How to Wallpaper a Room

What You Will Need

Wallpaper (add 15 percent for waste), wallpaper paste, a pasting table, a pasting brush, a paper-hanging brush or smoothing tool, a plumb bob or spirit level, a sharp trimming knife, and a seam roller.

Step 1 — Prepare the Walls

Walls must be smooth, clean, and sealed. Fill any cracks or holes. Apply size (diluted wallpaper paste or specialist wall size) to the walls and allow to dry. Without sizing, paste absorbs into the wall too quickly.

Step 2 — Plan Your Starting Point

Find the vertical centre of the main wall. Mark a plumb vertical line — this is your reference line. Never use a door frame or corner as a starting point as they are rarely truly vertical.

Step 3 — Cut and Paste

Cut lengths with a 75mm allowance at top and bottom for trimming. Apply paste evenly to the back of the paper. For paste-the-wall papers, apply to the wall instead. Fold pasted paper on itself and allow to soak per the label instructions.

Step 4 — Hang the First Length

Align with your plumb line, leaving 75mm excess at the ceiling. Smooth from the centre outward and downward with your hanging brush. Check alignment with your plumb line constantly.

Step 5 — Trim and Repeat

Using a broad knife as a guide, trim the excess at ceiling and skirting with a sharp knife. Hang subsequent lengths butting joints tightly together without overlapping. Roll seams after 10 minutes. Wipe off excess paste with a damp sponge.