How to Apply Different Wallpapers

With many varieties of wallpaper on the market, it can feel like a minefield when choosing one for your home. You’re met with different designs, textures, materials and even application types. The material will determine how much care it needs, and how’s best to apply it. From paste-the-wall to peel-and-stick wallpaper, let’s find out how to apply each wallpaper type for a hassle-free and smooth renovation.

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How you apply wallpaper will depend on the type as each variation requires a different application method: Paste-the-Paper requires you to paste the adhesive onto the back of the paper, let it soak, and then gently stick it to the wall. Paste-the-Wall wallpaper requires you to apply the adhesive straight on the wall, then neatly place the paper on top. For pre-pasted, you’ll need to soak the paper in water first to activate its glue before applying it to the wall. Lastly, peel & stick requires you to gradually peel the backing off the paper and apply it directly to the wall as you go.
Before applying any type of wallpaper, walls must be cleaned, dried, smoothed, and marked with a straight "plumb line" to ensure correct placement of the wallpaper.

How to prepare for wallpapering

It’s important to remember to clean your walls thoroughly with sugar soap and a sponge before applying any type of wallpaper. You’ll also want to remove any fixtures or fittings like nails and screws, fill in cracks and holes with filler, and flatten out any imperfections. You’ll then want to wait for the wall to dry completely after cleaning before you start papering.

If you’ve had to remove previous wallpaper from your wall, make sure there’s no paper remnants or adhesive left. Once you’re happy with the condition of the wall, draw a perfectly straight line down the wall, from the ceiling to the floor, to guide your paper placement. This is known as a ‘plumb line’, and to make it easier, you can either use a spirit level or a long piece of string with a weight on the end. You should then follow this line when you apply the first strip of wallpaper.

Time to wallpaper

Below, we’ve detailed the best way to apply each type of wallpaper for professional-looking results that are easy to achieve.

How to apply ‘Paste-the-Paper’ wallpaper

Paste-the-paper wallpaper does exactly what it says on the tin. It works by applying the adhesive directly onto the back of the paper, then neatly sticking it to the wall.

After cutting your wallpaper to size and working out its positioning on your wall, place a piece face-down onto your pasting table, making sure it’s completely flat. Then using a pasting brush, start applying the wallpaper paste from the centre of the paper, working outwards.

Once you’ve covered the back of the paper, you can begin to fold it from each end towards the centre. You might want to fold it into a concertina if it’s particularly long, but make sure not to crease it as this will show up when you apply it to the wall.

Check the adhesive’s instructions to see how long it needs to soak for and leave it to do so. The paper will then absorb the adhesive and expand to its final size.

Now you can apply the first strip of paper, following your previously drawn straight line. If it’s not quite lined up properly, you should still be able to gently shift it until it’s exactly where you want it. Remove any air bubbles with a smoothing tool, starting at the centre of the paper and moving towards the edges.

Top tip: Leave an overlap of 5-10cm at the top because this will trimmed away at the end of the process to ensure an accurate line.

Line up your next piece against the piece you’ve just laid and continue this process. Once all strips are applied, trim the top and bottom of the paper to achieve a clean, straight line. Do this by scoring the cutting line, pulling it away from the wall, and cutting with wallpaper scissors.

How to apply ‘Paste-the-Wall’ wallpaper

‘Paste-the-Wall’ paper works exactly how you’d expect; you apply your adhesive to the wall and gently press the paper onto it.

Firstly, use a roller to apply the paste to the wall in the same way you’d use one to paint a wall. In the same sense, you may want to use a paintbrush for the trickier and more tedious areas.

Place your pre-cut strips onto the wall in the same way as you would for paste-the-paper wallpaper, making sure to adhere to the plumb lines you drew earlier on. Remember to remove any air bubbles using a smoothing tool as this’ll ensure a neat and professional look.

How to apply pre-pasted wallpaper

Pre-pasted wallpaper already has the adhesive applied to its back. Usually, this is water-activated and is much easier for beginner DIYers to use.

Starting from the bottom, roll up your first strip of wallpaper, being careful not to crease it. Then, fill a large tray or tub with water and submerge the wallpaper roll. Check the wallpaper’s packaging to see how long it will need submerging for, but it should be for roughly 5-15 seconds.

After the time has passed, take the strip out of the water and lay it on a flat surface. Blot away any excess water before sticking it to the wall. Fold the first strip from each end towards the centre. You might want to fold it into a concertina if it’s particularly long, but make sure not to crease it as this will be obvious once applied. Repeat this for each strip.

Then, carefully apply the wallpaper by pressing it against the wall, following the drawn-on lines from earlier. Make sure there are no air bubbles left by using a smoothing tool.

How to apply Peel & Stick wallpaper

This is the top choice for less-experienced DIYers as it works like a sticker. All you need to do (roughly) is peel off the backing to reveal a strong adhesive before sticking it to the wall. It’s popular with renters as it’s the easiest type of wallpaper to remove without causing damage to the wall.

Peel & stick wallpaper is also a great wallpaper option for caravans as it’s easy to apply and remove. Plus, it comes in vinyl varieties which are hard-wearing and cope well in humidity level changes

This paper application is a simple process. After cutting your paper to size, begin to unpeel, starting from the top of your design and then gently press it onto the wall. Don’t unpeel the whole roll at once, but instead, unpeel as you go, smoothing the paper out with a putty knife as you go.

This type of wallpaper is particularly forgiving if you make a mistake as you can just peel it back off the wall without causing any damage.

Applying vinyl wallpaper

One of the main benefits of vinyl wallpaper is its durability and washability. This makes it particularly good for places with high footfall, such as the hallway, and rooms where it tends to get messy, like the kitchen or bathroom. Vinyl wallpaper consists of a base paper layer with a washable vinyl coating, meaning that you can apply it just like you would other paste-the-paper or paste-the-wall papers (depending on the instructions supplied with your particular paper). As vinyl paper is generally more heavy-duty, you may need an extra-strong adhesive or an adhesive designed specifically for vinyl.

It really depends on the type of wallpaper you’ve chosen as to how you apply it to the wall. Paste-the-Wall involves applying adhesive to the wall while Paste-the-Paper wallpaper requires you to apply it to the paper itself. Then pre-pasted and peel & stick papers don’t need a separate adhesive. Whichever type you choose, just remember to always prepare your wall before you begin the application process.

Do you need to remove existing wallpaper before hanging your new design? Check out our guide on how to remove wallpaper.