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Wallpapers are a fantastic way to make your room pop. While some people might prefer tiles and paint to spruce up their bedroom or living room area, choosing wallpaper gives you plenty of great options too. From striking patterns, velvety textures, and an array of colors—you’re not in any shortage of finding and picking the right one for you.
Does your old wallpaper look old or unappealing—cracking through the seams? Not trying to frighten you, but there may be some other invisible problems within your home that could also be better off inspected. Here’s some more information on the different facets that great building insurance can cover.
Let’s get straight to business with this step-by-step wallpaper application guide!
Step 1: Get your wall in wallpaper-ready shape
The first thing on your agenda is making sure the wall is in the right state for the wallpapers.
For a start, turn off the electricity and cover the outlets for your safety. The wallpaper will have wetness from the glue used for sticking it to the wall—so be sure to have that checked to avoid electrocution.
Remove any hanging fixtures there—such as nails and hooks—with screwdrivers or other tools. If you had another wallpaper beforehand, scrape it with a dull knife or something similar to prevent any seams from forming. You may also use a belt sander if the adhesive takes a while to budge. Wipe off the wall and clean it afterward to prevent a mildew outbreak.
If there are any cracks in the wall, use a wall putty to cover it up. Polish the wall putty with sandpaper to even it out. This will help the wallpaper look smooth and clean at the finish once applied.
Step 2: Get the measurements of your wall
Measure your wall to get a good idea of what size your wallpaper should be before applying it. As you cut your wallpaper, it’s better to have your wallpaper overextend the length of your wall.
A good number to allow for easy correction is 20 cm leeway for the top and bottom or around 40 cm total.
Make markings on your wallpaper’s backside to signify the area where it should be cut. Then gently, cut that layer. Once you have a good grasp of the size of the wallpaper, draw a line on the area to be papered. This will act as your guide.
Step 3: Apply paste with a paste roller
If your wallpaper is not prepasted, apply some paste to your wallpaper with a paste roller. This will guarantee uniform coverage and is a more consistent method overall. You can include this paste in water to have stronger adhesion as well.
A manufacturer’s guide also comes with your wallpaper. Consult that accordingly to figure out the best way to cover your walls unique to your wallpaper.
Step 4: Lay down the strips
Once you’re done applying paste to the wallpaper and/or wall, it’s time to stick the wallpaper strips one by one. Gently lay it down ceiling-first and smoothen it with a clean cloth or brush.
Remember those slight 20 cm overlaps? Leave them hanging on the ceiling and the floor. For everything in between, stick it firmly to make those seams invisible.
If you see wrinkling, that’s fixable. Unstick and stick (if possible) until you get it right. Then smoothen it out until you’re satisfied.
Step 5: Overlap corners to get it looking vertical
Continue laying down the following strips to cover your wall. The same process applies as the first, only this time, you come with more experience.
Another thing to do is to allow a tiny overlap for the next strips you lay down. This is so that you won’t have any parts of the bare wall “peeking out” when you try to apply the next strips. You’re not always guaranteed to paste a completely vertical wall the first time. Creating an overlap makes the process more efficient and helps you avoid crooked corners.
If the wallpaper doesn’t stick to the wallpaper, use glue or adhesive to fix it.
Step 6: Smooth out the paper seams with a roller
Once you’ve finished laying down all the wallpaper strips, make sure your wallpaper doesn’t have any creases, exposed gaps, or crooked edges. Use a roller to smoothen out the wallpaper.
Don’t push too hard to the point that the paste would ooze off. Push gently until you’re satisfied with the look.
Step 7: Cut and trim down extra edges
For any loose paper hanging from the ceiling and the floor, cut it down. Make sure the scissors or cutting tool you’ll use is sharp and functional.
You can also use a taping knife to help guide you to trim down the overlapping paper. You can also use a ruler as a guide to ensure you won’t accidentally go over the edge. Take extra precautions not to dent the walls and flooring.
Step 8: Clean up
Once finished, wipe down the wallpaper of your new wall. If some paste has oozed out of the wallpaper strip, get it cleaned soon. It’s much easier to clean off paste before it dries. Natural sponges dipped in dish soap can also help the wallpaper look neat and spotless.
And that’s all there is to it for this wallpaper guide on how to apply wallpaper correctly.