Category: wallpaper

With time, patience and proper preparation, it’s perfectly possible for most handy DIYers to do a decent job of wallpapering. However, there are areas where even the most diligent amateurs struggle to produce a professional finish. Last time on our blog we talked about wallpapering around tricky obstacles like light fittings and plug sockets, but they’re child’s play compared to trying to wallpaper around windows! This month we’re going to demystify this dark art for you.

Preparation

 

If you’ve been reading our blog for a while you’ll know that preparation is the key to success. Make sure that:

• You have enough paper to cover your chosen area.
• Your walls are clean and blemish free.
• You have all the tools you need, such as sharp blades, pencils, tape measure, sharp scissors, spirit level, and pasting equipment.
• You have a clear plan in mind before you hang your first sheet.

Windows are the most difficult obstacle to paper to a high standard, which is why we recommend starting with them so that you have total control of the overall process.

The method
We’ll take a fairly large window to begin with, but this applies equally to all sizes. Before you begin papering, read this set of instructions through a couple of times to be sure that you are clear on the method – a little like baking a cake!

1. Begin on the right-hand side of the window with a strip of paper that overhangs the opening with enough paper to cover the inside reveal of the window.
2. Cut the paper straight across the opening at the top and bottom so that you can neatly fold and paste the flap into the reveal.
3. With a sharp blade carefully cut a section out so your strip fits snugly around the window sill – this is tricky so take your time – and hang the rest of the strip under the window down to the skirting board.
4. Your next strip will hang from the ceiling down and under the head of the window with the corresponding strip going beneath the window sill to the floor.
5. Repeat step 4 across the width frame if necessary.
6. If you’re lucky, your final strip for the left hand reveal side will be large enough to simply repeat steps 1 and 2, but if not, cut a small flap for the reveal instead of a full sized one and paste it around the reveal corner.
7. Now your task is to accurately measure and cut a strip of paper that fits the reveal and paste it in over the flap you just created. Be sure to match any pattern.
8. Now cut small strips to fill the two gaps at either end of the head of the window. You can cut these with a small flap to fold up and under the end strips to create the neatest finish, but if this is too fiddly it’s okay to cut it to the edge.

 

We hope that this makes this tricky DIY task as manageable as possible, but if you find the idea overwhelming, call a professional decorating service like ours instead!

 

 

Wallpapering is definitely one of those home improvement jobs that the majority of people can handle, but you do need to be properly prepared and willing to take your time. This is especially true when it comes to the tricky task of wallpapering around obstacles, such as light fittings and plug sockets. This week we’re going to offer you our top tips to make these jobs as simple as possible.

 

Light switches and plug sockets

 

The first thing to do whenever you’re working anywhere near electricity is to turn the power off at your junction box. It’s pointless to take a risk with this, so plan your wallpapering session well to ensure that you have plenty of daylight.

1. Once the power is turned off you can unscrew the cover plates and remove them, being careful to store any screws safely.
2. Hang the wallpaper straight over the holes then cut diagonal lines from corner to corner with a sharp blade.
3. Carefully cut the flaps away with sharp scissors, smooth down the edges and allow the paper to dry.
4. Once dry you can refit the cover plates for the sockets and light switches.

 

Arches

We wouldn’t blame you for looking at an archway and thinking that it’s beyond your skills to wallpaper, but with the correct technique it’s surprisingly easy. Like with all tricky jobs, the key is to take your time and keep calm!

1. Hang the wallpaper down from the ceiling as normal, but when you get to the arch trim the paper in a curve that follows the arch and leaves about an inch of overhang.
2. Make sure that you cut a straight line across the inside of the arch where the curve meets the vertical so that you can fold the paper neatly around the corner.
3. Cut notches at 2” intervals along the overhanging paper around the arch to create lots of little wedges.
4. Glue these wedges to the underside of the arch and smooth down.
5. If you are wallpapering the other side of the arch repeat this process.
6. Now measure a precise strip of wallpaper to fit the underside of the arch – make sure that it perfectly covers the little wedges.

Before you paste the measured strip, get someone to help you hold it in place to ensure it’s a good match – and remember to smooth the edges down firmly, but carefully!

Picture hooks

 

Picture hooks have a tendency to tear your paper if you attempt to lay straight over them so we recommend removing them first. Finding the holes afterwards is a nightmare, but there is a solution – matchsticks!

 

Simply cut small sections of matchstick and place in the holes where your picture hooks were. As you lay your paper the matchsticks will make little marks that you can use as reference points – but make sure you remove the sticks before smoothing the paper down!

 

Next month we’ll show you a fool proof way to lay wallpaper around windows – one of the toughest challenges for the DIYer…

 

When it comes to freshening up tired walls, you’re pretty much faced with two options: paint or wallpaper. Whilst the condition of the walls can be a factor in your decision, wallpaper offers much more scope to be creative – but while the colour and pattern needs to be chosen carefully, you also need to make sure it’s suitable for the area you’re decorating.

Let’s take a quick look at the most common types of wallpaper and when/where they’re best used…

Washable

Not to be confused with vinyl wallpaper, washable papers are made with a transparent coating that’s thick and sturdy enough to be wiped down fairly regularly – but don’t mistake that for suitability in high-condensation areas, like bathrooms. Great for grubby little hands, so can be ideal for a kid’s bedroom.

Embossed

These papers have always been popular in older houses where the plaster has seen better days. The raised pattern works wonders at hiding imperfections in the walls, and they’re long lasting because they can be painted when the patterns begin to wear and you need another quick refresh.

Vinyl coated

A great all-rounder! Vinyl papers are reasonably hardwearing, washable and very easy to hang, making them ideal for almost any situation. They can, however, be tougher to strip, simply because they’re so waterproof.

Vinyl

Like vinyl coated papers but on steroids! These are very tough, highly waterproof and very easy to cut and hang. They’re perfect for areas where water’s a problem, so we recommend them for bathrooms – especially ones without extractor fans. While there are lots of pros, there is one con – and that’s that they can be a nightmare to strip because of their naturally high resistance to soaking up water!

Woodchip

Another relatively cheap way to hide imperfections, but much less commonly seen now as it’s perhaps a little old-fashioned. Woodchip can be made washable if you apply a waterproof paint over it, and you can refresh with extra coats if you want to brighten it up or change the colour.

Pulp

A very cheap patterned type of wallpaper that requires some care to hang correctly because it’s usually relatively thin and is prone to stretching – this can make pattern matching difficult and result in poor results if they shrink back as the paste dries.

Anaglypta

Another excellent choice if your walls are a bit tired and bumpy. Anaglypta embossed papers come in a multitude of patterns ─ some random, some geometric ─ and usually require a coat or two of paint to finish them off. Random patterns are much easier to hang, so are ideal for less experienced DIYers!

Blown vinyl

Very much like embossed papers, and another great option for hiding less than perfect walls.

Textured vinyl

Those craggy old walls are well catered for, with yet another choice for covering up the cracks ─ especially in bathrooms and kitchens due to its waterproof nature.

Flock

One of the oldest wallpapers around, flock’s still very popular in restaurants and pubs, but can also make a great statement on a feature wall in your home. They’re delicate, however, so they may not be the best option if you have kids running around.

Hand-printed

Very expensive and tricky to get to grips with, but this wallpaper can produce stellar results. Hand-printed papers are produced by applying a printing block, the width of the paper, by hand. If you fancy something as exotic as this you’ll definitely want to employ a professional to hang it to ensure it looks as good as intended – and be prepared to spend a pretty penny as it’s not the cheapest option on the market!

Luxury

As the name implies, these papers are well made, thick and beautifully designed. They’re often at the forefront of modern design and can cost over £100 a roll! Whilst a DIY enthusiast could hang a paper of this quality, it’s another one that we’d recommend handing it over to a professional.

Metallic

Metallic papers look great on the wall and are often a real talking point. Like mirrors they can make a room look bigger, but it pays to be very careful whilst hanging them to protect the pattern ─ you definitely don’t want to fold or crease these.

Fabric backed

Fabric backing is used on certain foil and vinyl papers to add strength and durability. In essence, the paper backing is replaced with fabric, so they’re super strong, very easy to hang and can be stripped off in whole sheets when the time comes to start again! Perfect for mucky hands because they can be scrubbed like a carpet if necessary.

Natural silk

Natural silk papers are beautiful and delicate, but perhaps not suitable for the average family living room. It’s tricky to hang, easy to rip and completely intolerant of paste that’s been inexpertly splashed on the pattern during the hanging process. They’re worth the trouble for a feature wall in a low traffic area, but you’ll probably want to let a pro have the fun of hanging them.

Borders

Borders are fun! Use them to panel doors, add features to plain walls, split walls between patterned and plain paper ─ let your imagination go wild!  They come in many patterns and are usually paper backed with vinyl coating for a reasonably hardwearing life.

If you’re more concerned with getting the existing paper off before hanging the new, then our ‘stripping wallpaper the easy way‘ blog might help – and if you need a hand with hanging your chosen paper and you live in the Leeds area, please feel free to get in touch for a no-obligation estimation!