How To Hang Wallpaper

Prepare the Wall / Determine Amount of Wallpaper Needed

Get tools ready and remove all wall switch-plates, electrical outlet covers, metal air vents, towel rods, toilet-paper holders – anything on the wall you're going to cover.

Wash the walls thoroughly and sand smooth any high areas; remove any old wallpaper.

If you're putting up wallpaper on new drywall, prime the wall first with wallpaper primer, this will seal the drywall and help the wallpaper to properly adhere to the wall.

Using a putty knife, fill in holes and cracks with spackle; allow the spackle to dry, then sand lightly until the surface is smooth.

Using the calculators below, determine how much wallpaper you'll need.

Mark, Measure, and Cut

Always inspect the wallpaper roll for printing defects before you start cutting and measuring.

Start wallpapering in a corner near curtains or behind a door just in case a mismatching of patterns arises. Focal points should have the fewest seams.

Measuring from the start point, use a level and a pencil to lightly draw a straight line on the wall from the ceiling to the floor; this marks where the first strip of wallpaper will be placed. Record the length.

Lay the first roll of wallpaper print side down; mark which end is the top and which is the bottom. Measure and cut the first strip to the proper length, adding a few extra inches at the top and bottom. Using the first strip as a template, measure and cut the next several strips.

Important: Pay attention to the pattern; make sure each consecutive strip matches the one before it! Or make your own pattern matching designs.

Hang, Smooth, and Trim

If pre-pasted, loosely roll up the first cut strip of wallpaper right side out and submerge it in water. Let it sit as long as the manufacturer recommends, then pull the strip allowing the wallpaper to unroll itself slowly.

If un-pasted, apply a pre-mixed paste to the back of the wallpaper using a large pasting brush – work from the middle out.

Starting at the ceiling, gently place the side edge of the strip along the measured line. Leave a few extra inches of wallpaper at the top and bottom for trimming.

When the strip is in the correct spot, start at one edge and work your way across gently smoothing the rest of the wallpaper against the wall with a smoothing brush or a damp sponge smoothing out any air bubbles. Use a seam roller to smooth down the edges.

Trim excess wallpaper using a utility knife or straight razor; tamp down the top of the wallpaper with a wide-blade putty knife to make it easier.

Clean any leftover paste from the ceiling and baseboards, and wipe the wallpaper with a clean, damp sponge to remove any paste and remaining air bubbles.

source: Tish Key Interior Design

Designer Tish Key used the Imperial Trellis wallpaper from F. Schumacher as an accent in this old world kitchen – giving it a more modern and updated look.

source: Miles Redd, LLC

Designer Miles Redd paired classic chinoiserie wallpaper with a more contemporary zigzag rug.

source: David Cafiero via Alice in Designland

Want to add some drama to the room – try wallpapering your ceiling. Striped, patterned or textured wallpaper can add interest to an often forgotten surface.

Where to Buy

Wallpaper By Style by Wallpapers To Go
Shop a variety of wallpapers using Wallpapers To Go's Style Books and Rooms. Select from Country, Grass & Strings, Murals, Sports, and a multitude of other styles and designs.

Where to Buy

The Wallpaper Company by Home Depot
Choose a room, select a color or lifestyle design, then select a specific design to see it applied in real-time. A great way to visualize a particular wallpaper in your home without putting up any wallpaper! You can purchase your selection on the spot.

Where to Buy

Where to Buy

Embossed Wallpaper by Improvements
Instead of spending countless hours sponging or combing paint to achieve a decorator look, save time and effort by hanging this textured vinyl wallpaper that's pre-pasted and easy to install -- just wet and hang.

Where to Buy

Wagner 705 Wallpaper Power Steamer
A lightweight steamer that provides 1,500 watts of steam power, a long, 11-foot steam hose, and a steam plate with a large surface area, so you can quickly and easily remove wallpaper without chemicals, even in hard-to-reach places.

Where to Buy