The Foyer Wallpaper is Up - Before and Afters Revealed!

I am so excited to write this post- the wallpaper is up! It has been a long journey, as I have been thinking about adding wallpaper to my home for the last year. I went back and forth on what to do and couldn't be happier for taking the plunge! I also love the look of stencil and thought about that for this space. But being a foyer, I thought this might be the best place to try wallpaper, as it is a heavy traffic area. My mom taught me some of her great tips, since this was my first wallpaper application! The hubby also helped as my wing man and the results are pretty good- it was actually easier than I anticipated. I will end this post with some wallpaper hanging tips, but for now, let's get to the before and afters!

Before



After

The walls in the foyer were painted Powell Buff by Benjamin Moore. The color was a nice, soft neutral, but I wanted a dramatic change. The wallpaper that I chose is a large print damask and can be found here. I searched and searched and finally found a pretty great deal. I don't have anything up on the walls yet, because I want to be 100% sure about what I hang up- I'm still a little afraid to put holes in the wallpaper! I have had some ideas for the coat rack corner: while the red coat rack is practical, I am looking for a change. I was thinking of replacing it with a bench, some pillows and a large intricate mirror above the bench. What are your thoughts?? And for the large wall leading into the kitchen, I was thinking about hanging a gallery of empty frames in a glossy black finish. Those are my ideas for now.

And now for some wallpaper hanging tips:

1. I found some very helpful articles here.

2. Thoroughly read the directions that come with the wallpaper. The most important one was to alternate rolls when hanging the panels. Let's say you have 2 rolls you are working with: the best way to save on pattern repeat and paper is to use roll 1, then 2. I would go back and forth that way, and it was amazing how much paper I saved. This damask print had a 20 1/2 inch repeat, which could lead to a lot of waste when you are matching up the pattern for your next panel.

3. Before placing your paper in the water, clearly mark which end is the top. I would use a pencil and write "top" on the back. This way, you know you won't forget!

There we have it! Check back soon, to see how the accessories are placed. Do you have any ideas for what to hang on the walls?

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