How to Hang Wallpaper

By: Scott Gibson, This Old House magazine

Shopping List

Supplies You Will Need

1. PREMIXED STARCH-BASED ADHESIVE

2. VINYL-TO-VINYL ADHESIVES
for installing borders and securing corners when using vinyl wallpaper

3. SPRAY-ON RUBBER CEMENT
for applying wallpaper to switch and receptacle plates

4. STIR STICKS
for mixing paste

5. 3/4-INCH-NAP ROLLER COVERS
for spreading paste

6. SEA OR CELLULOSE SPONGES
for cleaning wallpaper after smoothing

7. TERRY-CLOTH RAG
for cleaning woodwork and ceiling after sponging

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Tools List
Tools You Will Need
- Rectangular sponge,
  for initial smoothing of wallpaper
- 5-gallon paste bucket, nylon brush, and 3/4-inch-nap paint roller
- Allen wrenches,
  for removing towel bars in bathrooms prior to papering
- 2- and 4-foot levels,
  for drawing plumb lines on wall and guiding long cuts
- 10-inch torpedo level,
  for plumbing short pieces above and below windows
- Utility knives with snap-off blades, and single-sided razor blades,
  to cut and trim paper
- Scissors
- Folding rule and tape measure
- 6-inch, 3/4-inch, and 1½-inch putty knives,
  for guiding cuts along trim
- Screwdriver,
  for removing and replacing switch plates and receptacle covers
- Smoothers,
  for final smoothing of wallpaper
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Photo by David Carmack

Introduction
Overview
Steps:
- 1
- 2
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- 9

1. Lay out the room

For wallpaper with a dominant element center it on the "focal wall"— the wall people first notice. Measure the width and height of this wall and mark its midpoint.

Cut a short strip of wallpaper. Place the dominant element over the midpoint. Mark the wall at the paper’s leading edge, the edge against which the next strip will hang.

Using a 4-foot level, draw a plumb line at that mark.

To estimate seam locations around the room, cut two more short pieces of paper and paste them edge-to-edge on the wall.

Mark where each leading edge. Continue marking around the room, pulling up and readhering the strips. Measure the wall height at the plumb line.

Cut the first full-length strip, with as much overhang as needed to place the dominant element at the midpoint mark.

If using solid-color wallpaper, leave 1 inch of overhang at the top and bottom.