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.
- Once the power is turned off you can unscrew the cover plates and remove them, being careful to store any screws safely.
- Hang the wallpaper straight over the holes then cut diagonal lines from corner to corner with a sharp blade.
- Carefully cut the flaps away with sharp scissors, smooth down the edges and allow the paper to dry.
- 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!
- 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.
- 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.
- Cut notches at 2” intervals along the overhanging paper around the arch to create lots of little wedges.
- Glue these wedges to the underside of the arch and smooth down.
- If you are wallpapering the other side of the arch repeat this process.
- 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…