A Precise Guide For Measuring And Hanging Wallpaper:

Where to start hanging the wallpaper?
 

The starting point of hanging a wallpaper remains crucial in determining the overall look. Ideally, you should start from a corner or window that is most visible. An area opposite the most used entrance or a corner that has strong natural light can be a good starting point. For as you continue hanging the wallpaper, the orientation or patterns may not line up especially if you have uneven or bumpy walls. To make it less noticeable, the ending point should ideally be behind doors or entryway. These spaces and edges are more forgiving when it comes to wallpaper that is not perfectly aligned. So, consider starting in areas that are highly visible and end wallpapering in less noticeable corners.

Consider the method of application: Paste-the-paper or Paste-the-wall wallpaper:
 

Each wallpaper is hung differently based on its material and construction. All of our papers are either Paste the Wall or Paste the Paper.

With Paste-the-paper, the paste or adhesive is applied directly onto the wallpaper. Each drop or length of wallpaper needs to be cut beforehand. You will need a pasting table to apply adhesive to the wallpaper. On the other hand, with Paste-the-wall, the paste or adhesive is applied onto the wall. The wallpaper can be applied directly from the roll and allows for a easier application. It is important to prepare and hang each wallpaper according to its method of application.

Step-by-step guide for hanging wallpaper:
 

Following is a step-by-step guide for hanging both Paste-the-paper and Paste-the-wall wallpaper. It is important to note that the method may vary for specialist wallpapers. The guide may not apply to overlapping, fabric-backed, untrimmed, grass cloths or flock wallpapers, in these instances we would strongly recommend finding a good decorator to do the job.

Required tools:
Below are some basic tools required for hanging wallpaper:

-Sandpaper and Wall fillers - for prepping up the wall

-Pencil and Tape measure - for markings and measurement

-Bucket - to mix the paste

-Paint brushes, roller and roller tray -for applying the paste

-Pasting table - if you are working with paste-the-wallpaper

-Wallpaper brush or smoother - to ensure that the wallpaper is smooth and even

-Seam roller - to smooth and ensure seams are at level

-Wallpaper craft knife and scissors - to trim the wallpaper

-Clean damp cloth - to clean off any paste left on the wallpaper surface or mouldings

Prepare the walls:

Preparing the walls remains the first and crucial step for hanging wallpaper. Start by removing old wallpaper or any flaking paint. It is important to sand down any visible lumps or bumps on the wall. Also, fill in any cracks, holes and open joints with an appropriate filler. An even and smooth finish can help you to avoid unwanted lumps, bumps and bubbles later on. For better results, you can also paint the walls in the base colour of the wallpaper. Lastly, clean the walls with a detergent or sugar soap and let it dry before you can hang the wallpaper. A clean and smooth surface can help you to achieve a professional finish.

Mark a straight line for the first drop of wallpaper:

Measure and draw a straight line to ensure that your first length or, "drop," of wallpaper hangs straight. Since walls and corners are rarely straight, avoid using it as a reference. Instead, use a spirit level or plumb-bob to draw a straight line. When measuring, subtract one to two inches from the width of the wallpaper. This will allow the adjoining wallpaper to easily overlap. So, if you have a standard 21 inches wide roll, measure around 19 inches from the starting point and draw a straight line. Use the line as a reference to align and line up your first drop of wallpaper.

 
 
Apply the paste and hang your first drop of wallpaper:
 

For Paste-the-paper wallpaper. To hang the wallpaper, you need to apply the paste or adhesive directly onto the paper. For this reason, each drop of wallpaper needs to be pre-cut.

To cut the wallpaper to the right length, measure the height of the wall in at least three places. Add around 4 inches to the longest measurement to allow for trimming at the top and bottom. Use a ruler or spirit level to draw a straight line and cut across for the first drop of wallpaper. You can use this as a reference for cutting other pieces. However, if you have a patterned design, it is important to line up the pattern edge-to-edge before cutting. Mark each piece as you go along so that you know in which order to hang your patterned wallpaper.

Apply the paste, once each strip of wallpaper is cut. Lay the paper on a pasting with the patterned side facing down. Load the brush and make sure you wipe off the excess paste. Then, apply the paste to the centre of the wallpaper, working your way towards the edges to cover each part of the wallpaper.

After you have applied the paste, give it some time to rest. Allow the pasted strip to rest for the instructed time to activate the adhesive and soften your wallpaper. When resting, it is advisable to "book," or fold each pasted strip in a concertina shape. Make sure you fold the strip over itself, without making a crease. So, when unfolded you have two-thirds of the strip to work with. This process will make it much easier to hang your wallpaper.

Once the paste has been applied and given time to rest, it is time to hang your first strip of wallpaper. Align the wallpaper with the straight line you had already marked. Leave adequate space at the top and bottom for trimming. You can lightly push the paper onto the wall to hang your first drop of wallpaper. 

For Paste-the-wall wallpaper. To hang the wallpaper the paste or adhesive needs to be applied directly onto the wall. Use a roller to apply the paste liberally upon the wall. A roller will take less time and help you to achieve an even coat. Make sure you cover a few inches beyond the line you had marked earlier. This way when hanging your second drop, you won't have to worry about getting the paste on the previous one.

Once the paste has been applied, start hanging the wallpaper. Paste-the-wall wallpaper can be applied directly from the roll. Align it with the straight line you had marked earlier. Make sure you leave a little extra wallpaper on the top. Lightly brush paste and push with your hand as you go down the skirting. When done, let the roll hang on the floor.

Smooth out the surface of the wallpaper:

Once you have hung the first drop of wallpaper, it is important to smooth out the surface. It will ensure that your wallpaper neatly adheres to the wall without any bubbles. A wallpaper smoother or brush remains ideal for the job. Work your way from the centre towards the edges to remove any bubbles. Then, go from top to bottom to cover every square inch of the wallpaper. Make sure during the process, the wallpaper remains aligned with the line you had marked. Also, don't apply too much pressure on the smoother as it may push out the paste or stretch the paper. Gently, smooth out the corners and edges to achieve a neat and even surface.

Trim the top and bottom edges:

After hanging and smoothing out your first drop of paper, you can start trimming the wallpaper. Crease the top and bottom of the paper against the ceiling and baseboard. Gently pull the wallpaper away from the wall and cut along the crease with a scissor. If you are cutting with a wallpaper knife, you can use a taping knife as an edge. Once done, make sure to brush paste upon the trimmed edges to neatly put it back into place.

Continue hanging the rest of the wallpaper:

For Paste-the-paper wallpaper. To hang the rest of the wallpaper, follow the same process. Hang the next length of paper against the first one. Make sure the patterns and design along the edges are in perfect match. Once, you have smoothed out and trimmed two to three strips of wallpaper, use a roller to flatten out the joints and seams. There should be no gap between the strips of paper. Continue adding length till you have reached the end of the wall.

For Paste-the-wall wallpaper. Once you have trimmed out the first drop, continue hanging the next length from the roll. Apply the paste to the wall and follow the same process. Once, you have smoothed out and trimmed two to three lengths of wallpaper, use a roller to flatten out the joints and seams. There should be no gap between the strips of paper. While hanging, brush the paste wherever it is required. Also, keep a damp cloth at hand to wipe out any excess paste. Continue adding lengths till you have reached the end of the wall.

How to go around switches and fixtures?

When hanging wallpaper, one of the tricky parts could be to go around switches and fixtures. To ensure safety, first turn off the electricity supply. There are two simple ways to wallpaper around a switch or fixture. If possible unscrew the fixture. Cut away the wallpaper that covers the hole. Make sure you have measured the size of the fixture and don't cut too much. Use a 2" brush to neatly paste the edges around the hole. Once done screw the fixture back into place.

In case, it is difficult to unscrew a switch, you can cover it lightly with the paper. Make a hole in the centre and cut four diagonal lines till the edge of the switch. Gently apply the paste and smooth out the edges. You can follow a similar method for circular switches but will have to cut out a star shape. Lastly, cut off the excess paper to attain a neat finish around the switches.

How to hang wallpaper around windows?

Another challenging part could be to hang wallpaper around a window or recess on the wall. To neatly wallpaper around a window, allow the length of the wallpaper to fall over the window. Paste the wallpaper onto the wall, smooth the surface and trim out the top and bottom edges. Then, make a sharp crease around the edges of the window. This will give you a flap that can easily be folded inside the recess of the window. Fold the extra wallpaper on the top, bottom, and sides of the window. Continue the process as you hang the next length of wallpaper until you have covered the entire window. If you have a wide recess, you may need to cut an additional piece of paper to cover it. Make sure all the patterns and designs around the window match. You can use an off-cut to align the patterns around the recess.

How to wallpaper corners?

 When wallpapering a corner, a few simple tricks can help you to achieve a neat finish. Consider using two lengths of paper to neatly cover a corner. Start by measuring the distance from the corner to your previous length of paper. Measure at several points since the corners are might be crooked. Then, add around 1 inch to the longest measurement. Cut your wallpaper vertically according to the final measurement. Hang this piece of wallpaper next to your previous one. Then, make a sharp crease along the corner, allowing the paper to fold around the corner.

Next, hang another length of wallpaper to cover the folded paper on the other side. It is advisable to draw a straight line on this side as well, close to the wallpaper you had folded. Apply the paste and hang the other strip of wallpaper. Since the corners are not perfectly straight, the two strips might overlap. Make sure you match the pattern and design along the corner as well.

Following a few tips and tricks, hanging wallpaper is a task that you easily take up yourself. Hanging wallpaper can refresh and add personality to any nook and corner of your home. We invite you to check out our large selection of wallpaper.