Wallpaper Hanging Guide

All wallpaper is printed to order in London. Please allow up to 7-10 days for your wallpaper to printed especially.

Choose from two styles:

  • Removable Peel n' Stick
  • Classic Paste the Wall

Wallpaper hanging  information is supplied in good faith but without guarantee. Site conditions are beyond our control. We highly recommend having your wallpaper hung professionally.

     Classic Paste the Wall

    Wallpaper hanging information is supplied in good faith but without guarantee. Site conditions are beyond our control. We highly recommend having your wallpaper hung professionally.

     Preparation

    You will need the following:

    • Wallpaper Paste (we recommend Polycell, Solvite Extra Strong or Murabond)
    • Paste brush or roller
    • Sharp knife/scalpel
    • Plumb bob/laser level
    • Clean sponge & bucket of water
    • Smoothing brush or plastic smoother
    • Tape measure
    • Straight edge/ruler
    • Pencil
    • Soft roller

    Getting Started

    Walls should be prepared correctly to ensure a perfect finish. Fill all holes and walls should be smooth and dry. Never hang over new plaster or un-primed walls.

    The most important step is making sure the first drop is straight and level. This will affect all other drops of wallpaper on that wall, so it is important to spend time getting the first drop correct. Never assume your walls are perfectly straight!

    If you are covering just one wall - measure out from the left hand corner of the wall the width of the paper and mark with a pencil. If you are covering the entire room/corners, measure the width of the paper minus 1-2cm and mark with a pencil. This excess 1-2cm needs to be applied on the adjoining wall to ensure the seam does not meet at the corner.

    Place a laser level or plumb bob at this mark and draw a straight, vertical line top to bottom on the wall. (This is your plumb line).

    Measure the length of the wall that needs to be papered, then add about 10cm to the measurement to accommodate for any wonky areas.

    Once you have your first drop ready, apply your paste to the wall using a roller or brush. Paste should be well stirred to remove any lumps before applying. Paste the walls generously and evenly. Only apply paste one drop wide plus 10-20cm. Do not apply paste to the whole wall, as it will dry and become unusable. Paste as you go, pasting just wider than the drop you are hanging. Any excess paste on the ceiling, skirting etc. should be gently removed with a clean wet sponge before it is allowed to dry.

    Making sure the pattern is the correct way up, apply your first drop to the wall, letting the wallpaper overlap 2-3cm at the ceiling. Hold the wallpaper at the top and move into a straight position using your plumb line as a guide. Whilst the paste is wet you can slide the top of wallpaper into the perfect position so it lines up on the plumb line. Unroll your drop along the plumb line. You should also have 5-7cm excess at the bottom.

    Using the wallpaper brush or smoothing tool, work top to bottom gently pressing the strip to the wall. Remove any air bubbles by smoothing out from the middle towards the sides of the wallpaper. Wash off excess paste on the ceiling, skirting and wallpaper with a damp sponge and clean water. Do not allow any paste to dry on the surface of the wallpaper. Finally use a felt roller for smoothing.

    Using your straight edge and a sharp knife trim the excess wallpaper along the ceiling and skirting. For a perfect finish always use a sharp knife or blade and make the cut in one clean movement. 

    Once the first drop is in place, paste the next section of the wall, 10-15cm over one drop wide. Hang your second drop of wallpaper as per the first, using the edge of the first drop as your guide. Joins should be tightly butted and never overlap. Avoid squeezing paste out of the joints. Wash off any excess paste after hanging each drop with a clean wet cloth. If necessary, you can then use a seam roller for the seams. Hands should be kept clean and dry.If the edges of the wallpaper do not stick to the wall properly, you need to apply more paste in those areas. Carefully apply paste under the edge with a small brush.

    Corners

    Working around the room one drop at a time, ensure each new wall is treated as per the first drop, and hung straight using a plumb line. Corners should be wallpapered using two separate drops. One drop should overlap the adjacent wall by 1 or 2cm, the other should be lined up into the corner. Do not attempt to push wallpaper into a corner. 

    Drying

    Allow the wallpaper time to dry slowly at room temperature; do not attempt to dry it quickly as shrinkage may occur. 

    Finishing Touches

    If you are wallpapering a bathroom or a high-traffic area, we recommend applying two coats of Polyvine Decorator’s Varnish in ‘Dead Flat’ over the top using a short flock roller. Ensure the wallpaper is dry before applying.

    Removable Peel n' Stick Guide

    Our Peel n’ Stick paper will stick to almost any surface and can even be used on textured walls. We however do not recommend the paper be hung on newly plastered/unfinished walls.

    Follow the first few steps of the classic paste the wall guide to determine how long each strip needs to be then follow these instructions for application:

    • Start at the top of the strip to be applied and pull down approximately four to six inches of the backer and crease it.
    • Apply the exposed adhesive to the desired surface slowly to avoid air bubbles.
    • Once the beginning segment is level and in the proper position, continue applying the strip in four to six inch increments.
    • For larger areas, it may be helpful to have two people applying it. It is suggested that one person helps pull and crease the backer while another slowly works on adhering the image. If air bubbles or wrinkles appear after applying segments, peel the desired area back and gently reapply with a soft, felt-sided squeegee to remove bubbles.
    • Refrain from pressing too hard with the squeegee as this could damage the paper. It is recommended to squeegee at a 45 degree angle with overlapping, firm strokes.
    • Line up the next strip and continue until complete. The paper can be removed and readjusted multiple times.

    We hope you love your new Catherine Rowe Designs wall covering! Share your new walls and/or project with us on instagram and tag us @catherinerowedesigns