Most of us have attempted at least some form of DIY, whether that be assembling flat pack furniture or putting up a shelf, but far less common is the ability to effectively wallpaper a room. We must admit it does take some practice so don’t worry if you’ve never quite mastered it.
Luckily, we have put together a helpful step by step guide showing you exactly what you need to know to be able to apply wallpaper like a pro. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll never have to call in the decorators again.
Prepare Your Walls
Before you even pick up your wallpaper and adhesive, there are a few things you need to get out of the way first to make this job run as smoothly as possible.
- Reach for your circuit board and switch off the electricity to the room you’ll be wallpapering.
- Remove each electrical outlet and faceplate from the wall.
- Wallpaper adhesive contains water so taking these measures will prevent you from being electrocuted. Removing sockets and faceplates also ensures you can do a much neater job.
Your next step is to remove the old wallpaper covering. Depending on the last time your rooms were decorated, there may only be one layer present but there can sometimes be many more as most people just paste over the existing instead.
To assist in removing the old paper, use the following tips;
- Try and peel a corner of the wallpaper first. This allows you to define a starting point.
- Next, you’ll want to use your wall scraper to remove all of the wallpaper present back to the plastered walls.
- If this is difficult, consider using a belt sander or wallpaper removal machine which helps remove old wallpaper with the assistance of steam.
Finally, you’ll want to clean your bare walls with a sponge and some warm soapy water and then fill in any cracks with some filler.
Applying the Wallpaper
Wallpaper should be applied using the following steps;
- Draw guidelines on your wall with a pencil and spirit level. These lines are going to form a basic template for applying your wallpaper.
- Cut a length of wallpaper which is 100mm longer than the height of the wall.
- Apply wallpaper paste to the back of the wallpaper, or if self-adhesive, apply as per the instructions provided.
- The wallpaper should be lined up with the guidelines you drew previously.
- 50mm should be left at the top and the bottom of the wall which will be cut off once applied firmly.
- Smooth the wallpaper with an appropriate brush and then repeat for the rest of the room, making sure to match any patterns as you go along.
Buying Your Wallpaper
Wallpaper can be bought from any good DIY retailer both on the high street and online. We find that online retailers usually offer a much better range and deliver nationwide. Lancashire Wallpaper is one of the best suppliers who regularly receives positive feedback about their quality products, but make sure whoever you choose can supply enough of the pattern you want as well as some spare rolls before ordering. You might also want to see whether your chosen retailer recommends a specific adhesive for each type of wallpaper.
Home improvement doesn’t have to be difficult if you take your time and follow a simple set of methodical instructions. Consider giving it a go next time you redecorate.