Wallpapering Tips & Tricks

Expert Wallpapering Tips & Tricks

Your Essential Wallpaper Tool Kit

Wallpaper tools arranged on a wooden background

Having the right tools makes all the difference for a professional finish. Here's what you'll need:

  • 📏 Tape measure - Measure your walls BEFORE you buy your wallpaper. Measure twice!
  • 🫧 Sugar soap - To clean the wall thoroughly
  • ✏️ Sharp pencil - For marking guidelines
  • 📐 Plumb line/spirit level - Essential for drawing a guide before putting up your first drop to make sure it is straight
  • 🪣 Paint tray and roller - To hold wallpaper paste and roller to apply paste to the wall
  • 🎨 Wallpaper paste - Ready-mixed paste is much better than mix-your-own varieties
  • 🧹 Wallpaper brush - To smooth the wallpaper onto the wall
  • 🛢 Seam roller - To smooth down joins between drops
  • ✂️ Sharp scissors - For cutting wallpaper to length
  • 🔪 Sharp craft knife - For precise trimming
  • 📏 Metal ruler - For straight cuts
  • 🧽 Damp sponge/cloth - To wipe off any excess wallpaper paste

Before You Start

Prepare Your Walls: Ensure walls are clean, dry, and smooth. Use sugar soap to clean them thoroughly. Fill any holes or cracks and sand them down. Remove old wallpaper completely and wash walls to remove any paste residue.

Measure Carefully: Measure your wall height and add 10cm (4 inches) extra for trimming. Remember to measure precisely - do it twice! Watch out for any hidden pattern repeats, as these need to be factored into your calculations.

Draw Your Guideline: Draw a line in pencil down the wall using a spirit level or plumb line to make sure it is a straight vertical. Use this to line up your first wallpaper drop. This will help ensure that your wallpaper stays level as you add further drops. Not all walls or corners are straight, so don't assume that the corner/edge of a wall will mean your wallpaper is straight - this is a game changer!

Top Wallpapering Tips (Learnt Through Trial and Error!)

1. Consider Pattern Placement: Think about where you want the pattern to begin when hanging your first strip of wallpaper. This is well worth doing, especially with a large pattern repeat and/or if you're investing in a statement wallpaper.

2. Use Paste-the-Wall Paste: Paste-the-wall paste is so much easier and more forgiving. Use a roller to apply this. It is definitely the best option for our wallpapers - do your research on which brand to use.

3. Match Your Pattern: Take time to align patterns carefully at the seams. It's worth the extra effort for a professional finish.

4. Smooth Out Bubbles: Work from the centre outwards using a wallpaper brush or smoother to eliminate air bubbles and ensure good adhesion.

5. Clean As You Go: Always have a damp cloth to hand and make sure you wipe any excess paste off as soon as possible. This prevents staining and keeps your work clean.

6. Trim Precisely: Use a sharp blade and change it frequently for clean cuts at ceilings, skirting boards, and around obstacles.

Professional Techniques

Seams: Never overlap seams - butt them together carefully. Use a seam roller gently to ensure edges are well adhered.

Paste Application: Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. Allow the paste to become slightly tacky before hanging if using paste-the-paper methods.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Rushing the preparation - proper prep is essential for a lasting finish
  • Not drawing a vertical guideline - this leads to wonky wallpaper!
  • Assuming corners are straight - they rarely are
  • Hanging wallpaper in direct sunlight or drafts while drying
  • Using too much paste, which can cause staining
  • Not wiping excess paste immediately
  • Forgetting to turn off electricity when papering around switches and sockets

Need More Help?

If you have questions about any of our wallpapers or need specific advice for your project, please don't hesitate to contact us. We're here to help make your wallpapering project a success!