How to Hang Wallpaper: Technique, Paste and Perfect Seams

Hanging wallpaper gives a room a whole new look, but a crooked length is immediately visible. With good preparation and a rigorous method, the seams will be invisible and the result clean.

Choosing the wallpaper

• Non-woven wallpaper: the easiest, pasted directly onto the wall (the paste goes on the wall, not on the paper)
• Traditional wallpaper: pasted on the back, ideal for very uneven walls
• Vinyl: washable, perfect for the kitchen and bathroom
• Patterned wallpaper: requires particular attention to the pattern matching

Preparing the wall

1. Clean the wall and fill the holes
2. Apply a primer coat if the wall is absorbent
3. Dust off with a cloth
4. Mark a vertical line with a spirit level 50 cm from the starting corner

Hanging the first length

1. Cut the length with a 5 cm margin at the top and bottom
2. For non-woven, apply the paste with a roller on the wall over the width of the length
3. Apply the paper onto the line, top first, then smooth from the centre towards the edges
4. Trim the excess at the top and bottom with a sharp utility knife
5. Wipe off the excess paste with a damp sponge

The seams

For a patterned paper, offset each length by the pattern repeat (ask when you buy it) and check the alignment before smoothing it down. Invisible seams depend on clean cut edges and a well-pressed length.

The finishing touches

• The corners: leave a 2 cm overlap and cut it clean with the utility knife
• The sockets and switches: cut the paper in a cross around them before fitting the plates
• Drying: keep the room closed and free of draughts for 24 hours

With this method, your room will have a professional finish and the seams will be discreet, whatever the complexity of the pattern you choose.