Buy a Victorian house and sooner or later someone will tell you what you are allowed to do with it. For one homeowner, the criticism came as a pointed question about why she would buy an old home and strip away its character. Her answer was short, confident and backed by a dramatic transformation of the entrance hall.
The foyer makeover belongs to @amy_easley, who calls her home an 1890 brick Victorian and says it now has new wallpaper.
@amy_easley
The question that started it
The scene opens with the question itself: why did you buy an old Victorian home and remove the character? Her reply appears on screen and in her own voice. She did it because she does what she wants, and removing wallpaper is not removing the character.
Around her, the character is easy to see. The foyer and grand staircase have ornate wood paneling, parquet flooring, a stained glass window and a long, sweeping stairway. Against all that dark wood, the original wallpaper was a faded pink floral pattern that had clearly seen better decades.
From pink florals to a woodland scene
The work starts with stepladders and scrapers as she peels away the old paper panel by panel. Once the walls are bare, she applies adhesive and begins hanging large panels of a dark, tapestry style forest landscape. A caption admits what any wallpaper hanger knows, that the job is much easier with two people. A door sign reading toilet appears briefly as she works through the hall.
The finished result is shown with a series of slow views that alternate between the original wallpaper and the new woodland scene covering the foyer and stairwell. The deep greens sit comfortably against the dark trim and the stained glass, and the hall looks like an invitation into a storybook forest. She ends with a simple question about what everyone thinks.
Character is more than wallpaper
Historic homes carry their personality in architecture, such as moldings, woodwork, windows and floors. Wall coverings are some of the easiest elements to change, and in a Victorian home they have probably been changed many times already. Strictly speaking, a house that is well over a century old has seen countless decorating trends, so choosing a new look is part of its long tradition.
Victorian interiors were also known for bold, layered pattern, dark colors and nature inspired motifs, so a forest mural is not a stretch. The design ties the rich wood and stained glass together in a way that feels both modern and at home.
Tips for wallpapering a tall foyer or stairwell
- Work with a partner. Large panels are awkward to handle, and on a staircase wall, a second person helps you stay safe on the ladder.
- Use a stable ladder or scaffold rated for the height, and never overreach on stairs. Ask a pro about setting up safely if the landing is uneven.
- Test an unseen patch before stripping a whole room. In houses built before 1978, paint under old wallpaper may contain lead, so take precautions such as testing and wet scraping, and do not dry sand.
- Fix the wall surface first. Patch cracks, remove old adhesive and prime so the new paper sticks and the seams stay flat.
- Match the pattern from the top, plan seams around windows and doors, and mark a plumb line so the first panel hangs straight.
- Read the manufacturer’s instructions on whether the paste goes on the wall or on the paper, because modern wallpapers vary.
Common questions
Does removing wallpaper damage old plaster? It can if the paper was applied directly to bare plaster or if it is pulled off aggressively. Scoring, warm water or a steamer and patience usually reduce the risk. If the plaster is delicate or crumbling, a professional plasterer can advise.
Is it disrespectful to change a historic interior? Opinions vary, but wallpaper is generally reversible. Structural, millwork or original fixture changes are the bigger decisions.
How do you pick a mural for a stairwell? Consider the height, the direction of the light, the trim color and how the panels will turn corners and follow the staircase.
Takeaways
Owning an old home does not mean freezing it in time. It means caring for the bones, protecting what is irreplaceable and being thoughtful about what is easy to change. Wallpaper is a reversible choice, which makes it a good place to express your own taste. A dark forest in an 1890 foyer shows that old houses can honor the past and still feel personal.
Credit for the original post goes to @amy_easley on TikTok.
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