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What should I consider before deciding to go with Wallpaper?

Wallpaper is a key factor in making your home a comfortable, welcoming space. But, installing wallpaper can be a tiresome and frustrating task.
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You will want to consider whether you want to install wallpaper on every wall, in just part of the room or add only a simple wallpaper border to a painted wall.

Some of the major problems you should anticipate in the installation process include holes and tears, seams, curls and loose ends. (Holes, tears, curls, and loose ends can occur at any time in the life of a wallpapered surface. Keep some scraps of the wallpaper on hand to use for patching later on. Curls and loose ends can be repaired with simple glue.) Seams or wrinkles occur during installation and are caused by too little or too much paste, crooked placement of the paper, or by not applying even consistent pressure when the paper is smoothed. These defects must be fixed immediately or they will become a permanent and unsightly part of the wall.

There are some settings in which wallpaper may not be an appropriate decorating choice. The paper has a tendency to detach from the wall in the presence of too much steam so wallpaper in a bathroom where ventilation is poor or on a wall adjacent to a hot tub or the clothes dryer may present maintenance issues. If you are unsure whether wallpaper is a good choice for the room you have in mind, discuss the installation with a representative at your local home improvement or hardware store. Most have free wallpaper selection and installation literature available to their customers.

Make sure that you have all the recommended tools on hand before you begin to wallpaper. This is not a "forgiving" home improvement job. You don't want to be running to the store in the middle of the project. Also be sure you have purchased enough wallpaper. Measure your space accurately and check your figures. If you are having difficulty determining how many rolls you need, ask for help at the home improvement store. Always buy more wallpaper than you think you will need since some will inevitably be wasted.

What are the Basic Steps to Hang Wallpaper?

Before you begin to hang your wallpaper, examine the wall surface for cracks or other surface blemishes that would prevent the paper from having a smooth appearance. These need to be filled or repaired. Make sure the wall is clean and dry and that the surface is either painted or primed. Finally, remove all the electrical face plates.

Begin in an area that is not too obvious. Your first effort may be a little "wobbledy." Starting behind a door is a good place. Choose a spot that is an inch or two shorter than the width of your paper and make a mark. Move several inches lower and make another mark at the same distance. Using measuring tools draw a faint vertical guide line with the two marks as reference points. This is the line against which you will align the edge of your paper.

Using a utility knife, cut a length of wallpaper three to four inches longer than the height of the wall from the ceiling to the top of the baseboard. Apply paste to the back of the paper or in the instance of papers that come "pre-pasted" follow the instructions that came with the product. Start at the ceiling and align the paper along the line you drew. Your paper should "flop" over about two inches on the ceiling and two inches at the baseboard.

Using a plastic smoothing tool, carefully remove the wrinkles in the paper with a consistent downward motion and even pressure. If necessary, gently pull the paper away from the wall to release the air in the wrinkle or bubble. When the paper is smoothly in place, use a putty knife and a straight edge to trip the paper evenly at the ceiling and baseboard.

Your second piece of paper will align against the first and so on. Be careful that in cutting second and subsequent strips of wallpaper to align and match the pattern of the paper for a consistent appearance across the wall. Expect to waste some of the wallpaper.

What are Some Tips for Maintaining the Old Wallpapers?

Most wallpaper manufacturers include care information on the packaging for the roll. For vinyl-coated papers use a sponge or rag soaked in soapy water. Lightly clean and rinse the surface. Most wallpapers today are coated and can be cleaned in this way. Older wallpapers that are clean and unstained can be enhanced with the addition of a protective coating that makes them easier to clean. Occasionally something as simple as a pencil eraser will remove a mark. In the instance of larger stains, investigate specialty wallpaper cleaning products available at home improvement stores. Never scrub wallpaper or get it too wet. It will either disintegrate or curl and peel off the wall.

How can I Choose the Right Wallpaper?

There are thousands of different colors, patterns, and textures of wallpaper available. Picking the best one for your surroundings can be a confusing choice. Consider the color and pattern. Garish, busy wallpaper gets old fast. Visit a wallpaper store and obtain several small swatches of paper you like. Put them up against the furniture or fixtures in the room you intend to paper. Imagine looking at the color and pattern every day. Usually your first choice will be too bold. When in doubt, tone down your choice.

Don't forget to consider how the room in which the paper will be placed is used. If you are putting paper up in a child's playroom, a washable vinyl is probably a better choice since the wall could very possible meet the business end of a crayon. If the paper is to go in a kitchen where splashes and stains can occur, a washable paper is a "must." Form and function work together in the selection of an attractive but serviceable wallpaper.

Wallpaper, with its variety of patterns, colors and finishes, is a popular alternative to painting a room. Choosing the wallpaper is largely a matter of personal taste, but an understanding of the various types of paper, applications, and methods of installation will certainly help. Whether installing simple wallpaper borders or redoing an entire room you can find free wallpaper selection and installation information online or at your local home improvement store.
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