Wallpapering

Many of you know that I remodeled three bedrooms in the last twelve months. Two rooms I wallpapered with the help of my sister and my handyman. Now I know that paint is easy but wallpaper adds such a wonderful life and texture to a room that I decided to go for it. 

 

But wallpapering can be intimidating and at $50 to $60 a double roll to hang it can also be very expensive. So how did I wallpaper these rooms?

 

 

1.     1. First, set up two table stations, one covered with towels and a wallpaper tray filled with luke-warm water and the other with your tools that will allow you to cut your runs of wallpaper. 

2.    2. Pick a corner to start your wallpaper in, I always choose the straightest wall that had the fewest cuts, i.e. windows, electrical boxes, etc. 

3.    3. The first piece has to be absolutely straight. Measure 20 inches from the corner and using a large level or a plumb line, create an absolutely straight line.  

    4.    4. Once you have measured your straight guideline. Measure the length of wallpaper you need for your first run.

5.    5. Very Important, dry fit and cut your second run of wallpaper. It is much easier to cut when the wallpaper is on a worktable.

6.    6.Wet the wallpaper and book it for 5 minutes. Booking means you fold glue side to glue side. This step allows the glue to set up and will let the wallpaper adhere better. 

7.     7. Using your straight line guide, place the wallpaper on the wall. Gently brush out any air bubbles that will appear. 

     8.   Once the air bubbles have been removed, trim the top and bottom of the wallpaper with a snap utility knife. Do not struggle with this step. Make sure your knife stays sharp and snap a new blade often. The key to this step is a sharp knife. I also use a scissors if I am having a lot of trouble. But be careful with a scissors. 

     

     9. Wipe down the entire sheet of wallpaper with a big sponge and fresh water, this removes any glue that has gotten on the outside of your paper and allows you to check one more time for bubbles. And roll the edges, very carefully, this seals each sheet .

     10. Now, step back and admire your work. Make sure you are right on top of your guide line and no bubbles, loose ends or tears appear. While the paper is wet, all this can be corrected. 

   

     11.  Dry fit and cut wallpaper run #3. 

     12.  Repeat steps 6 to 11. 

    

13.  Windows, electrical boxes, light switches and closet doors all present challenges. It is important that you take your time and carefully trim around them. Wallpapering is like wrapping a present.