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Wallpapering Tips
Prepare the walls
If you're hanging wallpaper on new drywall, prime the wall first with wallpaper
primer to seal the drywall and help the paper adhere to the wall.
Wash any dirt or dust from the old walls and sand smooth any chipped paint.
Remove old wallpaper using wallpaper remover, a wide blade, and rags.
Remove electrical outlet and light switch covers.
Use a filling knife to apply filler over holes or
cracks. Allow the filler to dry, then sand lightly until the surface is smooth.
Pick a starting point.
The first strip of wallpaper will line up with the last strip of wallpaper you
hang and the pattern should match up at that place. You will want to start and
finish wallpapering in a corner, near the curtains or behind a door so that the
mismatch is less obvious. The focal point of the room should have the fewest
seams.
Measure out from your starting point and use a level to lightly draw a vertical
straight edge on the wall. This line marks where the first strip of wallpaper
should be placed.
Cut the wallpaper
Lay the first roll of paper, print side down, on the flat work surface. Confirm
the top and bottom of the pattern. Measure, then cut the first wallpaper strip
to the proper length, adding a few extra inches at the top and bottom. (This
will be trimmed off later). Measure and cut the next several strips in order,
paying attention to pattern match.
There are four pattern types -- random match, drop match, straight across match
and free match. Read more about wallpaper pattern matching.
Activate the adhesive on pre-pasted paper
If the wallpaper is pre-pasted, loosely roll up the first cut strip of paper
right side out and immerse it in room-temperature water in the water tray or
bathtub. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for immersion time. Pull the
strip out of the water, allowing the wallpaper to unroll slowly.
Apply wallpaper paste.
For un-pasted wallpaper, apply pre-mixed paste using a large pasting brush or
paint roller, working from the middle to the ends. Be sure that all areas are
covered with paste with no un-pasted spots. Gently fold the top of the sheet
down to the middle so that the pasted sides touch. Next, fold the bottom edge up
to the middle. This allows the paste to cure and keep it from drying out. Do not
crease the wallpaper.
Hang the wallpaper
Starting at the ceiling, carefully unfold the top
half of first piece of the wallpaper and gently place the side edge of the strip
along the measured line. Don’t forget to leave a few extra inches of paper at
the top and bottom for trimming later.
When the strip is in the right position, drop
down the bottom half and gently smooth the paper against the wall with your
hands, beginning at one edge and working your way across. Use a smoothing brush
or damp sponge to smooth out any air bubbles. Use a seam roller to gently smooth
down the edges of the wallpaper.
Trim the excess paper
Use a wide-blade putty knife to hold down the top
of the wallpaper strip at the ceiling. Use the utility knife or straight-edge
razor to trim the excess wallpaper. Repeat at the bottom of the strip. Carefully
clean any paste from the ceiling and baseboard.
Wipe the strip of wallpaper with a clean, damp sponge to remove any paste and
remaining air bubbles.
Smooth the corners
At the corners, measure from the last full-width
strip of wallpaper to the corner. Add 1 inch to that measurement and cut the
next strip of wallpaper to that width. Activate or apply paste to the strip.
Apply the wallpaper on the wall, making sure to
smooth it totally into the corner for interior corners or around the corner for
exterior corners.
At the corner, make a small slit from the top of
the strip to the wall to allow the strip to lay flat at the ceiling. Repeat on
the bottom to allow the strip to lay flat at the floor. Trim off the top and
bottom and clean the strip.
Hang around the corner
Place the next strip of wallpaper on the wall so
that it overlaps the extra 1 inch of paper from the previous piece.
Repeat hanging the strips around the room.
Continue hanging the next strips of wallpaper, taking care to match the pattern,
trimming at the ceiling and floor, removing any creases or air bubbles, securing
the seams, and cleaning the paste off the paper.
Replace light switch and plug plates.
If desired, cover the switch and plug plates with wallpaper, taking care to
match the wallpaper pattern.
Tips:
Don't be in a hurry. Work slowly to avoid making
mistakes.
Have a large area to work in and don't crowd yourself.
Cover every area of the back of the wallpaper with paste. Any area left dry,
even a small space, will bubble and not adhere to the wall.
Smooth paper surfaces gently. Don't put any pressure on the face of the
wallpaper.
Carefully clean off the surface of the wallpaper before the paste dries.
What You Need:
Wallpaper and Paste
Large Flat Work Surface
Tape Measure and Level
Ladder
Drop Cloth
Sandpaper, Putty Knife
Bucket, Water, Water Tray, Sponges, Rags
Utility Knife or Straight Edge Razor
Smoothing Brush
Seam Roller
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