Whether you’re lining a feature wall or making a statement on the ceiling, wallpaper has a wonderful way of taking an ordinary room to extraordinary heights. However, getting it right can seem a little daunting.
To help, here’s our step-by-step guide on how to wallpaper a room. All you need to do is follow these top tips:.
Preparation
Taking the time to properly prepare the wall and paper before you start is one of the best wallpapering tips. Not doing so could make all the difference in the look of your finished room.
For example, you don’t want a seam to fall within an inch or two of a window or door. Doing so makes it difficult to open and close these fixtures. You also don’t want any of your seams to fall smack dab in the middle of an inside corner. Get more info on this wallpaper singapore website.
Using a spirit level and a pencil, mark a plumb line on the back of your first strip of wallpaper. Add 4’’ (or whatever measurement you decide on) to this mark, and cut your wallpaper accordingly. This will help you figure out where each of your seams will fall.
Measure the Walls
Before you buy wallpaper, carefully measure the walls you’ll be covering. This will give you an accurate measurement of the space and will help avoid unnecessary waste. Don’t forget to take into account openings such as doors and windows.
If your wallpaper is patterned, you’ll need to know its pattern repeat number. This is the distance between the matching parts of the pattern and can be found on the back of a sample or on your supplier’s website.
Many wallpaper guides advise calculating square footage to get your measurements, but Hogan says this method can leave you short of usable floor-to-ceiling strips. Instead, calculate the number of “drops” you’ll need by dividing your wall width (excluding doors and windows) by the width of the roll.
Lay Out the Paper
It’s best to get the first strip of wallpaper, known as a ‘drop’, hung straight before proceeding. This will help you to match the pattern accurately as you go along.
Use a spirit level to draw a vertical straight line on the wall or skirting board – this is your plumb line. Then cut a length of paper to this measurement, allowing for a small overlap.
Check that the pattern is facing in the right direction and mark this on the back of the paper with a pencil. Cut the next length to size, numbering it as you go, and fit it against the first ensuring that the patterns line up.
Apply the Paste
Using a wallpaper brush, apply an even coat of paste to the wall. Allow to dry per the instructions on the paste container (typically 20 – 30 minutes).
If you have chosen a pattern to match wallpaper, this is the point at which you should apply a strip of the paper to check that it is lying flat and straight. I like to use a smoothing tool to make sure that the first strip is lying perfectly flat.
I start by applying the first length or ‘drop’ of wallpaper, usually a vertical one, in line with the reference line that I have drawn. This is important as all other drops will align to it and, if it’s not plumb, the whole room could look wonky.
Hang the Paper
Using a seam roller, flatten out the first sheet and carefully match and close the seam. Trim the top of the paper if necessary and smooth it.
For patterned wallpaper, remember that the pattern may not match up well between the first and last strips of paper you hang. So if you can, choose the least conspicuous spot in the room to start – usually a corner.
When you get to the ceiling or coving, be sure to use a ladder and allow extra product to reach the height of the wall. You can then hang the paper dry from the roll and lightly brush it into place. The next step is to cut any excess paper at the top and bottom of the wall.
