How to Hang Prepasted Wallpaper

Equipment List

Scissors, measuring tape, pencil, masking tape, screwdriver, sharp utility knife, putty knife, plastic straight edge, fine sandpaper, level, spackle, wallpaper primer, brush and roller, wallpaper water tray, seam roller, smoother or wallpaper brush, and the WALLPAPER, of course.

Applying the Wallpaper:

1. Repair any damaged areas on the wall with spackle. Allow it to dry, then sand it smooth with fine sandpaper.
2. Turn off the power to the room at the circuit breaker box and remove any electrical covers. Cover the exposed outlets and switches with masking tape. If you need to turn the power back on in order to see to hang the paper, be aware of the exposed electrical sockets.
3. Apply wallpaper primer / sizing to the entire area to be papered. Primer allows the wallpaper adhesive to bond well to the wall, but to release it when the paper is wet down. Be sure to allow the primer at least 24 hours to dry, no matter what the can says. If you are only papering a part of the wall, or one wall in a room, be sure to only use primer in that area. Some wallpaper has the sizing built into the paste, please check your wallpaper before adding additional sizing.
4. Measure the width of your wallpaper. From a corner, measure and mark that distance. Then subtract 12" and make a second mark. Use a level to draw a plumb line based on the second mark. This line will serve as your starting point. Subtracting the 12" from the measurement will allow you to compensate if your corner isn't perfectly square.
5. If your walls are straight, starting in a corner will hide any mismatched seams when you finish the installation. The seam will not be as noticeable in a corner.
6. Open your first roll of wallpaper and cut your first piece. Wet your paper in a paper tray or bath tub but do not leave your paper in the water for more than a few seconds, but make sure the entire back gets wet. Pull it out and start to fold it paste side to paste side without creasing, and let it sit for 3 to 4 minutes. If your paper makes too much paste, let it sit longer than 4 minutes. Check it often during this time until you get the right amount of paste you can work with.
7. Always cut your strip of wallpaper 4 inches longer than you need. Put 2 inches higher than you need at the top and 2 inches lower than you need at the bottom. Smooth to the wall with a plastic smoother or wallpaper brush while matching your pattern to the piece before. Before you cut the second piece, open all your rolls that you know you will need to use in your room, and check each roll for the next piece that will give you the smallest amount of waste due to the smallest amount you will need to match. You can save an entire roll if you follow this tip. Any leftover paper should be put away in a safe place for any accidents you may have in your future.

8. When you smooth your paper to the wall, be sure to wipe the paste that seeps out of the edge with a wet rag. Rinse your rag often. After you have finished your room, get a clean wet rag and wipe your paper down again. If you don't do this, you will see a sheen where you didn't wipe the paste off, when it dries. This tip is Very Important!
9. Use a seam roller on your seams to seal them to your wall. Roll one time, from top to bottom and do not press too hard. This will prevent your seams from splitting open after the wallpaper dries.
10. Hang 4 pieces of paper, then go back and cut piece number one around the baseboards, chair rail, ceiling, etc. Use a straight edge and change your blade often to keep paper from pulling or ripping. If your paper starts to do this, stop....wait another 5 to 10 minutes, and try again.
11. Trim around your outlets and replace covers. Then you can turn the power back on.
12. And last....sit and enjoy the beautiful room that you just created.

Note 1: Don't just think of wallpaper and border as a wall decoration only. You can use wallpaper to change the look of furniture. It's a simple and inexpensive way to make furniture look new again.

Note 2: Putting a paper either below or above a chair rail and painting the other side, is a beautiful look.

Note 3: Try the 3-1 Rule. Put paper on three walls and paint on one. Or put paper on one wall and paint on three. Or put one pattern of paper on one wall and a different but coordinating print on the other three walls. You get the picture, the 3-1 Rule.

Note 4: Whenever you put a wallpaper over another wallpaper, you must use a paper to paper paste between the two. Or you can prime the old paper with wallpaper primer, and then you can use the new paper as a prepasted paper.

You can download the instructions here