Tips for installing Wallpaper

How do I wallpaper a room?

One approach is to hire an installer. Call around or check out our Links. If you are an inexperienced do-it-yourselfer, here are some tips.

The best thing is to watch or help someone else first, and ask questions. Here's a few tips:

The wall should be properly prepared, smooth, clean, and primed if necessary, with an alkyd or oil-base primer.

If you are papering the ceiling, do that first, overlapping onto the wall just a little. Do the wallfill next, and then the frieze will overlap them both.

Imagine starting in one place with the wallpaper, and hanging consecutive strips all around the room, eventually ending up where you started; what are the chances of the pattern matching up at the final seam? Right. So strategize. Make that happen in a corner, or behind a door, to hide it, or over a side-door doorway, which minimizes the length of that final seam. Also, if you are butting the seams, you can start in the middle of a wall and work around the room in both directions.

Walls are never level or square, which will become obvious if you take care to hang your first strip perfectly vertical. A long level you can use to pencil a line, or a weight on a chalk line can help you establish that, or you may choose to do it another way. Whatever you think looks the best. Chalk lines to mark the frieze placement will help you to install the wallpaper 1/4 to an inch or so beyond those lines, trimming the excess straight, before applying the frieze on top, so that it comfortably overlaps.

The paper should be trimmed with a metal straight edge and a single edge razor. They dull quickly so buy a lot of them. Pay attention to the trim marks printed along the edge and don't cut yourself. Apply paste with a short nap roller, not missing any spots yet with a light coating overall. Gently fold (but do not crease,) a foot or two at a time, the pasted side onto itself ("booking") and give the paper a few minutes to expand before unfolding and sticking to the wall. Position the paper and smooth onto the wall with the appropriate brush or plastic card to chase out any air bubbles. Use one of those little rollers to press down the edges. Any excess glue should be sponged away with a clean, wet sponge and, if necessary, remove water with a soft towel.