Wallpapering is one of those DIY tasks that looks easy but can be deceptively tricky when you attempt it. Luckily, there are some tips and tricks for getting around some of the awkward parts of this home improvement project.
Below, painter and decorator Pat Gilham at MyJobQuote.co.uk goes over five of his best hacks that every homeowner should know…
Don’t start in the corner of the room
House walls are rarely plumb, even in new builds and there are often imperfections that may make the paper hang unevenly. So, never start hanging your wallpaper in the corner. Instead, begin in the middle of the room, which will allow you to create a more balanced look when the job is finished.
If there is an obvious focal point in the room, such as a fireplace and chimney breast, start in the middle of this. Otherwise, start your first drop 50 cm away from the corner closest to the window.
It’s really important to use a plumb line, a long spirit level or a laser level to mark the vertical straight edge on the wall. This will be where the edge of the first length of wallpaper needs to go to ensure that it and all subsequent drops of wallpaper are hung straight. If this initial length of paper is hung incorrectly, the whole room will be too.
Pasting the wallpaper lengths
Pasting wallpaper can be messy unless you have some useful hacks for how to do it the easy way.
After cutting your drop of wallpaper to the correct length, unroll it onto a pasting table with the side to be pasted facing up. Line one edge of the paper up with the edge of the table. If the paper keeps rolling up, put a piece of wooden baton on it to hold it down. Alternatively, roll it in the opposite direction to flatten it.
Starting from the centre of the paper, work outwards with the pasting brush towards the edge that is lined up with the table edge. Then, slide the paper across the table and line up the other edge. Paste this side of the wallpaper in the same way.
When using wallpaper paste, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Some pastes come ready mixed, and others require mixing with water. It’s important when mixing the paste that you use the right amount of water. Overdiluting the solution may make the paste too weak to hold the paper on the wall.
Fold the pasted paper in a concertina shape for easier handling and to stop the paste from getting on the face of the paper. Remember to wipe down the pasting table between each length of wallpaper for the same reason.
How to deal with bubbles
You will inevitably get bubbles when hanging wallpaper, but they can be dealt with very simply. However, you must remove the bubbles while the paste is still wet and not wait until it has dried. Working the bubbles out as you go along is easier than trying to get them out afterwards.
After pasting your wallpaper, you may need to leave the paste to soak in for a certain amount of time, according to the instructions on the paper. If you don’t adhere to these specific soaking times, bubbles can appear in the wallpaper.
If a crease forms as you are pushing the paper into a corner, make a small cut in the paper and use the brush to smooth it out.
Proper preparation of the wall and allowing the correct soaking time for the paste on the wallpaper should eliminate the majority of potential issues with bubbles in your wallpaper. A wall surface that is either too porous or not porous enough will affect the paste’s ability to work effectively.
Papering around corners
Unless you’re only decorating a single, flat wall, you’ll come across corners when hanging your wallpaper. Most corners will be internal, but if you have an alcove or chimney breast, you’ll also need to know how to paper external corners.
For internal corners, it’s important to take three separate measurements from the edge of the last length of paper hung to the corner of the room. These must be taken from the top, middle and bottom of the wall. This is because walls are typically not perfectly straight. When you have your measurements, add 15 mm to the widest of the three measurements.
Paste the paper as normal and fold it into a concertina shape, making sure that the edges of the paper line up. Then, mark the paper with the widest measurement using a pencil. Use a pair of sharp wallpapering scissors and cut the folded wallpaper at this mark.
Because you have added 15 mm to the widest measurement, this excess will go around the corner when you hang the paper. Use a wallpaper hanging brush to push the paper into the corner and smooth out the bubbles. Then, simply hang the next length on the adjacent wall over this overlapping piece on the corner. You should use border and overlap adhesive to do this, as it is stronger than the wallpaper paste.
Papering external corners is easier as you simply hang the paper as you would on a flat wall, but carry it around the corner, making sure to smooth it as you go.
Keep your wallpapering tools within reach
When you’re up on a platform hanging wallpaper, the most frustrating thing can be realising you’ve left your papering brush on the floor or table. This means climbing back down, trying not to tear your folded piece of pasted wallpaper and not get paste over everything, to retrieve it.
Instead, keep your wallpapering brush (the one you use to smooth out the paper on the wall) in your pocket or in a handy tool pouch around your waist. You can also pop your seam roller, plumb line, pencil, and snap blade knife for trimming in there, too. Just remember to retract the blade on your knife every time. By having everything to hand, you can work smoothly and quickly, often with better results.
PAT GILHAM: Pat Gilham has worked as a self-employed painter and decorator for over 20 years and specialises in domestic home decorating projects. He has also worked closely with MyJobQuote over the past 4 years to provide expert commentary and insights and has been published in a range of leading industry publications and news outlets.
MyJobQuote is one of the UK’s top trades matching sites that helps individuals find a reputable tradesperson in their local area.
MyJobQuote also has a wide range of experts with extensive knowledge in interior design, cleaning, gardening, property, construction and more. MyJobQuote’s experts have been featured in over 700 publications, including Woman and Home, The Times, House Beautiful, BBC News and more.
For more information on MyJobQuote’s release or comment requests, please email the PR team at ContentTeam@ICMEnterprises.co.uk. Copyright © 2024. MyJobQuote.co.uk. All reserved.