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Difficulty: Moderate
Not so bad for someone with patience and precision, which are key to hanging paper straight, plumb, and perfectly aligned.
Wallpaper first appeared in the 16th century, in the form of black-and-white hand-blocked prints, and it remains a favorite way to bring color, texture, and personality to a home. Bold patterns and deep colors make any room seem more intimate, while light-toned papers with delicate prints convey a feeling of spaciousness.
Whatever effect a homeowner desires, achieving it demands equal measures of art and engineering, says painting and decorating contractor John Dee. For him, the smooth, seamless look and good adhesion that signify a top-quality installation begin with a properly prepared substrate and end with exacting attention to each room's particular topography. Where walls are out of plumb, for instance, he cuts and overlaps the paper at the corners so adjacent patterns line up precisely.
Dee's advice to novice wallpaper hangers: begin with small, easy-to-match patterns. "Work patiently and steadily, and you'll get tight seams and a professional look."
