You’re Moving in a Few Years. Should You Still Put Up Wallpaper?
You love wallpaper. You’re also not staying forever. Here’s why that’s not a reason to talk yourself out of it.
You’re moving in a year. Maybe three. Maybe five.
The scenario
You love wallpaper. You’re also not staying forever. And somewhere between those two things, you’ve talked yourself out of it. You tell yourself it’s not worth it, the next owner won’t like it, and you’ll do it “in the forever house.”
But the forever house is a moving target. Meanwhile, you’re living in this one right now.
The myth (sort of): you have to pick something safe for the next buyer
The next buyer may not love your safe choice any more than your bold one. You can’t design for a stranger’s taste. What you can do is choose quality over trend, and that’s a different thing entirely. A well-chosen pattern reads as intentional, and intentional reads as cared-for, which is exactly what buyers respond to.
Placement: where you put it matters more than you think
If you’ve just got to get the itch out but don’t want to overcommit, start small. An entryway or powder room is lower risk and higher impact. Let it be a moment, not a commitment to every wall. And when it’s time to sell, a beautiful powder room can be a feature buyers remember, not a chore on their list.
Pattern: pick well, not just safe
A considered pattern outlasts a trend every time. Let what already exists in your space guide what’s needed: the architecture, the light, the finishes you already love.
Not your grandmother’s wallpaper
If you’re picturing hours of scraping and steaming, that’s the old school. Many of today’s traditional papers use strippable adhesive. Installed correctly, they’re designed to come down in the same large panels they went up in.
Traditional vs. peel and stick
Traditional: strippable adhesive, with working time before it sets so you can adjust. When it’s done right, it comes down in large panels.
Peel and stick: essentially a sticker. It’s made for temporary, DIY-style spaces, it can damage the wall when it comes off, and it isn’t built for years of use, especially in humid climates. (Hi, Louisiana.)
Both are arguably “removable.” I haven’t had a great personal experience with peel and stick, but plenty of people have, and I’ll let them speak to that.
This question was never really about wallpaper
It’s about letting yourself fully live in a space you know won’t be home forever.
You’re allowed that joy.. . .
PS: NEW HERE?
I’m Hope Johnson, Baton Rouge Realtor, designer, and wallpaper enthusiast who thinks knowing the numbers and having vision aren’t mutually exclusive.
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