Project guide
Wallpapering a Ceiling: What It Takes and What to Expect
Yes, you can wallpaper a ceiling, and it is one of the most striking ways to use pattern in a powder room, dining room or bedroom. It takes longer than walls because every strip is hung overhead from a scaffold or platform, the layout has to line up with the room's focal points, and lighter, non-woven papers are usually easier to work with.
In short
- Popular in powder rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms and covered porches.
- Non-woven, paste-the-wall papers are easier overhead than heavy papers.
- The ceiling must be smooth; popcorn or heavy texture has to be removed or skimmed first.
- Expect it to take longer than a wall of the same size.
Where ceiling wallpaper works best
- Powder rooms: small, enclosed, a great place for bold pattern.
- Dining rooms: a patterned ceiling frames the light fixture.
- Bedrooms and nurseries: you see the ceiling when you lie down.
- Covered porches: only with materials rated for the exposure.
Why it takes longer
- Strips are hung overhead, usually from a platform rather than a ladder.
- The direction of the strips and the pattern center have to be planned around the fixture, the window wall and the entrance.
- Fixtures, vents and smoke detectors need careful cutting.
Choosing the paper
Non-woven papers, where paste goes on the ceiling rather than on the paper, are lighter and easier to position. Small, non-directional patterns are the most forgiving, because the ceiling has no obvious "up." Very heavy papers and natural fibers are harder overhead.
Prep matters even more
Ceilings in Gwinnett homes often have popcorn or knockdown texture. Wallpaper will not hide it. The ceiling has to be scraped or skim coated, sanded and primed first, and any cracks fixed. See wallpaper over textured surfaces.
Where we work: neighborhoods and ZIP codes
We paper ceilings in dining rooms, powder rooms and bedrooms across Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Alpharetta, Milton and Roswell.
North Atlanta: Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Brookhaven, Midtown
- 30305 Buckhead
- 30327 Buckhead / Tuxedo Park
- 30342 Buckhead / Sandy Springs
- 30328 Sandy Springs
- 30350 Sandy Springs / Dunwoody
- 30338 Dunwoody
- 30319 Brookhaven
- 30324 Brookhaven / Lindbergh
- 30329 North Druid Hills
- 30341 Chamblee / Brookhaven
- 30339 Vinings / Cumberland
- 30309 Midtown / Ansley Park
- 30318 West Midtown / Westside
Alpharetta, Milton and Johns Creek
- 30004 Alpharetta / Milton
- 30005 Alpharetta
- 30009 Alpharetta
- 30022 Alpharetta / Johns Creek
- 30024 Suwanee / Johns Creek
- 30097 Johns Creek / Duluth
Roswell and East Cobb
- 30075 Roswell
- 30076 Roswell
- 30077 Roswell
- 30062 Marietta / East Cobb
- 30066 Marietta / East Cobb
- 30068 Marietta / East Cobb
Also serving: Gwinnett County; Cumming; Woodstock, Canton and Hall County. Not sure we cover your street? Send your ZIP code with a quote request.
About WallPros. WallPros LLC is a wallpaper installation company based in Grayson, Georgia, serving Gwinnett County, North Atlanta, Alpharetta, Roswell, East Cobb, Cumming and the rest of Metro Atlanta for 10 years. We install, remove and prepare walls for homeowners, interior designers and builders.
FAQ
Common questions
Is ceiling wallpaper a good idea?
In the right room, yes. Powder rooms and dining rooms are the most popular choices.
Will ceiling wallpaper fall down?
Not when the ceiling is properly prepared and primed and the right adhesive is used.
Can I wallpaper a popcorn ceiling?
Not directly. The texture must be removed or skim coated first.