How To: Hang Wallpaper
There are several kinds of wallpaper( paste the paper, pre-pasted paper, and paste the wall) and each has specific techniques that are used to obtain beautiful results. This list is for most modern wall papers, which are “paste the wall” like you would find on Wayfair.
- You will need a small platform step ladder, painters benches or scaffolding for the length of your wall and an electric iron with steam function for removing paper that has become stuck to wall.
- It would be really nice to have a pasting table with paper cutter, and if you are working by yourself and are hanging horizontally, you might appreciate a vertical paper towel holder/dispenser that can be mounted on the top of a broom handle clamped at the correct height and inserted into the top of your ladder to hold the paper for the top row.
- Make sure that you have good access to the project area. Ideally you would need at least 36″ of space along all of the walls that you plan to improve.
- Lay down drop clothes to protect the flooring.
- Clean the wall of any wall hangings, nails, or adhesive hangers.
- Remove any loose wallpaper using Roman removal products.
- Fill in any voids, holes, or scratches using 5 minute fast setting drywall mud. Be careful! It sets very quickly…
- Sand the walls to be wallpapered. I recommend a Festool combination sander/vacuum unit.
- Lay out a paint roller, paint tray, paste brush, and a bucket of water with a washrag and a couple of sponges for cleanup. Holster or pocket your snap blade knife.
- Decide where you will begin.
- For vertical patterns, that will be either centered on the wall or to allow you to slightly overlap one of the corners of the walls where you will be papering.
- For horizontal patterns, that will be the row at eye level, slightly less than one roll width from the ceiling.
- Set up your laser on a tripod and align it with the edge of your chosen starting row.
- Begin to roll adhesive on the walls smoothly, not leaving any gaps or puddles. Only paste the area to which you will be applying paper in the next row, and slightly beyond.
- Leaving a little paper overlapping your starting point, begin to wipe the paper onto the pasted wall.
- For vertical walls, it works well to lay the roll at the base of the wall and pull the end up towards the ceiling. You can slide the unrolling paper roll from side to side while pulling upwards.
- For horizontal walls, you can hold the roll in one hand like a scroll and wipe it onto the wall using the other hand.
- When you come to receptacles and switches, you can make temporary relief cuts using your snap blade knife.
- Smooth the paper onto the walls using the wallpaper brush and squeegee to remove any air bubbles. Brush in a arc towards the edges.
- Once the paper is on the walls, cut the edges with a squeegee and snap blade knife.
- Wipe the walls clean using a damp sponge.
- Clean up