Basic steps for hanging wallpaper

The three most popular wall finishes are tile, paint and wallpaper. More and more homeowners are choosing wallpaper, so here is a walkthrough of how to hang it.

1. Prepare the wall

Scrape off any debris and loose dust. Fill dents and cracks with patching plaster and sand them smooth. If the wall is soft, chalky or coated in latex paint, apply a coat of wallpaper primer first. It gives the paper a firmer surface to grip so it is less likely to peel.

2. Cut the strips

Measure the wall height and cut the paper to length. For paper without a pattern match, add about 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 inches) for trimming at the top and bottom. For patterned paper that needs matching, add more, usually 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 inches), depending on the repeat.

3. Apply the paste

Brush wallpaper paste onto the back of each cut strip and make sure all four edges are fully covered. Fold the pasted side onto itself and let the strip rest for 5 to 10 minutes so the paste soaks in. Do not press on it while it rests, as that leaves creases, especially on non-woven paper. Paste a few strips at a time and hang them in order.

4. Hang the paper

In most cases you start beside a door frame or in an inside corner and hang the first strip from the top down. Use a smoothing tool from top to bottom and from the center outward to push out air bubbles and excess paste, so the paper lies flat against the wall.

5. Trim and clean up

Trim the excess at the top and bottom with a sharp blade so the edges are clean. Wipe any paste off the surface with a damp sponge; leftover paste will yellow over time. Once the paper is fully dry, if a bubble appears, slit it with a blade, work a little paste in and press it flat. A syringe also works for this.