How to hang wallpaper

The choice of wallpaper you can get nowadays means that you can create a stunning look with relative ease. Many people may choose to wallpaper just one wall with a dramatic print to create a focus. If you want to learn to do-it-yourself, here's how you hang wallpaper ... .

Level of difficulty

Level 3: Advanced

What you need

• Ladder
• Tape measure
• Wallpaper
• Wallpaper hanging scissors
• Wallpaper hanging brush
• Plumb bob
• Paste
• Screwdriver
• Screws
• Pasting table

The steps to follow

1. Measure the surface of the wall that you plan to wallpaper. First measure the width of the wall and then its height.
2. Add an additional 10 cm (4in) at the ends of each measurement to allow for trimming.
3. Based on this measurement, cut the wallpaper that you'll use to hang on the wall making sure you divide the wallpaper into manageable sections. For staircases, remember to include the length required to allow for the skirting board.

Cutting and pasting
1. To cut the wallpaper, place it face down on a table which is horizontal to you so one end is aligned with the right-hand end of the table if you're right-handed (vice versa if you're left-handed).
2. Align one edge of the wallpaper to the edge of the table.
3. First paste the centre of the length then, paste the edge of the wallpaper nearest to you.
4. Align the other edge of the wallpaper to the far edge of the table.
5. Lift the far edge of the wallpaper, fold it over, and paste the lengths side to side.
6. Slide the wallpaper along the table to bring the under pasted part of the length on to the table surface.
7. Fold the bottom edge up and leave the length to soak for the amount of time stated on the manufacturer's instructions. If you don't do this for every length you paste, the paper will stretch and warp as the paste is absorbed which will lead to difficulty matching the pattern.

Hanging the wallpaper
1. Now that the wallpaper is ready to hang, you'll first need to hang the first length of wallpaper on each wall to a vertical line.
2. Pin a plumb bob and line against the wall at ceiling level, just less than the width of the first sheet of wallpaper measured from a corner of the room.
3. Let it hang against the skirting board. Then make a series of pencil marks on the wall behind the string and join them up with a ruler.
4. Climb up the ladder with the roll of wallpaper.
5. Unroll the wallpaper and press it lightly against the wall.
6. Slide up an extra 50 mm (2 in) of wallpaper onto the ceiling surface.
7. Slide it across the wall so one edge lines up with the plumbed line.
8. Unroll the rest of the wallpaper so the entire edge is aligned.
9. Press the wallpaper firmly with the wallpaper hanging brush. Press it against the wall to exclude air bubbles.
10. Start at top centre and brush out towards the edges.
11. Brush down the length and out to the edges until you reach the skirting board level. Small air bubbles will disappear as the wallpaper dries.
12. At the edge of the ceiling, use the blade of your wallpaper hanging scissors to crease the paper into the angle. Trim neatly along the creased line with the wallpaper hanging scissors.
13. Repeat the above step to trim the bottom end against the top edge of the skirting board.

Hanging the next length
1. If the wallpaper you are hanging doesn't have any pattern, you simply need to cut, paste and hang the next length alongside the first one.
2. Butt-join the edges carefully, and run a seam roller down the join to ensure that it is well bonded to the wall.
3. If the wallpaper has a pattern, match the next length by placing a roll on the floor.
4. Draw the length up so you can see how the pattern matches.
5. Mark lightly on the face of the wallpaper where you'll cut the top and bottom of the length.

Hanging wallpapers in corners
1. After hanging the last whole length on the wall, measure the distance to the room corner and add 2.5 cm (1 in) to your measurement.
2. Cut the length that will be used in covering the corner.
3. Paste and hang the strip and let the edge turn to the adjacent wall.
4. Trim when necessary and brush the strip down firmly with a wallpaper hanging brush.
5. Measure the width of the off-cut and mark a plumbed line on the adjacent wall away from the corner. Hang the off-cut against this plumbed line so it overlaps the turned edge of the first strip.
6. Press the overlap down firmly. Use a special adhesive for hanging vinyl wallpaper.

Wallpapering around doors and windows
1. Wallpapering around doors and windows opening can be quite challenging. It's a good idea to choose your starting point so that vertical joints between lengths will not fall on externals corners. At door or window openings, hang the wallpaper so it laps over the architrave moulding.
2. Brush the wallpaper into place on the wall, and press it over the corner of the architrave.
3. Make a diagonal cut from the edge up to the corner of the architrave.
4. Brush the edge of the wallpaper in against the top and side edges of the architrave. Trim the edges so that it neatly butts the moulding.
5. Cut and hang short lengths of wallpaper above and below the window opening.
6. Turn the lower part of the lengths above the window on to the underside of the reveal, and trim the wallpaper at the window frame.
7. At the far side of the window opening, hang the next length of wallpaper and make cuts at the reveal, head and sill level to release the flap that will cover the other side wall of the reveal.
8. Finish off by cutting small patches to cover the bare areas at each end of the underside.
9. Leave enough wallpaper to lap on to the face wall by about 25 mm (1 in).
10. Peel away the edge of the paper above the reveal, brush the front edge of the patch onto the face wall and brush the peeled edge back down over it.

Wallpapering around switches and socket outlets
1. Hang the wallpaper over the switches and socket outlets.
2. Press on the wallpaper to reveal the outline of the switch or socket outlet.
3. Use a scissor to pierce the centre of the outline and make a diagonal cut out towards each corner mark.
4. Trim the edges of the faceplate or cut them about 3 mm (1/8 in) overlong
5. Turn the electricity off at the mains power.
6. Unscrew the fixing plate of the switch or socket outlet and tuck the wallpaper behind the edges of the faceplate.
7. Put the faceplate back.
8. Turn the mains power on and test to see if the switch or socket outlet works properly.