Essential tips before wallpapering
- Don’t go wallpapering in front of children. The adhesives, chemicals and scissors you use when wallpapering are not suitable for children.
- Make sure there’s enough ventilation. Open the windows and let the room pass long enough after wallpapering.
- In the case of high walls, a stairwell or an angled wall, it is best to wallpaper with two people. This way, the second person can keep an eye on you when you are standing on the household stairs.
Supplies
- Wallpaper table
- Household stairs
- Stanley knife and scissors
- Wallpaper glue
- Wallpaper spatula
- 2 wallpaper brushes
- 2 buckets
- Pencil
- Ruler
- A spirit level
Step 1: preparation is half the work
- If you are wallpapering a plasterboard or wood, apply a universal primer the day before so that the wall gets a good grip on the wallpaper.
- If the walls are covered with gloss paint or silk paint, sand this layer off and then apply a universal primer.
- If the walls are covered with matte paint, wash it with a detergent that contains baking soda and allow the walls to dry for 24 hours before wallpapering.
Step 2: mix the glue
In most cases the glue will already be mixed. Read the instructions on the packaging carefully. Even if the adhesive has not yet been mixed, we recommend that you read the information on the packaging.
Step 3: cut the strips of wallpaper
First measure the length of the wall. We recommend cutting strips of wallpaper that are 10 centimeters longer than the wall. This gives you some slack under and at the top.
With wallpaper with a pattern it is useful to take account of staggering. The offset size can be found on the roll of the wallpaper.
Step 4: cover the wall with glue
Start by applying a vertical line of adhesive to the wall at the top. Apply a thin even layer, working your way down until you’ve applied the adhesive for just over a strip of wallpaper.
Step 5: wallpaper the wall
Place the strip of wallpaper on the floor or wallpaper table. Align the strip with the vertical line and start rolling down from the top of the wall. Leave 2 to 3 cm of wallpaper on the ceiling. First wipe the track with a wallpaper brush and then press the wallpaper with a wallpaper spatula.
Step 6: Cut away excess wallpaper
Grab a ruler and stanley knife so that you can cut away the excess wallpaper in a straight line. Hold the ruler straight and firmly. Then place the knife as flat as possible on the wallpaper and cut away the excess wallpaper. You can then use the spatula to smooth out the edge of the wallpaper.
Finally, repeat steps 5 and 6 until the entire surface is wallpapered. That’s it. Good luck!
