How To Hang Wallpaper

You will first have to choose the right type of wall covering. There is a huge variety of papers available some of the most popular ones are detailed below.

 

 

Vinyl wallpaper

Vinyl wallpaper has the design printed on the plastic; this is bonded to a paper backing enabling hanging. The plastic makes vinyl wallpaper much tougher than normal "washable" paper.

 

Blown vinyl wallpaper

The vinyl surface layer of this wallpaper contains tiny air bubbles that expand the thickness of the paper which is then embossed. It is available in a huge variety of patterns and colours. Plain textured vinyls are also available; these are intended to be painted once hung. Many people prefer blown vinyl to relief paper as it is much tougher.

 

Relief wallpaper

Relief wallpapers are embossed with regular or random designs. As with plain blown vinyl, they are intended to be painted once hung. Ideally suited to covering up wall defects such as, cracks and lumps. They require care when hanging as the pattern can easily be flattened.

 

Woodchip paper

Woodchip paper has small chips of wood sandwiched between two layers of plain paper, creating a coarse textured surface. It's very inexpensive and ideal for covering cracks or bumps; again, it is intended to be painted once hung.

 

Preparation

Before hanging your paper, you must ensure your walls are correctly prepared. Poor preparation will produce poor results!

Walls that are painted only need to be cleaned, making sure you get rid of any dirt or grime, especially in corners and along your skirting boards.

 

Walls that are already papered will need to have the paper stripped. Strip all paper and backing before washing the wall.

 

New plasterboard/gypsum walls will require a sealant before hanging. Mix up some size (diluted wallpaper paste) apply with a brush and leave to dry.

 

Hanging your wallpaper

Cutting and pasting the paper

  1. Start by measuring and cutting your lengths, Check where your match is and allow for this when measuring. Measure and cut each length adding an extra 100mm.

 

  1. Placing it face down on the pasting table, brush on the paste. Start at the bottom of the strip and work from the middle of the paper out to the edges.

 

  1. Once you have pasted a large section, loosely fold it in (do not crease the fold), with pasted side facing inwards. Slide the paper along the table and paste the next section. Make another fold and finish the pasting the paper

 

Hanging the paper

 
  1. After leaving the folded paper to soak for the time recommended in the instructions, using a pencil, mark a plumbed line on the first wall (about 25mm less than the paper’s width from the corner of the wall).
 
  1. Position the top of the paper on the wall with a 50mm overlap at the ceiling and align its edge with the plumbed line.
 
  1. Using a brush, press the top section into place, before brushing the rest of the length of paper onto the wall. Brush the centre first then out to the edges, brushing out any air bubbles.
 
  1. Trim the paper at the top and bottom. Using the edge of a pair of scissors, press the paper into the angle where the wall and ceiling meet. Then carefully lift the top of the paper away from the wall and cut carefully along the marked line. Brush the paper back onto the wall.
 
  1. Repeat the procedure at the bottom of the paper using the angle between the wall and the skirting board.
 
  1. When hanging the corner lengths, cut the width (using a marked plumb line on the new wall as a guide) so that 25mm will turn onto the next wall. As most corners are not square, turning the full width of paper would mean edge of the length will not be truly vertical on the new wall and this will effect the hanging of subsequent lengths (i.e. they will be squinty).
  
  1. When papering round light switches, you should first turn off the electricity. Mark the outline of the switch then cut through the diagonals of the marked area. Trim the resulting triangular shaped cut so that you have about 10mm of paper left on each edge. Remove the face plate of the switch and tuck the paper in behind it. Ensure the paper is completely dry before re-fitting.

Once your paper is completely dry (wait at least 24 hours) you can, if required, paint it in a colour of your choosing.

You have now successfully decorated your room, well done!