What does wallpapering mean?
Wallpapering denotes wallpaper as a collective material or, more commonly in everyday use, the activity of applying wallpaper to interior walls. It can refer to the paper itself, as in a description of newly installed wallpapering, or to the decorating process, as in a renovation involving wallpapering two rooms. The material consists of decorative paper or a similar covering that is pasted or otherwise fixed to a wall. In British and American English, the word is principally associated with domestic decoration, although it can also describe commercial or historic interiors. The related verb wallpaper is generally used for the action, while wallpapering serves as its present participle and describes work in progress. Wallpaper developed as a less expensive alternative to leather and textile hangings and became especially widespread when printed decorative papers were available in a broad range of designs. Today, wallpapering remains recognized in interior decoration, period restoration, and descriptions of traditional domestic decoration.
Wallpaper used collectively to cover walls, or the activity of applying wallpaper.
"The old wallpapering had faded badly in the sunlight."
Normally uncountable; the plural wallpaperings is uncommon and is not needed for ordinary usage.
The present participle of wallpaper, meaning to cover walls with wallpaper.
"They spent the weekend wallpapering the nursery."
Most often used in progressive or participial constructions; wallpaper is the standard base verb.
Uncommon; wallpapering is normally treated as an uncountable noun.
"The two wallpapering samples were from radically different periods."
Wallpaper began as an affordable stand-in for costly leather and textile wall hangings, turning plain walls into decorated surfaces.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of wallpapering
The compound wallpaper was formed in English from wall and paper in the late seventeenth century. Paper had long served as a cheaper decorative substitute for leather and textile wall hangings in Europe. The word paper comes through French papier from Latin papyrus, itself borrowed from Greek papyros, the plant from which the oldest paper was made.
How wallpapering is actually used
The noun is normally uncountable and is most natural when referring to wallpaper as a material or to the activity of applying it. As a verb form, it usually occurs in progressive constructions; the base verb wallpaper is preferred when naming the action directly.
Easily confused with wallpapering
Wallpaper is the material applied to a wall, whereas wallpapering can refer either to that material collectively or to the activity of applying it.