How to Hang Wallpaper the Easy Way

Image credit: iCanvasArt

Hanging wallpaper is one of those jobs which cause people to shake their heads in horror. Most people dread the task so much that they’d far rather pay someone else to do it but the fear of hanging wallpaper has come largely from various silly sitcoms and sketches where hapless decorators get in a tangle whilst wrestling with sheets of damp paper, which inevitably get torn, get pasted on upside down or fall off as soon as they’re on!

The reality of hanging wallpaper however isn’t half as tricky as the writers of these shows would have you believe! The tools which you will need are not extensive or particularly expensive and most people will know someone who doesn't mind loaning them the items if you don’t want to go out and spend a fortune on specialist tables etc.

Materials Necessary for Hanging Wallpaper 

• Wallpaper
• Wallpaper paste
• Sugar soap
• Lining Paper
• Dust sheet
• Bucket
• Step ladder
• Paper hanging brush
• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Wallpaper scissors
• Sponge
• Table

Preparation Counts!

Always prepare the room properly before even thinking about putting brush to paper! You should empty the room of as much furniture and knick-knacks as possible and cover up the flooring with your dust sheets. Strip the walls of any existing paper and wash the walls down with sugar soap to remove the residue of the old paper and paste. If there are any holes in the wall be sure to fill them.

If the walls have recently been plastered then it is important to “size” them before you attempt to hang any paper; this is done by simply brushing a watered down solution of wallpaper paste all over them and allowing it to dry; this helps the paper to stick to the surface once it’s time to get down to the nitty gritty. Once the walls are clean, sized and hole-free then you should paint any skirting boards or door frames which need work doing, then you can move on to the job at hand!

Lining Paper

Lining paper is vital if you want a really professional finish to your walls; hang it horizontally around the room leaving a 2mm gap between each sheet. Leave it to dry thoroughly and wait for air bubbles to disappear rather than over-smoothing the paper. If any bubbles are still apparent after drying, then simply make a small cut with a Stanley knife to release the air which is trapped.

Hanging the Paper

When measuring be sure to measure twice before cutting any paper, once its cut it can’t be put back on the roll! When cutting, allow 50mm extra paper top and bottom for trimming neatly - this is vital if you want the paper to look perfect. Cut your first piece after measuring and marking the length with a pencil and straight edge, then cut it off the roll with a pair of shears or wallpaper scissors. Before cutting your next section, ensure that the pattern matches up with the first piece; you may lose some paper as you match up each piece but it is vital that the pattern repeat is correct. Number each piece on the back in pencil as you go along and once the paper is all cut then you can begin pasting.

Pasting

Most wallpaper requires pasting on the back, but some modern papers need to be stuck to a wall which has been pasted; your packaging will give instructions as to which method you should use. Paste from the centre of the strip outwards and never from the edge inwards. When you have covered the sheet in paste, gently bring two edges together without creasing the length and allow to dry; this allows the paper to stretch. When you come to hang your first piece of paper, choose the focal point of the room if there is one, such as a chimney breast and hang the first piece directly in the centre of it. This looks much better than a bold pattern being off-set.

Use a plumb line to draw a vertical line on the wall as a guide to hanging and your work should be accurate. Once the first piece is up, trim the top and the bottom and then use a brush to smooth any air pockets away.

When it comes to the awkward spots such as electric sockets, the trick is to paper right over them and then cut them free afterwards. Make a cross in the centre of the covered switch and then cut the paper in an “X” shape to allow neat trimming on all sides.

Always ensure that any wallpaper which you purchase has matching serial numbers; this is because different batches may have tiny inconsistencies such as slight differences in colour.

As with all DIY in the home, ensure there is a second person around to assist you. Working on step ladders is much easier when you have someone there to pass you the tools you need.