Whether you’re decorating an entire room or just a feature wall, learning how to wallpaper like a pro can make all the difference. Just like painting, wallpapering can be messy so it’s important to cover any furniture you can and protect flooring that can’t be moved with dust sheets.
When starting a project, it is best to begin in an area that’s well hidden such as behind a door. Gregoras recommends measuring 50cm from the left-hand corner of the room to mark the first plumb line.
Preparation
Wallpapers provide a creative way to add colour and pattern into a room. While they may be a little messy to hang, with the right preparation the job can be done reasonably quickly and without too much stress.
Before starting it’s a good idea to plan out the layout of the wall. This may seem like a silly step but it can save time, reduce wallpaper waste and help you ensure that your first strip is hung straight.
To do this, take a ruler or spirit level and make a pencil mark on the wall at about 50 cm from the left-hand corner. Using this as a guide, mark out the width of your first strip, leaving a couple of centimeters overhang at the top and skirting board. This will allow for trimming and smoothing out the paper. Also mark out seam locations around sockets and switches. Remove any nails or hooks that are sticking out of the wall and sand down any bumps, if necessary, to reduce the chance of them showing through the wallpaper.
Layout
Wallpapers can instantly transform a room’s look. They can add a touch of sophistication and class to a room, with their unique textures and designs. They can also make a statement by drawing attention to specific areas in the room, such as a focal wall.
When it comes to laying out the paper, it’s best to start in one corner and work around the room. This will help you avoid overlapping patterns where walls meet. Start by lining up the outer edge of your roll with the line you’ve drawn on the wall. Then, cut the paper to a length that is 4 inches longer than your wall height.
If you’re not comfortable working with paste-free papers, you can use pre-pasted options. This type of wallpaper is easy to install and requires a lot less preparation than traditional paint. However, it’s important to remember that this kind of paper attracts dust and dirt and will need a quick clean from time to time.
Cutting
You’ll need a wallpaper trimming knife or snap blade and scissors. Also, a cloth to smooth the wallpaper, and plastic sheets to protect your floor from the paste (particularly if you’re working with patterned paper).
Berwick recommends starting in an “easy” area, such as a wall without switches or sockets. This will help you get into your groove and avoid any major mistakes while you’re getting started.
Before hanging the first strip, use a level or plumb line to draw a straight line at the height where you want your wallpaper to begin. This will help you minimize the visibility of seams in a room, which can be difficult with some patterns and even if you’re installing a solid-color paper. Then cut the first full-length strip with enough overhang to place the dominant element at the midpoint mark. This will also give you a good estimate of where your seams will fall on the rest of the wall.
Hanging
The smooth, seamless look of a good wallpaper install requires equal amounts of art and engineering, says painting and decorating contractor John Dee. To get the job done, he recommends starting with the first length or ‘drop’ of paper and ensuring it is plumb (straight). That is crucial because subsequent strips will align to it and any imperfections could show up as ridges later on. I recommend this website for more wallpaper singapore.
Choose a spot to start above an entrance or another inconspicuous area so that the first seam is out of view. When you are ready to hang the first strip, measure the height of the wall and ceiling with a tape measure, adding 10cm (4 inches) for trimming at the top and bottom. Then, roll the wallpaper pattern-side down onto your paste table and use a spirit level to draw a straight line across the length and cut it. Repeat this process for each length or ‘drop’ of wallpaper, using the previous one as a guide to line up patterns correctly.
