On this page....
Prepare the wall surface
Plan where to start in the room
Make a plumb line
Wallpaper is actually easy to hang if the walls – and you! – are well prepared. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the type of paper you have chosen.
Sand smooth with 100 grit sandpaper.
The surface of the wall must be clean, dry and sound. Then the wall needs a good coat of size (a sort of wallpaper undercoat), so that the wallpaper is easy to position and sticks properly.
1. Remove any old paper. METYLAN Active Wallpaper Remover makes that easy.
2. Repair any imperfections in the wall/plaster, and sand smooth with 100 grit sandpaper. Remove the dust.
3. Brush the wall surface with a liberal coat of SHUR-STIK wallpaper size and let it dry. This makes it much easier to position the wallpaper when it is time to start hanging.
Start near the main source of light and work away from it, aiming to finish in a discreet area, such as behind a door.
If you are using patterned wallpaper on a feature wall, start in the middle of the wall.
Check that each roll is the same design and batch number before you start cutting the paper.
Marking the wall along the plumb line every 20 to 30cm
Using a plumbline – a straight-line device that professionals use – will ensure that even if your ceilings or floors are not level, the wallpaper will still be straight. Always hang your first strip of paper next to a plumbline.
Using a plumbline to help you wallpaper:
1. Measure the width of your paper.
2. Measure the same distance out from the corner in the direction you intend working.
3. Come back 15mm towards the corner from the narrowest point of the plumbline, and make a mark closer to the ceiling.
4. Drive in a small nail and hang the plumbline from it.
Set the site to suit your style