Think wallpaper is out of style? Wrong! In fact, wallpaper is (and has been for a few years) very trendy. It’s a great option to easily add style and character to a room or just an accent wall. Through the years, the quality, styles, and patterns of wallpaper have improved, giving you an almost unlimited selection to find just the right wallpaper for your room. The thought of wallpapering a wall or room in your home may feel intimidating, but with the improved wallpapers out there, it’s a doable project for any homeowner. Take your time and follow these tips to get a great finish from your wallpapering.
Be Sure to Prep Walls Properly
To get the best overall finish, you want to start with a clean, even wall. Wipe down the wall(s) you will be wallpapering with a sponge and bucket of warm water. Once the wall(s) have thoroughly dried, sand away any imperfections. If there are uneven areas or holes, fill them with spackling and let dry for 24 hours, then sand those areas smooth. Wipe any dust from your repairs off with a damp sponge and allow those areas to dry before proceeding.
Use a Primer
A wallpaper primer fills pores in absorbent surfaces to create a smoother surface for sliding the wallpaper into position and allows more of the wallpaper glue to do its job. It will also make removal of wallpaper easier if you decide you no longer want it on your walls. Apply primer to the wall(s) using a brush or roller. Use a large putty knife as a paint shield when working along trim. Let the primer dry for at least two hours before moving on to wallpaper installation.
Measure and Mark Properly
When it comes time to install wallpaper, be sure to measure and add trim room properly. Measure the wall from the ceiling to the top of your baseboard, then add four to six inches to allow for room to trim at the top and bottom. The extra length will also help you match the pattern as you work around the room. If you have a large pattern to repeat, you may need to add more trim room – experiment with matching the pattern before you start cutting. When you have your measurement, roll the wallpaper out on a worktable and use a tape measure and pencil to mark the length of paper you need. Using scissors, cut one or more pieces of wallpaper, then you are ready to start hanging paper.
Use Proper Wetting Procedure for Your Wallpaper
The first step in hanging wallpaper is wetting the paper, but you need to do so properly. For unpasted wallpaper, spread the paper out on a flat surface and apply adhesive. To get an even layer of adhesive, use a figure-eight motion. For pre-pasted wallpaper, fill a water pan made for wallpapering two-thirds full of cool water. Soak the wallpaper piece in the water for as long as the manufacturer recommends, usually less than a minute. To make sure it gets evenly wet, use your hands to press the wallpaper into the water. Unroll the paper onto the table, folding itself back over itself with the pattern side out, which will activate the adhesive.
Find Your Starting Spot
In most instances, you will want to start wallpapering in a corner of the room. The exception is if you have an architectural focal point, such as a fireplace, in which case you want to center your first piece of wallpaper above that. When starting in a corner, begin the hanging process by measuring out from that corner about an inch less than the width of the wallpaper, which gives you room to wrap into the corner (more on corners later). Using a pencil and a level, draw a straight line from the ceiling to the baseboard. This is your guide for where to place the first piece of wallpaper. Make sure the paper hugs the line from top to bottom, then smooth the paper lightly with your hands. When you start on a new wall, you will need to follow the same steps of marking a starting point on that wall.
Take Time to Smooth and Secure the Wallpaper
Once you have the wallpaper in line and lightly smoothed onto the wall, you want to secure it firmly and smoothly. Start at the pencil line and press the paper down, making sure it doesn’t move out of vertical alignment while doing so. Working from the center to edges, use a wallpaper brush to brush out any air bubbles or wrinkles. Press paper firmly against the ceiling line and baseboard, then use a straightedge and utility knife to trim any extra paper at the top and bottom. If adhesive squeezes out along any edge, use a damp sponge to clean it off.
Use Care in Matching Pattern and Hiding Seam
As you start adding more pieces of wallpaper, be sure to take the time to match the pattern. Once you have matched the pattern, slide the new piece as snugly as you can against the piece already on the wall. Then use the same steps as before the secure the wallpaper to the wall, smooth out any bubbles and wrinkles, and trim excess paper. When that is done, use a seam roller to press the pieces together (note: don’t use a seam roller on embossed paper because it can flatten the pattern). You’ll want to use firm pressure, but if you see an indentation from the roller, you’re pressing too hard. Clean any adhesive that squeezed out with a damp sponge.
Overlap on Windows
To ensure a seamless flow around a window, let the paper overlap it. Press the paper firmly against the side of the window but leave the portions above and below the window loose until you trim the excess. Use a straightedge and a utility knife to trim around the window frame. If there is a lot of excess paper overlapping, you can use scissors to cut some of it back to make the trimming easier. To trim the overlapped paper on the smaller trim on the window. Use a smaller straightedge, such as a putty knife. Work slowly and make small snips with scissors at the corners to help prevent the wet paper from tearing. As you cut paper off the window trim, smooth the paper on the wall above and below the window.
Be Safe Around Outlets and Switches
If you will be wallpapering around outlets and switch plates, be sure to follow safety precautions. Shut off power to the room when it’s time to wallpaper around one of these openings. Before hanging the wallpaper sheet for that section, remove the cover plate from the outlet or switch. As you did with windows, do not cut the area out before hanging the paper – simply cover the opening initially. Once the paper is hung, use your fingers to find the electrical box. Either cut an X in the paper over the opening then trim around or start at one edge and work your way around. Don’t worry if there are rough edges; those will be covered when you put the face plate back on.
Wrap Corners
When you reach a corner (or start at one), make sure you have extra paper to wrap the corner. For inside corners (recede from room), trim the excess paper so that about 1/2 inch of it wraps to the adjacent wall. Take the strip you just trimmed and line it up straight on the adjacent wall, letting the paper overlap the 1/2 inch in the corner. For an outside corner (points into the room), let the wallpaper wrap around the corner about 1 1/2 inches, then start a new piece by overlapping that strip. Use a straightedge to cut through both layers of wallpaper about 3/4 inch from the corner. Remove trimmed pieces and press the seam flat.
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