Tools needed

  1. Wallpaper adhesive (for heavy vinyl and textile wallpaper)
  2. Synthetic short-nap paint roller and telescopic extension pole
  3. Bucket with lukewarm water
  4. Bucket with paint grid
  5. Paintbrush
  6. Spirit level
  7. Plastic wallpaper spatula with soft cloth
  8. Soft sponge
  9. Pencil
  10. Utility knife
  11. Small step ladder

Step 1: Preparing the Surface

Prepare your walls before applying wallpaper. The surface must be smooth, solid, permanently dry, and free of grease and dust. Sand the surface smooth, as every grain of sand will be visible.

If the wall has new plaster, it's an absorbent surface and must be primed. Read the instructions on the packaging carefully. Allow the primer to dry for 8 hours.

Also, read the additional page with tips for the best surface preparation.

Step 2: Checking and Preparing the Wallpaper

Roll out the strips one by one with the pattern on the inside and the bottom at the start. Lay the rolls out in numerical order. Check for manufacturing defects. If something was overlooked during factory inspection, contact us immediately by phone and stop applying the wallpaper.

Step 3: Pencil Line and Applying Adhesive

Use your spirit level to draw a vertical pencil line on the wall, 137 cm from the left corner. Then apply the adhesive evenly and generously to the wall, extending about 40 cm beyond your pencil line. Use the synthetic short-nap roller to apply the adhesive. Use the brush for the edges near the ceiling and baseboards. Tip: check in the light's reflection to ensure you haven't missed any spots.

Step 4: Applying the First Strip

The best tip is to wallpaper from bottom to top. Place wallpaper roll number 1 at the bottom of the wall in the wet adhesive, aligning it with the pencil line and allowing about 5 cm to overlap the baseboard. Wallpapering from bottom to top provides more stability and control over the roll.

Ensure the right side of the wallpaper strip aligns well with your pencil line. While unrolling, gently smooth over the wallpaper with your spatula from the center outward to remove air bubbles. Feel the wallpaper with your hand; you'll feel and hear the air bubbles.

The wallpaper now has an extra 5 cm margin over the baseboard and ceiling and about 3 cm on the left wall. Press your spatula into the edge and cut along the spatula with your utility knife to trim the excess strip.

Step 5: Smoothing and Trimming the Wallpaper

Repeat all previous steps. Ensure there's enough adhesive at the seams. Immediately remove excess adhesive with lukewarm water. Regularly refresh the bucket with clean lukewarm water.

Then trim the excess wallpaper at the ceiling, sidewall, and baseboard with a utility knife and your wallpaper spatula. Place the spatula against the wall at the edge and cut along the spatula. Keep your utility knife in place while moving the spatula. The spatula serves as your cutting guide. This way, you get a straight cut line and protect the wallpaper.

Also, read the other pages with tips on cutting wallpaper around windows and sockets.

Enjoy the process and even more the end result!