Wallpaper is a quick and colorful way to give a room style and visual interest. However, ripped seams, punctures and trapped air bubbles are common problems that can be difficult to fix without removing the entire strip of wallpaper.
Before you start, make sure to turn off the electricity and remove the wall plates. This will protect you from electrocuting or ruining the outlets.
1. Draw a line on the wall
Most people start by picking a wall and just go from one end to the other, but this is not the best way to hang wallpaper. It will be less stressful and more accurate if you plan out the layout before starting. To do this, cut a strip of paper and use post-it notes to mark where each piece will hit.
When you’re ready to begin, take your first strip and line it up with the line you drew. Make sure the top edge lines up with the ceiling, and the bottom edge lines up with the trim. Once it’s positioned correctly, smooth it down with your plastic scraper tool to remove any bubbles. Then, trim off the excess. Repeat the process until you’ve covered the entire wall.
2. Take a strip of wallpaper
Start at the corner or seam and carefully peel the paper off the wall. If it comes off easily and doesn’t tear the underlying drywall, you can continue.
Once you’ve started, don’t stop until you reach the end of the wall. It’s very unlikely that the pattern on the next strip will match up with the last one installed.
If you’re wallpapering a room that has a lot of electrical outlets and switches, it’s best to turn off the power. Also, it’s a good idea to cover the outlets with tape to protect them. Also, a plastic gutter can be draped over the electrical outlet to catch any water. This will prevent the wallpaper from getting wet and ruined. It’s important to do this since soaking wallpaper glue with water will ruin the drywall beneath it. For more info, do visit this website wallpaper singapore.
3. Measure the wall
It’s important to measure the walls of your room before starting to apply wallpaper. This will help you determine how many rolls of paper you need to buy. It’s also helpful to clear the room and cover furniture with drop cloths. This will make the project easier and faster.
You can also use a metal tape measure to take the measurements of the room. Be sure to measure around any doors and windows.
Most wallpaper measuring guides recommend calculating the area of the room and then multiplying it by the height of each wall. However, this method can leave you short of wallpaper. Hogan suggests dividing the height of your walls by the vertical repeat of the pattern and rounding up to an even number.
4. Cut the strip of wallpaper
When you’ve determined the size of the strip you need to cut, put it on your trestle table and weigh down both ends with heavy objects. This will help you keep the wallpaper from falling off while you’re pasting.
If you’re using a patterned wallpaper, you should centralize the dominant element on the wall to create the most balanced look. Then you can start hanging the rest of the paper.
Remember that you don’t want to have any seams within an inch or two of a window, door, or outside corner. You’ll also want to avoid having a strip end right in the middle of an inside corner. If you do, you’ll have to deal with an ugly bump in the wall. So make sure to take 4” or whatever measurement you decided on off the edge of the first strip.
5. Apply the wallpaper
You can apply a layer of wallpaper paste to the wall using a brush or roller. Apply the paste generously, but not so much that it creates globs on the wall. Then, position the first strip of wallpaper, making sure it lines up against the vertical line that you’ve traced on the wall.
The next strip will overlap the first by about half an inch. This will help you create a neat seam. If you notice any air bubbles or wrinkles, use a smoother to fix them.
Be careful not to hang the wallpaper over any existing wallpaper, as it may not stick to the surface. Also, do not hang the paper over textured walls such as stucco or shiplap. These surfaces can be difficult to work with.