Decorating guide
Wallpaper a wall or room
Check the wall, plan the pattern and hang each drop from a true vertical line.
- Difficulty
- intermediate
- Time
- One to two days for a typical room
- Safety level
- Standard checks
This guide is a starting point, not a survey of your home. Check the actual surface, hidden services, product instructions and local requirements before work. Stop when a safety condition or professional checkpoint applies.
Materials
- Wallpaper from one batch with a measured cutting allowance
- Paste specified by the wallpaper maker
- Wall primer or size where specified
- Filler for stable defects
- Floor covering and clean water
Tools
- Tape measure, pencil and plumb line or level
- Pasting brush or roller and clean bucket
- Wallpaper smoother and seam roller where permitted
- Sharp snap-off knife with spare blades and a safe straight edge
- Stable step platform
Preparation
- Read the roll label for batch, pattern repeat, match type and paste method.
- Strip loose coverings, repair stable defects and prepare the wall as the paper maker directs.
- Measure each wall and calculate full drops before opening every roll.
Safety
- Do not wet or work around exposed electrical parts; fixed electrical work is for a qualified electrician.
- Use stable access equipment and keep blades closed or safely stored between cuts.
- Do not disturb unknown old coatings or wall materials.
Steps
Set the first line
Choose a discreet start point and mark a true vertical guide one paper width minus a small turning allowance from the corner.
Cut and organise drops
Allow for top, bottom and pattern matching, then number the drops in hanging order.
Paste as specified
Follow the exact paste-the-wall or paste-the-paper method and booking time on the label.
Hang and smooth
Align the first edge to the guide, smooth from the centre and avoid stretching the paper.
Match and trim
Match each new drop to the previous one, wipe paste promptly and trim with a fresh blade.
Professional checkpoints
- Get help for active damp, major plaster failure, hazardous old materials or inaccessible high walls.
Visual guidance
Level: helpful · Format: finish-preview
A finish preview helps compare pattern scale and choose a focal wall.
Illustration brief (conceptual only): Show the selected wallpaper at realistic scale on the supplied room photo without changing the furniture or lighting.
Explore other guides
See every guide or describe your own project in the interactive planner.