Wallpaper hanging can be a frustrating affair and is a skill that can be developed over time. There are several different techniques for hanging wallpaper and some are more effective than others. In this article we will share some of these techniques and highlight the best ways to hang wallpaper.
Before beginning any decorating project a good level of preparation is required. Decorators also need to understand their limitations. If you are new to wallpapering then you might be best off leaving difficult areas such as stairwells and ceilings to more experienced decorators. Whichever technique you decide to use you will always need to carry out good preparation work. This involves making sure that your walls or smooth.
Where to Start:
Where possible you should start with a wall that has neither a door nor window in it. This is because they are the easiest walls to work with and you should begin papering in one corner and working your way away from a window.
When hanging wallpaper we look for a guide to help us align our wallpaper. When doing this you should avoid using walls or corners as your guide as these are rarely true or square. The best approach is to use a plumb line to make a vertical guideline on the wall. This mark should be just under one roll away from the corner.
Pressing the Paper:
The next step is to press the top half of the paper against the wall using a wallpaper brush. This is where we starting applying the wallpaper.
Applying the Wallpaper:
The first strip of wallpaper needs to be aligned with the guideline you made earlier and should overlap the ceiling by roughly 2 inches. To remove trapped air and avoid potential air bubbles the brush should be used and brushed away from the centre of the wallpaper.
Trimming:
When applying the wallpaper excess paper was purposely left at the foot and top of the wall. This is to help deliver a more consistent finish and in turn needs to be removed. A sharp knife should be used for this and should be cut as close to the skirting as possible.
Next Strip:
Once you have finished hanging your first piece it is time to move on to the next. To do this you need to place your next strip right next to the previous strip. This needs to be as close as possible and needs to be as smooth as possible. The brush again needs to be used here. This process is much more difficult if you are using a symmetric wallpaper pattern. This is because you have to align the pattern as well.
The technique outlined above is probably the most used technique however there are several others. It often depends on the room and the ability of the decorator. Experienced decorators have a number of decorators they can use to get round those awkward spaces. However the technique described above can be used by almost anyone and deliver a good solid finish.