Working with Wallpaper

Wallpaper is all the rage, but working with this tricky material can be difficult if you don't have a plan of attack ready. Assume that you'll need several days to complete an entire room, as well as patience and persistence.

Prep the Walls First, you're going to have to get a little dirty. Remove the old wallpaper, if present, using a blade, rags and a wallpaper removal product. Wash off all dirt and dust. Sand down chipped paint. Then, prime the wall with wallpaper primer. Take off all covers from electrical outlets and light switches. Apply spackle to fill any cracks and holes. Decide Where to Start Remember, your wallpaper patterns have to match up when all is said and done. It's easiest to start at a corner. You might also start behind a door or curtain, so that if you do have a mismatch, it's hidden. Once you've identified your starting point, use a level to draw a line that marks where the first wallpaper strip goes. Cut and Apply   Make sure the side with art or print faces down on the floor. Then, measure how long it should be, measuring the length again to make sure you've measured correctly. If you have pre-pasted paper, cut it and immerse into water that is about room temperature. Paste the Paper Simply pre-mix the paste and apply with a roller. Begin at the middle and work your way to the ends. Take special caution to ensure there are no areas without paste. Fold the top and bottom of the wallpaper to the middle. Be sure not to crease it. The paste cures better this way, rather than drying out.

Hang the Pieces   Get the strip in the right position. Leave a couple inches of wallpaper at the top and bottom for trimming later. Place the top half of the strip in the appropriate spot first, followed by the bottom. Use a brush or damp sponge to smooth out any bubbles.

All you have to do now is trim off the excess paper and smooth out the corners. You only need a simple utility knife to do this. Now, it's just a matter of repeating this process, taking extra precaution to match the pattern in place.