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Accent walls have been a popular decor choice over the past two decades, and they don’t seem to be going out of style any time soon. They’re a quick and easy way to change the mood of the room without committing to painting every wall, and many homeowners like the visual interest they add to a room.

Hanging wallpaper may seem simple, but in practice it requires significant planning and finesse to make it look professional. To start, you need to get an even application of wallpaper paste across all of your wallpaper, which requires experience and large pasting tables to get right. You also need to plan out your design and match it exactly so that you don’t have imperfections in the finished product. It’s often better to hire a professional wallpaper hanger who can get the job done properly for a clean, smooth finish.

Painting over wallpaper is an efficient way to cover it if it’s in decent shape. Before painting over wallpaper, make sure the surface is clean and smooth. You may have to remove minor problem areas, such as lifted seams or small peels, with a sheetrock knife or putty knife. Add a latex- or oil-based primer to keep moisture at bay before painting. You’ll likely need two coats of paint to cover the area.

Yes, you can apply peel-and-stick wallpaper over wood paneling, but it requires significant preparation for a good result. Peel-and-stick wallpaper has a weaker adhesive than traditional wallpaper and works best on smooth, non-textured surfaces like painted or primed drywall. Because wood paneling is often textured with grooves, any flaws in the underlying surface will likely be visible after application. To prepare the paneling, you must ensure the surface is free of cracks, holes, and protrusions by filling any indentations and sanding rough spots to create a smooth surface. An alternative is to remove the paneling and apply the wallpaper directly to the underlying drywall or plaster, provided it is in good condition.