The revival of wallpaper

Wallpapering how-to

You've chosen your design, now it's time to hang it up! Here's a quick how-to to make sure yours hangs securely, straight and bubble-free.

Vinyl-coated: Paper backed vinyl (normally just referred to as vinyl) is one of the most common types of wallcovering and easy to hang. Paste only one length at a time, allow to soak for 1 minute then hang. Trim with a craft knife or sharp blade (available from all good DIY stores).

Lining: This type of paper is used to prepare walls and ceilings for painting or papering. As a general rule lining paper should be hung in the opposite direction to the top paper.

Washable: Care must be taken over the soaking time as the backing expands quicker than the front layer causing wrinkling. Undersoaking will cause bubbles to form which may be difficult to remove. Oversoaking will cause the paper to stretch and then shrink when it dries showing up all the joints.

Ready-pasted or pre-pasted: This must be soaked in water immediately before hanging to activate the paste. You will need a roller bath to soak each length as it is cut. Try B&Q or Homebase for a wallpaper bath.

Unpasted: The majority of wallcovering are unpasted. Adhesive must be applied according to the instructions on the label.

For all wallpapering tasks, you will need a standard papering table (£7-£10) and a good quality wallpaper pasting brush, as well as a craft knife or sharp blade. All are available from larger DIY stores such as B&Q, Wickes & Homebase.

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