Hanging wallpaper always seems like a daunting task! It’s not something that we do on a regular basis so we need a little reminder from time to time. Here’s our easy guide on how to hang wallpaper for beginners.
How to hang wallpaper
What you’ll need:
- Step ladder
- Tape measure
- Wallpaper adhesive (according to wallpaper*)
- Pasting table (according to wallpaper*)
- Pasting brush (according to wallpaper*)
- Plumb bob
- Trimming knife
- Wallpaper scissors
- Paper hanging brush
*For tips on each type of wallpaper, see our Basic Wallpapering Theory post.
For an easy peasy wallpapering experience, we recommend using paste-the-wall wallpaper.
1. Where to start
In the corner! You should ideally start hanging wallpaper in the corner on a wall with no windows and doors, which allows you to hang a full length strip. Be careful, it is very important that the first length is straight!
Tip: Righty? Start wallpapering on a wall to the right of the window. Lefty? Start from the left!
2. Hanging the first length
- Use a plumb line to draw a line from the ceiling to the skirting board, giving you a vertical guidance line to hang your first length of wallpaper.
- Start at the top of the wall with the right-hand side of the wallpaper on the vertical line. Try to keep the left-hand edge from touching the wall.
- Once everything is well lined up, smooth everything down with your paper hanging brush, working from the centre out.
- With your first length firmly in place and right up to the edges, you can cut along the creases with wallpaper scissors.
- Time to start adding the rest! Line up the next length – be sure to match up the pattern! Repeat steps 2 to 4.
Tip: try to leave at least 5cm at the top and bottom for trimming so you get a nice straight line at the end!
3. Matching
When you have a repeat design wallpaper, you need to make sure that the lengths of wallpaper match up perfectly for a clean finish.
There are three different types of pattern match:
- Straight match: the left and right edges of the wallpaper strip match in a straight horizontal line with the left and right edges of the next strip of wallpaper.
- Offset match: the right hand edge of the first wallpaper strip only matches with the left hand side of the next strip, when the second strip is dropped by a specified distance. This means the design repeats every xx cm.
- Free match: this is the easiest as there is no matching required!
ManoMano Wallpapering Guide for Beginners inspired by Graham & Brown.
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