Wallpapering around a window can seem daunting at first, but it is largely a matter of careful sequencing and precise cutting. Done well, the window becomes part of the rhythm of the wall, with the pattern flowing naturally around the opening.

The key is not to think of the window as an interruption, but as part of the process for setting your wallpaper in place.

In most cases, the strip is hung so it runs across the window opening uninterrupted. It can be tempting to cut around the opening before the paper is in place, but allowing the strip to span the window first usually helps keep the pattern aligned and creates a far cleaner result.

Shop for Cherry Blossom wallcovering in here.

What matters when wallpapering around a window

There are a few things worth paying attention to before you begin:

A little planning at the start often makes the process much easier.

An elegant living room with a serene, airy atmosphere. The walls are covered in a delicate wallpaper featuring winding tree branches, soft green leaves, and small birds on a pale neutral background. Large white-framed windows overlook a lush garden, bringing natural light into the space. A sculptural curved sofa in textured cream fabric sits in the foreground, paired with a warm wood cabinet accented by brass hardware and decorative objects. Soft lighting and muted tones create a calm, refined interior with an organic, nature-inspired feel.

Volterra Silver wallpaper mural by Feathr

Hanging wallpaper around the opening

Smooth the wallpaper onto the wall above and alongside the frame, working carefully as you approach the opening.

Once the paper reaches the window, make small relief cuts where the paper meets the edges of the recess. These cuts allow the wallpaper to fold inward neatly without buckling or tearing.

Then work the paper gently into place.

Helpful steps include:

  • Smooth the paper above the window first
  • Make relief cuts only as needed
  • Press wallpaper carefully into corners of the reveal
  • Work trapped air out gradually
  • Trim excess only once the paper is properly positioned

Wallpaper often responds better to patience than force.

Press the paper gently into the corners of the reveal using a smoothing brush or tool, then trim the excess neatly along the frame.

Trimming around the frame

A sharp knife makes all the difference here.

Use a fresh blade and trim with deliberate, clean cuts where the wallpaper meets moulding or trim. Crisp edges are often what give the finish a professional look.

Areas that deserve particular care include:

  • Window corners
  • Edges against trim or moulding
  • The top of the reveal
  • The underside of the opening
  • Narrow returns where cuts are more visible

These smaller areas are easy to rush, yet they often catch the light and can be surprisingly noticeable.

Pattern matching around windows

Pattern matching is especially important around a window.

Whether matching striped wallpaper or botanical designs, it helps to ensure the design continues naturally across and beyond the opening so the window feels integrated into the wall rather than interrupting it.

If working with a mural or statement wallpaper, it is worth planning in advance where key motifs will fall around the opening. With wall murals, you will also need a duplicate amount of material for the overlap areas in the corners.

Good pattern alignment often does more than anything else to make wallpaper around a window feel effortless.

Kubla Khan Night Wallpaper by Feathr.

Deep window reveals and uneven walls

Deep reveals often benefit from a slightly different approach.

Many decorators prefer to hang the main wall first, then paper the reveals separately. This can make corners easier to manage and often produces a neater finish, particularly with thick or textured wallpapers.

Older walls may need some adjustment too.

Things that can affect the finish include:

  • Uneven plaster around the frame
  • Paint ridges near trim
  • Irregular timber mouldings
  • Deep or angled reveals
  • Slightly out-of-square window openings

Working slowly and making small corrections as needed often gives the cleanest result.

Preparation matters before hanging begins as well. Dust around trim, rough paint edges and minor imperfections are worth addressing before the paper goes up.

A modern living room with a dramatic, moody aesthetic. The walls are covered in a dark abstract wallpaper featuring layered painterly textures in deep burgundy, plum, charcoal, and muted metallic tones. A large black-framed window brings in soft natural light, contrasting with the rich darkness of the walls. The space is furnished with a sculptural curved sofa in creamy bouclé fabric and a minimalist marble coffee table with brass legs. Decorative objects and dried florals add warmth and texture, while the overall atmosphere feels artistic, intimate, and luxurious.

A Beautiful Thing Is Never Perfect wallpaper By Feathr, in collaboration with designer Magnus Gjoen

Mistakes to avoid while wallpapering around a window

What matters most is not rushing the window area.

Common mistakes include:

  • Cutting around the window before the strip is positioned
  • Forcing paper into corners rather than easing it in
  • Using a dull blade for trimming
  • Ignoring pattern alignment around the opening
  • Rushing reveals and undersides
  • Treating the window as a separate obstacle rather than part of the wall

Often the most refined results come from slowing down at precisely these points.

When craftsmanship shows

In many ways, windows are the part where craftsmanship becomes visible.

When wallpaper is fitted neatly around a window, with pattern wrapping the opening and seams sitting cleanly, the whole room feels more considered.

Wallpapering around a window is less about overcoming a complication than about working carefully with the architecture already there.

And often, it is these quieter details that give a room its polish.