What you'll need:
- Scissors
- Tape measure
- Large, soft wall brush
- Fold-up pasting table or wipe-clean table
- Bucket
- Plumb line or spirit level
- Pencil
- Paper hanging brush
- Wallpaper paste (this is usually sold as powder or flakes for mixing, but to save time and hassle you can buy it ready-mixed)
Step 1: Measure and cut
- Carefully measure the length required, which is normally the height of the wall, and cut from the roll. Make sure that you allow an extra 50 millimetres at both the top and bottom for final trimming.
- Always make sure that the pattern is the right way up and never assume that the outside of the roll is the top.
- Before cutting the next lengths ensure that the pattern matches up.
It's a good idea to mark the top of the paper with a “T” on the back to avoid any confusion later on. Don't press too hard or you'll score the paper.
Always keep offcuts – they may come in useful for small areas, such as above doors or around windows, or even for patching up small knocks and scuffs.
Work out where you plan to hang the wallpaper. For boldly patterned wallpapers try to choose a focal point, such as a chimney breast, for symmetry. If you have a plain design then start in the least visible corner, normally behind the door.
Step 2: Plumb line / spirit level
The last thing you want is wonky wallpaper, so mark a vertical pencil line against a plumb line or spirit level.
The plumb line should be about 25 millimetres less than the width of the roll away from the starting point – a little confusing, so make sure you do it carefully.
Step 3: Pasting
Now you get to the messy bit. Spread a length of wallpaper face down on the table and start to brush the paste down the length and out towards the edges.
Don't pull the brush back across the edge of the paper, as it will leave paste on the front of the paper. If you do manage to get paste on the front, don't panic – just dab it off with a wet sponge.
Step 4: Soaking
Once pasted, fold the paper inwards, bottom to middle and top to middle.
Put the paper to one side to 'soak'. Check the instructions to see how long it needs to be soaked for. Don't try and skip this step to save time! Soaking minimises unsightly blisters on the hung wallpaper.
Step 5: Hang
- Once the paper has soaked, pick up the top of the paper and lightly stick the top half of the length to the wall.
- Allowing 50 millimetres for trimming, slide the paper into position.
- Smooth down the middle with a paperhanger's brush and then work out towards the edge, removing air bubbles as you go.
Step 6: Trim
- Take your scissors and carefully run the back of them along the angle of the ceiling and the top of the wall, and then the skirting at the bottom.
- Gently pull the paper away from the wall and trim the excess, then brush back into place.
Step 7: Tidy
Now all you need to do is tidy it up. Wipe the surplus paste from the surface of the paper, the ceiling and skirting with a damp sponge.
So, that's the first length of wallpaper done, now you just need to repeat these steps until you've covered the desired area. Then a richly deserved cuppa is recommended!