Wallpapering had gone into a huge decline in the 90s. Due to declining demand, many painting contractors simply no longer offered the service. Historically, painting contractors were thought of as painters and decorators, but with wallpaper hangers aging and few people choosing to train, the trade has all but disappeared. The Wallcovering Installers Association (WIA), formerly known as the National Guild of Professional Paperhangers (NGPP), was founded in 1974 and once had thousands of members, but has fallen to less than 400 members.
Today, designers and homeowners across the country are struggling to find a qualified wallpaper installer due to retiring baby boomers and a lack of skilled workers. To fill this gap, Walls by Design is launching a training center for painting and wallpapering in Denver, and will offer courses at the professional and homeowner level.
To better represent the expanded services, Walls by Design recently changed its name to Walls by Design Painting and Decorating. For more information, please visit their website at wallbydesign.com.