Ready to hang your wallpaper? We make it easy to transform your space with simple wallpaper installation instructions.

TRADITIONAL WALLPAPER INSTALLATION

If you're new to wallpaper, when selecting a paper take note of the type of wallpaper you are using as installation can slightly vary. The main difference is pre-pasted wallpapers have dried paste incorporated into the back surface that is activated with water, and unpasted wallpapers require wet paste to be applied during installation. Based on which type of wallpaper you are installing the instructions may differ, but the general technique is the same.

Just remember these four simple steps: Measure, Cut, Activate (with either paste or water) and Hang. That’s it!

PREP THE WALL

Before you begin installing your wallpaper, prepare your surface and clear the work area. Make sure electrical outlet covers are off and remove wall fixtures. For best results, clean and properly prepare all wall surfaces. Old wallcoverings and paste residue should be removed.

Next, prepare your wall with a premixed universal wallpaper primer. Priming the wall is an important step when hanging unpasted wallpaper as it allows for the wallpaper to remove easier. If installing pre-pasted wallpaper, a primer is not required.

MEASURE + ACTIVATE THE PASTE

When ready to begin, measure the wall length, then add 4” and cut your wallpaper. You want the paper to overlap at the ceiling and the baseboard by approximately 2”.

Quick Tip: Be sure to allow for pattern match, either random, straight or drop match.

UNPASTED PAPER

You can either paste the wall or paste the paper. If pasting the wall, apply paste evenly to the wall, covering an area for one strip only. If pasting the paper, apply an even coat of paste to the back of the wallpaper, working form the center to the edges. Then loosely fold the moistened strip, pasted sides together and let sit for three minutes. This is known as booking.

Quick Tip: If installing heavy weight paper and specialty unpasted papers including cork, embroidered, and flock, you will want to use a clear, non-staining heavyweight premixed paste adhesive as opposed to a clear, light-medium weight paste.

PRE-PASTED PAPER

Roll your cut strip loosely with pattern side in, paste side out. Then submerge the rolled strip in warm water for 30 seconds to activate paste. You can also use a wallpaper hand sprayer to get the same effect and activate the paste by spraying a fine mist of clean water to the pasted surface (we recommend this method!). In long strokes, spray  the length of the paper making sure to thoroughly wet the entire back of the strip, paying close attention to the edges. Fold each end of the moistened strip toward the middle, pasted sides together, aligning the edges carefully so they do not dry out. Avoid creasing the paper. Roll the strip up as you would a loose newspaper, set aside for 3 minutes allowing the paste to activate and the paper to relax. This is referred to as booking.

HANG YOUR FIRST STRIP

After booking for three minutes, carry your strip to the wall, unfold and hang. Allow overlap onto the ceiling and baseboard. Using a smoothing brush, broad knife or plastic smoother, remove any air bubbles and make sure all of the wallpaper has made good contact with the wall without distorting or stretching the wallpaper. Use a seam roller to lightly flatten seams.

PROCEED TO THE SECOND STRIP

If butting up the seams, place the second strip to the edge of the first strip and smooth out firmly. Be certain to wash the ceiling and the baseboard to remove any paste residing. Protect the face of the wallpaper when cleaning. Seams should be vertical, have a tight fit and be free from air and paste bubbles.

After three panels have been smoothed to the wall surface and excess paste removed, examine the installed panels for uniformity in color. Proceed in the same manner around the room. Geometric and other matching patterns may need additional selvage trimming to obtain color matches across seams.

Follow the steps above to keep going and finish hanging your strips. Once all strips have been hung and excess trim cut, step back and enjoy your beautiful new room!

PEEL + STICK WALLPAPER INSTALLATION

SURFACE PREPARATION

For best results, clean, dry and smooth all surfaces. Product will not adhere to unclean or textured surfaces. Allow newly painted surfaces to fully cure for a minimum of 4 weeks before applying this peel & stick wallpaper. 

It helps to have two people to install peel + stick wallpaper.

HANGING

1. Pre-cut strips to wall height, allow an extra inch or two on top and bottom for trimming. Make sure to align any design from strip to strip prior to cutting and hanging each strip. Cut and trim product with a sharp razor knife changing the blade often to help maintain a smooth clean cut. Number the back of each strip as you go to keep your design in the correct order.
2. Beginning on the left side of your wall, measure out from the corner the width of the paper and mark the wall lightly with a pencil. Using your level, draw a straight line down. This is the guide for your 1st strip, and it is very important for it to be a straight, vertical line.
3. Peel about 12” to 24” of the backing away from the top of the paper. Apply the paper to the top of the wall, allowing a bit of excess to overlap the ceiling which will be trimmed off later. Align the right side of the strip to your mark and lightly press the edge to the wall along the mark. You can reposition if needed to ensure a vertical seam.
4. Working from top to bottom, pull the backing away as you evenly press the paper to the wall a few inches at a time. Be careful not to pull or stretch the material or the pattern will not align. For best results, have one person guide the paper at the top and along the seam, while another holds the opposite edge away from the wall until the seams are lined up.
5. Using a plastic smoother, a credit card or your hand, work your way down the strip in a back and forth motion, smoothing the material to the wall and pushing out any air bubbles (work them out from the center to the edge of the strip).
6. Trim excess material at ceiling and baseboard with a straight edge and sharp razor knife.
7. Repeat procedure aligning your next strip to the right edge of your previous strip. Pro Tip: in some instances, and for some patterns, you may want to try over-lapping each strip ever so slightly (1/16th of an inch / 0.15 mm). Just make sure that the pattern aligns perfectly when doing so.

CLEANING

Peel + stick wallpapers are washable and can be cleaned using a mild detergent and a lightly damp sponge or cloth.

REPOSITIONING OR REMOVAL

Start at the top corners gently pulling firmly, evenly and slowly downward, working parallel to the surface. Be careful not to over stretch the material. Do not allow the adhesive surfaces to make contact with each other as they are very difficult to separate without damaging.

FOR BEST RESULTS

Apply onto smooth and clean surfaces. Do NOT apply onto freshly painted walls (let paint dry at least 4 weeks). Do not apply to lacquered furniture. The fading of furniture exposed to sunlight is not related to the use of our product. May not work on heavily textured surfaces. Test in an inconspicuous area before applying to wallpaper or other delicate surfaces.