Step One Preparation
Border Brilliance
Handy Hints
How Many Rolls
Problems Solved
Step One Preparation
Step Two Hanging the Paper
As with all DIY, good preparation means the finished job looks better and lasts longer. So spend time getting the preparation right and you'll create a perfect finish.
Freshen up the paintwork first
To give the finished room a fresher look, touch up all the paint surfaces before you paper. It's ok to carry paint over onto walls as the wallpaper will cover it and provide neat edges.
Be Savvy
Make sure you sand any painted areas so the wallpaper has a good base to bind to.
Check and prepare your walls
The key to good wallpapering is good surfaces. So look for bumps, grooves and flaking surfaces, then systematically work your way around the room getting the best possible surface.
Wash the walls
Wallpaper won't stick to dirty or greasy painted walls, so use Sugar Soap to clean the surfaces. Treat mould with an anti-mould solution. It'll pay in the long run to find out the cause of mould, to make sure the problem won't keep coming back. Usually, either poor ventilation or dampness behind the walls is the problem. If so, seek expert advice.
Check for cracks or flaking
Scrape off any flaky paint and fill all cracks with a plaster filler. Sand with 120 grit sandpaper. For new or unpainted walls and walls painted with acrylic, apply a coat of Colour Your World oil-based pigmented sealer and sand again with 80 grit sandpaper once it is thoroughly dry. Dust before sizing. For enamel painted walls, wash with Sugar Soap, rinse with water and thoroughly sand.
Sizing for good grip
After you have prepared your walls apply a generous coating of wall size to provide a good surface for the wallpaper to grip to.
Stripping old paper
Solid vinyl wallpaper can be peeled off dry by hand. Any backing paper residue can be removed with warm water and careful scraping. For vinyl and traditional papers, make knife cuts in the paper (being careful not to damage the wall), then saturate it with a liquid peeler. Hiring a wallpaper steamer will speed up the job.
Lining paper smooths away flaws
Lining paper helps hide any small wall imperfections. It's ideal if you're papering over cement or concrete block surfaces. Finish with a coat of wall size.