How to Hang Wallpaper: a Step by Step Guide

With the economy in such a bad state at the moment, many people are turning to D.I.Y. instead of calling a contractor. One easy way of making any room look beautiful is to hang wallpaper. This step by step guide on How to Hang Wallpaper will take you from preparation to trimming and will show you that even a complete novice can hang wallpaper.

How to Hang Wallpaper: Preparation

First of all you will need to gather a few tools together to hang wallpaper correctly. These tools can be found at any home improvement store and won't cost you an arm or even a leg. To hang wallpaper you will need a tape measure, a 4-foot level, a 4-inch flexible putty knife, a paint roller and roller pan, a 2-inch paint brush, a step ladder, a razor knife, a smoothing brush and a large table or flat working surface. Once you have gathered all your tools together it is time to prepare the walls so you can hang the wallpaper easily.

Before you hang wallpaper it is very important to make sure the walls you are going to wallpaper are smooth and clean. Wallpaper will show any imperfections in the wall once it dries, so remove any small bumps and fill in all the cracks using a suitable wall filler. Once your wall is smooth and dry it needs to be primed or "sized" using a suitable wallpaper primer and your paint roller and pan. This primer will stop the wallpaper adhesive from penetrating too deeply into your wall and allow you to hang the wallpaper easier. If the wall you are going to hang wallpaper on has already been wallpapered and the wallpaper is in good condition then you can hang wallpaper directly over the existing wallpaper, but this surface needs to be primed also. Please note that when working with any liquids on a wall, electrical connections should be disconnected.

How to hang Wallpaper: Marking, Measuring and Paste Preparation

It is really important when you hang wallpaper to make sure it is plum (vertically correct). To do this, take your 4ft level and pencil in a line from the ceiling to the floor about 1/8 inch from the edge where the wallpaper will end. It is usually better to start hanging wallpaper to the right of a door or window as discrepancies in the pattern will be less notable. Remember, every time you move onto a new wall or surface you must draw a new plum line to make sure you hang the wallpaper vertically. Once you have your first plumb line drawn it is time to prepare your paste. Follow the manufacturer's directions on the packaging exactly and always use cold water. It is important to stir the paste thoroughly to remove any lumps that will show once you hang the wallpaper.

How to hang Wallpaper: Cutting and Hanging Wallpaper

Measure the height of the wall and add 4 inches to the total as this will allow for shrinkage and also for matching the patterns on your wall paper. Before you paste this first piece, match the second piece making sure you have the pattern correctly aligned. As you hang wallpaper you will continue this process of measuring and cutting a second piece before pasting and hanging the first.

Next unroll the first strip of wallpaper on your work surface with the pattern side down. Brush the paste about 2/3 of the way down the strip making sure the paste is even and not too thick. Fold the pasted part of the wallpaper together with the pasted sides together. Move the wallpaper down your work surface and paste the remaining 1/3 before folding it to match your previous fold (you will now have a folded piece of wallpaper with only the pattern side showing). Allow the folded wallpaper to sit for 5 minutes before hanging; this will allow the wallpaper paste to get to the right consistency.

Carry the pasted strip of wallpaper as if you were carrying a coat draped over both your arms, and approach the area in which you will hang the wallpaper. The first piece of wallpaper is very important as all subsequent pieces will be hung to match this piece, so take your time and get it correct. Unfold the top 1/3 of the pasted paper and attach it to the top of the wall with 2" overhanging the top (this will be trimmed later). Holding the edge of the wallpaper firmly with one hand unfold the remaining wallpaper with the other hand. Make sure the wallpaper matches the plum line you made, and using your smoothing brush, smooth down the wallpaper from top to bottom allowing the weight of the wallpaper to pull itself down naturally. If air bubbles appear in the wallpaper then smooth them down with the brush, if this does not work then gently pull the wallpaper from the wall bottom first, till you reach the air bubble and then smooth down the wallpaper again.

Continue to hang each section of wallpaper making sure you align the pattern on each piece. When you get to a corner measure the distance from the last piece of wallpaper to the corner and add between 1/2" to 1" depending on how level the corner is. Cut your wallpaper width-wise to this measurement and hang as before, making sure the wallpaper fits snugly into the corner. Remember that when you go around corners to use a plumb line to make sure the next piece of wallpaper will be vertical - walls are usually not plumb.

When going around windows and doors hang the wallpaper as instructed above and use your razor knife to cut away excess wallpaper and to make cuts that will allow the wallpaper to sit perfectly. Wall plate and switch covers should be removed, then you can wallpaper straight over them and cut out the shape using your razor knife later (remember to turn off the electric to all wall plates and switches before priming or pasting).

How to hang Wallpaper: Trimming

Once you have hung the wallpaper you must trim the excess. This is extremely challenging and certain pieces around doors and windows can take several cuts. Use your flexible putty knife and apply pressure making sure the wallpaper becomes tight, but not over tight. Using your putty knife as a guide gently cut the wallpaper with your razor knife. Cut out the remaining wall plates and switches before replacing the front covers. Now the job is done, sit back and complement yourself on a job well done!

Styles and Designs

There are many styles and designs of wallpaper you can hang on your walls, but for a complete novice I would recommend a simple pattern, preferably a vertical pattern that can be easily matched. For experienced wallpaper hangers the variety of pattern and texture is endless. For some great wallpaper designs you can't beat the selection at wallpaperstore.com, who have a full range of wallpapers from plain to full mural.

Sources

personal experience

http://www.askthebuilder.com

http://www.doityourself.com