Room 3.5 × 4 m, height 2.6 m → perimeter 15 m × 2.6 m = 39 m² – 4 m² (doors/windows) = 35 m² / 5 = 7 rolls + 10% = 8 rolls.
Materials List
| Material | Quantity | Estimated price |
|---|---|---|
| Wallpaper (see calculation) | 8 rolls | €96–200 |
| Wallpaper paste (paste-the-wall) | 1 packet (10 litres) | €8–15 |
| Wallpaper brush | 1 | €8–15 |
| Paste trough | 1 | €5–10 |
| Wallpaper scissors | 1 | €8–15 |
| Trimming knife + spare blades | 1 set | €5–10 |
| Spirit level or plumb line | 1 | €10–20 |
| Sponges and clean buckets | 2–3 | €5 |
| Seam roller | 1 | €4–8 |
| Filler / wall repair compound | 1 packet | €8–15 |
| Primer / wall sealer | 1 litre | €8–12 |
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Hang Wallpaper
Step 1 — Prepare the wall
A good result starts with a good surface. Remove old wallpaper completely (spray with water or wallpaper stripper and scrape off). Fill cracks, holes and uneven areas. Sand smooth once dry. Clean the wall of dirt and degrease. Apply a coat of wall primer or size — this prevents the wall from absorbing moisture from the paste too quickly.
Step 2 — Mark the first drop
Choose your starting point (usually next to a door or window, so any mismatches are less noticeable). Use a plumb line or spirit level to draw a vertical line on the wall. This is your reference line — every drop is aligned to it. Never use the corner of a room as a reference, as corners are almost never truly straight.
Step 3 — Apply the paste
For paste-the-wall wallpaper: apply paste directly to the wall (one drop at a time). Brush on a strip of paste slightly wider than the wallpaper. Use a wide brush or roller. For paper wallpaper: apply paste to the wallpaper drop, fold the drop back on itself (paste to paste) and wait for the soaking time (stated on the packaging, usually 3–5 minutes).
Step 4 — Hang the first drop
Position the first drop along the vertical line. Start at the top and smooth the wallpaper with the wallpaper brush from top to bottom and from the centre outwards to the edges. Work out any air bubbles. Trim the excess at the top (ceiling) and bottom (floor) with a trimming knife against a straight edge or broad knife.
Step 5 — Hang subsequent drops
Position each subsequent drop directly next to the previous one — butt joint to butt joint (edges touch, no overlap). Check the pattern: align carefully before fixing the drop permanently. Press the seam firmly with the seam roller.
Step 6 — Corners and obstacles
At corners: cut the drop so that approximately 1 cm wraps around the corner. Begin the next wall again with a fresh vertical reference line. Around sockets and light switches: make cross-cuts, press the wallpaper around them and trim off the excess. First switch off the electricity at the consumer unit.
Step 7 — Finishing
Remove any paste residue immediately with a damp sponge — dried paste leaves stubborn marks. After drying (24 hours), check that all seams are lying flat. Re-glue any lifting edges with a little seam adhesive.
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Consequence | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Not priming the wall | Wallpaper lifts, air bubbles | Always apply primer or size first |
| Starting in a corner | Wallpaper hangs at an angle | Always draw a vertical reference line |
| Wrong paste for wallpaper type | Wallpaper lifts or stretches | Use the adhesive recommended by the manufacturer |
| Insufficient soaking time (paper wallpaper) | Wallpaper tears, does not bond well | Respect the soaking time on the packaging |
| Not aligning the pattern | Pattern does not match up | Do a dry run before hanging |
| Leaving paste on the surface | Stains that become visible later | Remove immediately with a damp sponge |
Conclusion
Wallpapering is an excellent DIY project that completely transforms a room. Choose paste-the-wall (non-woven) wallpaper if it is your first time — it is forgiving of mistakes and delivers a beautiful result. Spend the most time on wall preparation and marking the first vertical line. Those two steps determine 80% of the final result.
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