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Hanging wallpaper is a manageable do-it-yourself project that can dramatically transform a room's aesthetic. While the process requires patience and precision, success hinges on proper wall preparation, accurate pattern matching, and correct paste application. Based on our experience assessment, meticulous preparation is the most critical factor for a professional-looking result, helping to avoid common pitfalls like bubbling seams or misaligned patterns. This guide provides a clear, step-by-step approach to ensure you get it right the first time.
Before beginning, gather all necessary supplies. Having everything on hand streamlines the process. You will need:
Wall preparation, often called "sizing," is non-negotiable. Start by ensuring walls are clean, dry, and structurally sound. Fill any holes or cracks with spackling compound and sand any rough areas until the surface is perfectly smooth. Any imperfection will be visible through the wallpaper. Next, apply an even coat of wallpaper primer. If your wallpaper is thin or light-colored, use a white primer. For dark papers, tinting the primer a similar color can prevent the underlying wall from showing through.
Accuracy during cutting prevents waste and ensures pattern continuity. Measure the height of your wall from ceiling to baseboard, adding 4 to 6 inches of extra length at the top and bottom for trimming. For solid or vertically striped patterns, you can cut several strips at once. However, for patterned wallpaper, you must "pattern match" each strip individually. Lay the first cut strip on your table, then align the roll's pattern before measuring and cutting the next strip. This often requires trimming a portion of the roll to get the pattern to start at the correct point. Plan your layout so that any narrow, trimmed strip ends up in a less visible area, like behind a door.
Booking is a crucial technique that allows the paste to fully activate and the paper fibers to expand uniformly. If using unpasted paper, apply an even layer of adhesive to the top half of the strip's back. Then, fold the pasted top section over onto itself, paste-to-paste, without creasing the fold. Repeat this process for the bottom half. The folded strip should rest for the time specified on the product label, typically 5 to 15 minutes. This waiting period, known as the "booking time," ensures the wallpaper becomes pliable and maximally adhesive for a smooth application. As a modern alternative, self-adhesive or peel-and-stick wallpapers eliminate the pasting and booking steps, offering a less messy option, particularly for rentals.
Begin by turning off power to the room and removing outlet and switch covers. Start hanging from a corner or a plumb line you've drawn to ensure vertical alignment. Unfold the top half of your booked strip and align it with the wall, leaving a few inches of excess at the ceiling. Smooth the paper onto the wall from the top down and from the center outward using a smoothing brush to push out air bubbles. Once the top is secure, unfold the bottom half and smooth it into place. Hang the subsequent strip next to the first, carefully matching the pattern seams before smoothing it onto the wall.
After hanging all strips, the final step is trimming and fitting. Use a sharp box cutter and a straightedge to trim the excess paper at the ceiling and baseboards. For electrical outlets and switches, make diagonal cuts from the center of the outlet outwards to create flaps. Carefully trim away the excess paper, leaving a small overlap inside the box. Once trimmed, you can reinstall the outlet covers, which will hide the rough edges. Allow the wallpaper to cure fully for 24-48 hours before touching it.
To ensure a successful wallpapering project, focus on these key takeaways: prioritize wall preparation, always pattern match before cutting, and allow for proper paste booking time. For beginners, starting with a small, low-traffic room or using removable wallpaper can build confidence before tackling larger, more permanent projects.
