How to Wallpaper a Room

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MATERIALS

SAFETY

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Planning & preparation

With such a wide range of colours, patterns and textures to choose from, wallpapering a room, or a feature wall, can make a stylish design statement
To calculate how much wallpaper you'll need, measure the width of each of the walls and then divide the total by the width of your wallpaper; this will tell you the number of drops you need. Then, measure the height of the room and multiply it by the number of drops; this will give you the meterage needed. Divide the meterage by the length of the wallpaper roll, minus the pattern repeat which will be indicated on the packaging. It’s best to order an extra 10% to allow for cutting and wastage
To prepare your walls, remove any old paper and, if using steam or water, allow the surface to thoroughly dry. Fill any holes with filler and then sand to a smooth finish. See our online guide on how to prepare walls and ceilings for decorating for advice on wall preparation and how to remove old wallpaper
If you're decorating a whole room, it's best to finish painting doors, skirting and ceilings before adding wallpaper, as it’s much easier to clear up paste than paint
Follow the manufacturer's recommendations to determine whether you need to apply lining paper
Paste-the-Wall wallpapers are considered to be easier and quicker to hang as the paper doesn’t need soaking
It’s advisable to remove furniture from the room if possible or, if not, move it into the centre of the room and cover the floor and furniture with a protective dust sheet
It’s best to plan your starting point to avoid being left with any small strips

Do it right

Be sure to prepare and clean your walls before starting, to ensure they are free from grease, dust, holes and flaky plaster or old paper

If you do need to use lining paper then hang it horizontally, so you don’t have any vertical seams showing through the wallpaper
If papering a newly plastered wall, then you’ll need to treat the surface with a wall sealant before applying wallpaper
If you accidentally apply any paste to the surface of the wallpaper, wipe it off immediately with a damp cloth

Staying safe

Wear protective gloves when using filler

Wear protective gloves and safety goggles when cleaning surfaces with sugar soap
When sanding, be sure to ventilate the space and wear a dust mask and safety goggles
When using adhesive paste, wear safety goggles, handle carefully and wash off any paste that makes contact with your skin
See our how to prepare walls and ceilings for decorating guide for more detail and safety advice on the removal of wallpaper
Isolate the power to any sockets before removing faceplates
Take care when using a step ladder and be sure to move it regularly to avoid overstretching

Aftercare

It’s good practice to regularly dust wallpaper

How to use paste-the-wall wallpaper

Wash the surface with sugar soap, then leave to dry.

If necessary, repair any holes with filler and then sand down to leave a smooth surface.

Using a spirit level and pencil, or a plumb line, mark a vertical line 500mm from your starting point.

Measure the drop of your wall, add 100mm to allow for trimming and then cut with wallpaper scissors. If you have a large pattern design, be mindful of where you want the pattern to be positioned on the wall, then add 100mm.

Following the manufacturer’s instructions, mix the paste-the-wall adhesive. Use a roller to apply the adhesive to the section of wall you are about to cover with your first piece of paper.

Line up the paper to your guide mark or plumb line, adjusting the position of any wallpaper pattern as necessary.

Working outwards from the centre of the paper, use a brush or roller to smooth the surface, making sure you remove any bubbles as you go.

Trim the paper, top and bottom, with a retractable knife or trimming wheel.

Repeat the measuring, cutting and pasting process, then butt the second piece of wallpaper up to the first, adjusting it to match the pattern if need be.

Smooth the surface before trimming, top and bottom, as before. Then, use a seam roller to smooth the join between the two pieces of paper.

Continue these steps until the wall is covered. When moving on to another wall, repeat the process of using a spirit level, or plumb line, to line up the first drop accurately.

How to use paste-the-paper wallpaper

Prepare, measure and cut as outlined in the paste-the-wall instructions.

Following the manufacturer’s instructions, mix the wallpaper adhesive and apply to the wallpaper with a pasting brush, working out from the middle to the edges.

Fold over the wallpaper to create a concertina and, following the manufacturer’s instructions, allow the paper to soak.

To avoid adhesive getting onto the face of the next roll, be sure to clear up any excess paste from your pasting table as you go. Hang as described in the paste-the-wall section.

How to paper around corners

For internal corners, measure the gap between the edge of the wallpaper and the corner from the top, middle and bottom, as most corners are not perfectly square. Add 25mm to the longest measurement and mark onto the paper before cutting vertically.

Apply the wallpaper and smooth into and just beyond the corner, onto the next wall.

If your wallpaper doesn’t have a pattern, or the distance from your paper to the internal corner was more than half the width of the roll, then simply start the new wall with a full width of wallpaper. If the distance to the corner was less than half the width of the roll, mark the remaining distance that would be needed to complete the width of the roll, minus the 25mm overhang onto the next piece of paper and cut. This will help you when pattern matching.

Measure from the corner and mark the width of the paper you are using onto the next section of wall. Use a spirit level or plumb bob to mark a vertical line. Align the edge of the wallpaper to the vertical line, so the wallpaper overlaps into the corner, matching any pattern at eye level as best you can.

If you’re working with an exterior corner, wrap the wallpaper around the corner and then smooth. Measure and mark the width of your wallpaper on the new wall, and use a plumb line or spirit level to create a vertical line to use as a guide. Pattern match as best as you can.

How to paper around a light switch or socket

First, isolate the power to the switch.

Let the wallpaper sit over the switch. Use a pencil to lightly mark the position of the four corners of the plate onto the paper.

Make a hole in the centre of your four marks and, using scissors, cut diagonally towards the marks, then trim, leaving a small overlap.

Loosen the screws on the socket so you can carefully feed it through the gap you've cut and, using a smoother, feed the wallpaper underneath the faceplate. Finally, replace and re-tighten screws.

How to paper around a radiator

If you are unable to remove the radiator, turn it off and allow it to cool.

Hang the wallpaper up to the radiator as before, then cut it so that the paper overhangs the radiator by around 150mm.

Feed the paper down behind the radiator and mark the position of the brackets onto the paper. Then, cut a slit in the bottom of the wallpaper to accommodate the brackets.

Apply the adhesive and carefully feed the paper behind the radiator, smoothing with a radiator roller. If you have a gap between the radiator and skirting boards, cut a suitably sized section and secure as above.

How to paper around a door

Attach the wallpaper as before, allowing the paper to overhang the door. Smooth the paper up to the door frame and mark the top corner onto the paper.