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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU re wallpaper, or is DH?

93 replies

CoffeeMum · 21/04/2012 08:34

We are planning a feature wall on our bedroom when we redecorate, and unfortunately the wallpaper we like is £95 a roll, and we'd need three, we think, so a not insignificant spend.

The wall in question has the chimney breast and two alcoves either side - where the two freestanding wardrobes would go. DH has suggested we leave 'holes' in the wallpaper behind the wardrobes to save money on wallpaper - as he says nobody would see it anyway.

This whole idea makes my teeth itch frankly. It would surely be more trouble than it was worth to leave these holes? I doubt it would save buying a whole new roll of wallpaper either. I think it's madness.

AIBU?

OP posts:
TheSockPuppet · 21/04/2012 08:59

the way I look at it is keeping your bedroom plain and simple but splashing out on an expensive beautiful painting for a feature

Yeah but you wouldn't buy a beautiful painting and then stick a wardrobe infront of it, could you paper a different wall?

scuzy · 21/04/2012 09:00

OP can spend what she likes. thats not what she is asking, holes or no holes?

i say no holes.

lilbitneurotic · 21/04/2012 09:01

I had wallpaper at £100 a roll for behind my bed, same as you 3 rolls required. It looks amazing and I love it every day.

I personally couldn't leave a gap behind the wardrobe - you might not see it but I would know it was there. Would make me all uneasy.

Original poster
CoffeeMum · 21/04/2012 09:01

To recap, it won't be 'covered up', not by a long stretch. And I don't want carpet or laminate in the bedroom. I am perfectly happy with the [varnished] bare floorboards, they look lovely. The wallpaper is the one place where we want to splash out!

Agree that wallpaper could date etc, but it's so beautiful that I really am willing to take the risk. If i was buying a painting, would you warn me off that, suggesting that the painting might date?

At the end of the day, we like the wallpaper, we're getting the wallpaper. That bit is decided. The issue at hand here, is whether to paper behind the wardrobes! Grin

OP posts:
TomatoFish · 21/04/2012 09:03

I really want to see the wallpaper...

I think I would just do the chimney breast, but if you really want to do the alcoves I wouldn't leave gaps. What if you ever wanted to sell the house? You would have to explain about the wallpaper holes.

claudedebussy · 21/04/2012 09:03

no holes.

splash out.

please at least give us website!!!!

CharlotteBronteSaurus · 21/04/2012 09:03

we need to see the paper to make an informed YANBU/YABU decision....

Pascha · 21/04/2012 09:03

I would pay £95/roll if it was what I really wanted and I could afford it. Also I like to see my wallpaper on the opposite wall to my bed. I see it every morning and evening which is plenty.

If you leave the bit behind the wardrobes bare it will feel like an itch you can't scratch, and if the wardrobes don't take up that much space on the wall is it really going to save you much?

If you really like it, do it and do it properly with no bodged bare bits.

NotInGuatemalaNowDrRopata · 21/04/2012 09:04

At that price, it sounds like Designer's Guild. One thing to watch is to make sure you buy as much as you need so you don't have to go back for more as they do their wallpaper in batches (a bit like knitting wool).
So don't be tempted to do just the chimney breast to see what it looks like, with the thought that you can go back and get more if you think you need it.

Fourstickymitts · 21/04/2012 09:05

Be sure it is only 3 rolls. You might need more due to the pattern repeat. Been there and done that and it doubled our spend Blush

Pastabee · 21/04/2012 09:06

Agree with barbara paper the lot in case you want to move / change your wardrobes.

I'm totally with you on beautiful wallpapers the cost of which is always justified on basis 'imagine what it would cost to do the whole room'.

Pascha · 21/04/2012 09:06

Are you really going to save as much as a whole roll of wallpaper if you don't paper behind the wardrobes? Unless you are its pointless anyway as you will still have started all 3 rolls.

OH GO ON DO IT!

Original poster
CoffeeMum · 21/04/2012 09:07

Thanks scuzy - you understand me Wink

sockpuppet - I wholeheartedly agree! A painting would be a very different situation and I wouldn't dream of spending hundreds of pounds on a painting and hanging it behind a cupboard. Wallpaper is a product that works in conjunction with furniture, and I happen to think it'll look gorgeous to see our very plain simple wardrobes surrounded by this lovely wallpaper Smile

If i know there are gaping holes behind each wardrobe however, I may get a bit twitchy... Wink

OP posts:
iscream · 21/04/2012 09:08

Note:I don't care what is in style or whatever, in my home I will have it as dh & I like it. When we want to sell it, at that point, I will redo to suit the general public's idea of a nice place.

Anyways, my dh and I had the same dilemma as you, but about the bathroom. I didn't think we should put it up behind the cupboard or mirror. (because I absolutely hate hanging wallpaper, and I suck at it.) We did all of the walls in the end.

I'd do them all in your case. Do it right from the beginning is usually the best way to go.

marriedinwhite · 21/04/2012 09:08

If you can't afford to paper behind the wardrobes, you can't afford to spend £95 a roll on wallpaper. Either you do the job properly or you chose a cheaper wallpaper imo. The ikea wardrobes will probably fall apart in a few years anyway and what will you do if the new ones are a slightly different size or you decide to move furniture around?

Chubfuddler · 21/04/2012 09:09

I like feature walls. In cheap b&q crap they may well look naffola. In 95 quid a roll stuff I'm sure it would look lovely.

Paper behind the wardrobes though, you never know if you will want to have a rejig of the furniture at a later date.

Original poster
CoffeeMum · 21/04/2012 09:10

But, and not trying to be difficult, there's no point in me linking to the wallpaper. As long as DH and I love it, isn't that what matters? Those of you who hate it will think i'm an idiot for blowing £300 on wallpaper, and some of you may love it too, and think it's money well spent.

We love it, that's what counts - and again, it's about the HOLES not the fact of buyiing the wallpaper in the first place. I'm glad some of you would feel the same as me about the holes though, I was wondering if I was being neurotic.

Thanks for all your replies Smile

OP posts:
saggarmakersbottomknocker · 21/04/2012 09:11

Paper behind them CoffeeMum. It would do my head in knowing there were gaps.

Are you going to do do the papering? I really enjoy it - find it quite therapeutic. [odd]

iscream · 21/04/2012 09:13

Your holes behind the wardrobe would be like going unexpectedly to the hospital emergency with tattered underwear held together by safety pins, with socks in your bra, underneath your beautiful outfit.

HateBeingCantDoUpMyJeans · 21/04/2012 09:14

Do tge chimney breast first and then see how it looks?

Btw it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb, it add depth Grin

Yabu and so is your dh

Original poster
CoffeeMum · 21/04/2012 09:17

married in white - we can afford to paper behind the wardrobes too, purely because I don't believe leaving the holes is going to save us buying a third roll! [another reason why I think DH's plan is insane Wink] It is precisely because the rest of the room has been done on a budget that we can afford to splash out on the wallpaper.

I'm also another one who doesn't really care about fashions in the home - I have what I love, and what DH loves. It's our home Smile I daresay any future buyer of our house will hate the wallpaper, as we hate what is currently there, but that's just life!

Anyway, enough people have posted saying that the holes behind the wardrobes would unsettle them, so I have enough evidence for DH that i'm not the only one who thinks this way Smile

Also, the point about the Ikea wardrobes falling apart and needing to be replaced is extremely valid - I think it would be too risky to leave the holes.

Thanks for all your replies, have to go out now, but will come back later Smile

OP posts:
ImperialBlether · 21/04/2012 09:19

Tell him not to be stupid - you're limiting your options forever if there are gaps in the wallpaper.

LetsKateWin · 21/04/2012 09:20

I think the wall paper is very expensive, but if you're planning to be there for a while, I wouldn't leave the holes. It would really bug me.

Hebiegebies · 21/04/2012 09:22

I've just spent £60 on three rolls and am kicking myself for not just painting it a bold colour for £20.

Ikea furniture won't last 30 years, so whole wall must be done. I'd just do chimney

Chubfuddler · 21/04/2012 09:22

If leaving the holes doesn't even prevent you dipping into a third roll his plan is completely insane. The only possible cost saving option is to buy three rolls so you've got all the same batch, do the chimney breast and then decide whether you're happy with that and can return the other rolls or not.