I’m comfortable doing most DIY around the house but wallpaper isn’t something I’ve before. Of course it looks easy in a 3 minute You Tube video, but is it? Or should I get a professional in? I would prefer to save money but don’t want to screw it up.
My wife and I recently did a few rooms in our house. We’re not super into DIY and I thought we’d be in for a rough time, but it actually wasn’t too bad.
Here’s a few things we learnt along the way:
- Use paste the wall wallpaper. It’s far easier to just slap the paste on the wall and then hang the paper. We messed up and in the 2nd room got paste the paper, and it was far more finicky.
- If you’re using a pattern, make sure to measure everything properly, and then measure it again. We wasted quite a bit of paper after messing up the pattern a couple of times.
- Make sure you have some sharp cutting instruments (like a box cutter). Having to trim a piece or two on the fly is a pain and it can easily rip if using a dull blade.
- Have a second person help. It’s a doable as a solo, but far more helpful when you have someone helping you prepare the paper/wall, helping you align the paper as you hang it, and helping smooth it out afterwards.
Any questions, I’m happy to help.
My wife and I hung wallpaper of a tropical beach scene in our infant son’s room. It was a trial our marriage very nearly didn’t survive…
If I were to repeat the experience, it would be with a professional doing everything.
Hmmm I’ve had another look - there are two light switches on the wall and one end butts against a door frame - think I’ll pay someone else to do it.
Wallpapering is pretty straightforward. Preparing the walls so they are perfectly smooth, marking a long plumb line on the wall to get you going, having a pasting table, and using the right tools are keys. My first project was three storeys of stairs. It was fine.
Light switches and power sockets are actually pretty straight forward. You don’t have to be entirely accurate because you just unscrew the socket off the wall and then when you put it back on afterwards you overlap slightly to cover up mistakes.
Yes, though you should disconnect the switch socket from the power cables, which means pulling the fuse that supplies them and reconnecting them correctly.
Great tips.
It is a pretty easy process with a bit of planning, layout and measurement. Take your time before you break out the glue. If you do your layout and pattern matching beforehand, it’s very easy.
I would also add having a long, thin straight edge to help in the corners can be helpful.