Wallpapering can get messy. We have listed a few tips to help the process run as smoothly as possible.
Before you start wallpapering, measure the width and the height of the wall that you plan to wallpaper. Once the surfaced is measured start measuring the strips of paper, adding an extra 10cm at the ends of each strip to allow for trimmings. If you’re wallpapering a hallway or staircase make sure you allow length for the skirting board. Mark your wallpaper lightly on the face so you know where exactly to cut it.
Pasting and cutting
When you are cutting your wallpaper place it face down on a table and align one edge of the wallpaper to the edge of the table. Cut the paper along the mark your made with a large scissors. Paste the first sheet by spreading some paste into the center and working the brush in a herringbone pattern to spread it to the edges. Hold the paper against the table edge furthest from you and paste up to this edge first, and then pull the paper towards you and paste the nearest edge.
Fold the pasted sides inwards so that no paste touches the face side and leave it soak for the amount of time specified. Apply paste to two or three more sheets of paper to allow the paper to absorb some of the paste, and when they’re done hang the folded pieces over something or leave them to rest.
Hanging the first piece
Using a ladder, unroll each sheet of wallpaper down the wall. Hang the first sheet to a vertical line on each wall, and press lightly on the top of the first sheet against the wall. Use a smoothing brush, brushing outwards to get rid of air bubbles. Crease the excess into the skirting and ceiling by using the back of a scissors, and trim it by cutting along the crease.
Hanging the rest
If your wallpaper doesn’t have a pattern you just need to hang it alongside the first piece, adjoining the edges carefully. If it does have a pattern place the next length on the floor, see how the pattern matches up and mark it lightly on the face so you’ll know where to place it against the other. Always clean off any excess paste with a clean wet sponge. Repeat this process for every length, making sure that the edges meet exactly and the pattern is matched.
Hanging wallpaper in corners
When you’ve hung your last whole piece of wallpaper on the wall, measure the distance from its edge and the corner of the room. Add on an extra 2.5 cm to your measurement to allow for error. Then hang the strip on and let the excess turn to the adjacent wall, trim it and brush it down. Mark a plum line on the adjacent wall to mark the distance of the width of the offcut paper from the corner. Use the marks to hang the offcut vertically so it reaches the corner. It will then overlap the wallpaper that went around the corner.
Wallpapering around windows and doors?
At door or window openings, hang the wallpaper so it laps over the frame and brush the wallpaper into place. Press the wallpaper over the corner of the frame and make a diagonal cut from the edge up to the corner of the door or window frame. ?Trim the edges and brush it so that it neatly adjoins the molding. ?Measure, cut and hang short lengths of wallpaper above and below the window opening, and use small patches of wallpaper to cover any bare areas.
Wallpapering around socket
Hang the wallpaper over the switches and socket outlets. ?Press on the wallpaper to reveal the outline of the switch or socket outlet. Use a scissor to pierce the center of the outline and make a diagonal cut out towards each corner mark.? Trim the edges of the faceplate. For an extra smooth job unscrew the faceplate and tuck the wallpaper behind the edge - make sure that you have the mains power turned off!