How to Wallpaper a Room

When hanging wallpaper, you should normally start on the wall adjacent to the window wall and work back into the room. This way, shadows will not be cast if any edges are inadvertently overlapped. The exception is where a large motif is being used and there is a dominant focal point in the room, such as a chimney breast. Here, the motif would need to be centralised on the chimney breast wall.

1. Use a plumb line and bob to mark a vertical guideline on the starting wall. Presuming you are starting in a corner, make a starting line that will allow 25 mm/1 in of paper to turn back on to the previous wall. Hold the plumb line to the top of the wall - when it stops swinging, mark the line on the wall with a pencil. If a chalked stringline is used, it can be 'snapped' against the wall to leave a vertical chalk line.
2. Cut the first length of paper, allowing 50 mm/2 in at both the top and bottom for final trimming. If applicable, make sure that any pattern will be in the right position on the wall.
3. Place the paper face down on the pasting table with one long edge aligned with a long edge of the table.
4. Brush a generous coat of adhesive lengthways along the centre of the paper, then brush outwards to where the edge of the paper is aligned with the table edge.
5. Pull the paper to align it with the table's other long edge and complete pasting. Ensure there is complete coverage.
6. Lightweight, washable, and vinyl wallcoverings can be hung immediately. Allow thicker papers to soak for the time recommended - generally until floppy - this can be up to ten minutes with really thick paper.
7. Loosely fold the ends of the paper to meet in the middle, without any creases.
8. Carry the folded paper over your arm as you approach the wall.
9. Unfold the top half of the paper and align its edge with the vertical line. Ensure there is a 50 mm/2 in overlap onto the ceiling.
10. Brush the paper, firmly and quickly but not too vigorously, down the centre and then towards the edges. Then release the lower half of the paper and brush this onto the wall.
11. At the top, gently run the back of the blade of the shears into the ceiling to leave a crease line on the paper.
12. Peel back the edge and cut along this line, then brush the paper back into place.
13. Repeat at the skirting.
14. Hang further lengths in the same way, matching any pattern and butting the edges of adjoining lengths.
15. Run the seam roller down the join between the lengths of wallpaper.

Don't underestimate how long a job is likely to take - always work at a comfortable pace.