Materials needed:
TWO PEOPLE**
Small dishcloth or hand towel
Razor Blades
Small scissors
Level Sandpaper (if walls have texture)
Wallpaper paste (buy it regardless of what type of wallpaper you have because some of the ”pre-pasted” ones I have used didn’t have quite enough…)
Step-stool
Wine
Advil
Instructions:
(I have a video on this below as well as my Instagram)
1)Choose your wallpaper (pre-pasted, non-woven traditional, peel and stick, etc)
2) Calculate square footage of room to determine how many rolls you will need
3) Prep your wall space!
*Must be SMOOTH, CLEAN walls! If they aren’t smooth, sand them down and wipe clean. Prime the wall after sanding. 4) Start in the most “unseen” corner of the room
5) Unroll paper and hold up to the wall to determine where to trim it. Give yourself room for error on top and bottom, when cutting.
6) Prepare the wall with paste (if needed) or follow instructions for pre-pasted/peel and stick. Allow paste to dry for specified time. 7) Place first wallpaper panel up (starting in the corner!) and smooth out all wrinkles pressing with soft cloth and your hands . Test with level to make sure you aren’t letting it “drop” on the right side. 8) Repeat with next panel, making certain the pattern is lining up! This is the hardest part. Don’t be afraid to lift it off repeatedly to adjust and smooth. 9) smooth in an outward pattern with a soft cloth. Sometimes dampening the cloth helps (especially with water activated type)
10. Trim out areas for switch plate covers/outlets. Only trim the wallpaper to where the screws of the outlet can be accessed. Be very careful not to cut too much! 11. After completing the room, go back with razor blade to trim excess wallpaper.
FAQs
How did you learn to do it?
I am not a pro y’all! Just persistent 🤪 My mother taught me and she usually helps me install it as well! Get a friend to help you (preferably one who has done it before!)
Types of Wallpaper. What do you prefer?
Every wallpaper is different! I have tried them all! I prefer the old-school wallpaper where you paint the paste on the wall.
Why? It sticks better, it’s more forgiving & it isn’t as messy as water activated wallpaper. I also find I get way more bang for my buck—a lot more wallpaper on a traditional roll than I get in the pre-pasted and peel/stick panels that don’t have a true repeat.
Pre-pasted means it has dry paste on the back that can be activated by rolling water on it. This is messy, I can tell you from experience. I don’t like this kind at all primarily for that reason, but I haven‘t had any issues with it lasting. My pink chinoiserie mural wallpaper is pre-pasted. Peel and Stick: Mixed feelings on it. It is definitely “cleaner” bc you don’t need paste or water, but it is not very forgiving. It wrinkles easily. If you have uneven, textured walls this is the worst type to use in my opinion. I like to use peel and stick for drawer lining, the back of bookshelves, cabinetry. smaller spaces! I don’t have perfectly smooth walls, so I just can’t say if I would recommend it for large spaces, even if you do have smooth walls.
If your wallpaper keeps ”falling down” when trying to level the panel, you may need to trim more excess wallpaper from top and bottom. The weight of the extra paper can make it harder to keep your line level. Just don’t trim too much! Leave yourself room for error until you are certain how much you can cut off.
If it falls down after drying, you have two possible issues:
1) You haven‘t properly prepped walls and it will continue to be an issue (see above on wall prep)
2) You need to use some (or more) paste. Even in water activated wallpaper, I use some paste on edges because it helps! It’s very important to really get the edges of the wallpaper with paste and press it down firmly. Take a damp cloth and press it down while smoothing.
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