Materials

1. Wallpaper
2. Smoother (brush & plastic)
3. Seam roller
4. Wallpaper brush
5. Sponge or old towels
6. Water tray
7. Broad edge
8. Plumb line (chalked)
9. Straight edge
10. Utility knife
11. Drop cloths (plastic)
12. Step ladder
13. Work table or flat surface

Step-by-Step

Prepare the Area

• Lay down drop cloths and towels along the baseboards of the walls you are going to paper. Cover anything you can't move out with the plastic drop cloth.

  Measuring and Cutting

• Measure the width of your wallpaper roll. Single rolls are usually 27" wide. Using the width of the wallpaper roll minus 1/2", secure the chalked plumb line to the wall near the ceiling. When it's straight, hold it firmly at the baseboard and snap the line. This is leave a straight line for you to hang the wallpaper properly. It's best to use this method on each new wall you want to paper.
• Then, measure the distance between the ceiling and the baseboard. Allow for 2"-3" off excess wallpaper for the top and bottom.
• Roll out your wallpaper and cut the length with a very sharp utility knife and square or straight edge.
• Pencil a straight line on the backside of your paper as a guide for when you hang the paper.

  Wetting and Applying the Wallpaper

• Fill the water tray halfway with warm water.
• Place the water tray on the drop cloths or old towels. You're going to have spill over and splashing.
• Roll up your strip of wallpaper with the pattern side in.
• Make sure you completely immerse the roll into the water tray.
• Unroll the wallpaper out slowly with the pattern side down and lay it on your work area.
• You are looking for any dry spots. Apply water to any you find with your fingers.
• Allow the water to soak into the paste for a few minutes.

Remember, you have allow several inches at the top and bottom of your strip. When you begin to hang the wallpaper, make sure you aren't starting at the beginning of your strip. Start at the straight line you marked earlier.

• You can gentle fold, but do not cease, the wallpaper into thirds for easier handling.
• Starting a few inches from the ceiling, press the right side of the wallpaper gently to the wall along the chalked line, positioning and repositioning to ensure that it's straight.
• Brush out any air bubbles and continue pressing the wallpaper down, smoothing from the middle to the edges.

Water and paste will ooze out from the sides are you smooth the wallpaper out. Wipe this up with a sponge. You'll need to rinse out the sponge from time to time.

• Once you have this portion applied and smoothed out completely, use the utility knife to trim the excess wallpaper from the top and bottom.
• Press the broad edge or plastic smoother into the crease to ensure your cut follows the line of the ceiling or baseboard.

Step back and look at your work at different angles. Are all the air bubbles gone? If not, DO NOT pull off the paper and try to re-hang it. On a stubborn air bubble, use a small needle and poke a hole in the middle of the bubble. You can now smooth the air out.

Matching the Pattern
The next strips you cut may be of different lengths. You will need to match the pattern, so each strip will need to be whatever length is necessary. You may waste a lot of wallpaper doing this, but mismatched patterns of wallpaper is not something you want.

• Apply the next strip about 1/4" from the last strip. Gently slide the strip over to align the pattern.

The Finished Wall
After the paper has hung for 10 minutes or so, take a seam roller and go over the seams a few times. Have a clean sponge in handy for any oozing of paste.

Give the wall one last wipe down with a clean, damp sponge. Any dried paste will show up as ugly white streaks.