Wallpaper is a trend that ebbs and flows.
One year, it’s the bane of most people’s existence, and others, like in 2022, it’s gaining popularity.
That’s because paint can only enrich a room so much whereas wallpaper brings texture, lively patterns, and a visual piece of interest to any room.
If you’ve been thinking about adding wallpaper in your home but don’t know where to start, keep reading.
5 Wallpaper tips for beginners
Nowadays, wallpaper commonly comes in three varieties: peel and stick, unpasted (this requires glue), or pre-pasted. No matter what you choose, it should come with directions to help you install.
If you’ve never hung wallpaper before, it can be intimidating. But, it doesn’t have to be. With a little research of your own and our quick tips, you’ll be well on your way to transforming your home.
Get organized
Before starting your wallpaper project, make sure you have the necessary tools to do the job correctly. Here’s a quick checklist of essentials:
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- Drop cloth (to protect your flooring and other surfaces from adhesives)
- Utility Knife (to cut excess wallpaper)
- Level (precision is everything when it comes to wallpapering)
- Tape measure (same as above)
- Pencil (to mark your plumb line – more on that later!)
- Smoothing brush or plastic smoother (to rid the wallpaper of any air bubbles after application)
Determine the layout
Mismatched patterns and peeling seams can leave even the calmest person in a tizzy. Many experts suggest working in one direction and starting in a corner to keep the pattern consistent. Creating a game plan prior to starting will help you get a better understanding of how you’ll install the wallpaper and address any issues you might run into ahead of time.
Paint with primer
Before you begin, paint the entire room with primer. Doing so will ensure the wallpaper sheets will properly adhere without causing damage to the wall itself. Once you’ve primed the room, give it a couple of weeks to set for the best adhesion results,
Precise Cuts
Precision is key when hanging wallpaper. The first piece of wallpaper is the most important and sets the tone for the rest of the application. That’s why it’s so important for everything to be level and measured correctly.
To start the process, draw a plumb line that’ll act as a guide for your first piece of wallpaper. If you’ve never made a plumb line, HGTV suggests measuring the roll of wallpaper and subtracting two inches. Then, measuring and mark that distance from the corner you’ve chosen as your starting point for the project. Using a level, mark the line from the top to the bottom of the wall.
Keep that level handy to double-check your work throughout the process.
Remove adhesive
There will be excess adhesive that finds its way on the wallpaper. Simply use a damp sponge to gently remove it from the baseboards, ceiling, and wallpaper. Always rinse the sponge to thoroughly remove as much of the glue as possible.
Wallpaper is a labor of love. And, while these are only a few tips to help you get started, YouTube has plenty of DIY videos that can walk you through the process step-by-step and address any questions you might have along the way.
