Welcome to our guide to hanging wallpaper.

We have split this tutorial into two parts, in this part we will cover roll calculation, wall preparation, order of hanging, marking out and cutting the lengths.

If you intend to hang lining paper and haven't yet then see our guide to hanging lining paper.

After completing this part click here or use the link at the bottom of the page to continue the tutorial.

Before you follow this guide you must read and agree to the terms of our disclaimer.

To complete this task you will need the following items:

Wall Covering (wallpaper)
Suitable Wallpaper Paste
Wallpaper Pasting Brush
Decorating table (pasting table)
Suitable filler (if required) along with a suitable applicator

Wallpaper Seam Roller
Tape Measure
Spirit Level
Blunt Pencil
Paperhanging brush
Suitable Scissors

When working at heights always ensure that the structure is safe and secure. Never stretch out, always get down and re-position the scaffold.

Buying Wallpaper.

If you have already purchased sufficient wall covering then scroll down to the next section.

First a few notes about buying wallpaper.

When you buy a wall covering ensure that each roll is exactly the same as the rest including batch number and shade number. Also it is better to buy one roll too many (for spare) than end up with not enough to finish the project.

Wall coverings come in a variety of types including self-pasting, washable, peelable and so on, most manufacturers use symbols to indicate wallpaper type, you can find a list of common symbols in our guide to wallpaper product labels.

Roll Calculation

To calculate how many rolls of wall covering are needed use a simple calculation:

Measure the perimeter of the room and then divide this figure by the width of the roll (X).
Divide the length of the roll by the drop + 10cm (Y).
Divide X by Y to give the number of rolls needed.

An example, say the perimeter of the room (including windows/doors) is 14m and the width of the roll is 0.6m then X = 24 (rounded up).

and let's say the roll length is 11m and the drop (+10cm) is 2.5 so Y = 4.4

Dividing X by Y gives us 24 ÷ 4.4 = 5.45, so we need 6 rolls to complete the project.

Preparing the Walls

If you have already prepared the walls then skip to the next section.

If the walls have an old covering then remove it (see our guide to stripping wallpaper) for some tips.

Inspect the wall surfaces for cracks, holes, loose plaster and any other imperfections.

For small cracks use a suitable fine filler, for larger cracks and holes use a stronger more suitable filler (see manufacturer's instructions).

To check for any loose plaster, tap the wall around any suspect areas, remove any loose plaster and repair with a suitable plaster repair product (filler if the damaged area is not too big).

When filling try and leave a nice smooth finish, it is better to leave the filled area slightly proud of the surrounding area and then sand down with a fine sandpaper until flush.

Order of hanging

First we need to decide the best place to start hanging the wallpaper, patterned wallpaper is best hung starting at a window and working your way around the room away from the window (see fig 1.1).

To get your starting point measure the window recess and add 2cm, deduct this measurement from the roll width, and then measure out from the window the remainder, this will be your starting point (see fig 1.2).

An example
Let's say the window recess is 15cm (add 2cm for trimming) and the roll width is 60cm, that means we need to measure out from the window 43cm (60-17=43).

Use a pencil to mark your starting point, and then use either a spirit level or a chalk line to mark a vertical line to use as a guide.

Fig 1.1

Fig 1.2

Prepare the lengths

Once you have your starting point you can work out how many drops it will take to reach the nearest corner, this is how many pieces of wallpaper we need to prepare ready for hanging.

When you know how many drops you need to reach the corner, the next step is to work out how long to cut the lengths. Free match wallpaper is just a case of measuring the drop and adding 10cm for trimming, other wallpapers may need a larger surplus in order to match the pattern correctly (see manufacturer's instructions).

After working out how long to cut the lengths take your decorating scissors and cut as many lengths as you need (always check that the pattern matches and you have 5cm at both top and bottom for trimming).

note: Usually wallpaper paste takes about 15-20 minutes (see paste packet) until it is ready to use, if you mix it just before you start cutting the lengths it should be ready when you need it.