FabSwingers.com forum: Wallpapering tips

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

I’m going to wallpaper my bedroom wall for the second time. The first time I did it, it looked ok but not amazing.

Any tips to get a more accomplished finish?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Try getting a wallpaper that hasn't got much of a pattern to it. Easier to match up. If your not that confident doing it

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

This reminds me of my childhood, the excess glue oozing out was so satisfying

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Try getting a wallpaper that hasn't got much of a pattern to it. Easier to match up. If your not that confident doing it

The last one had a simple pattern and I actually matched it up perfectly, which surprised me. It was cutting the edges that I struggled with

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"This reminds me of my childhood, the excess glue oozing out was so satisfying

I love the smell of wallpaper adhesive. I have issues

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By *namCarasCouple
over a year ago

dundee

tip number 1

get someone else to do it

tip number 2

spend all day out in the lovely sunshine chatting to complete stranger

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Decent pair of scissors. Sharp knife and I use a scalpel for cutting around sockets

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By *ittle_brat_evie!!Woman
over a year ago

evesham

"I’m going to wallpaper my bedroom wall for the second time. The first time I did it, it looked ok but not amazing.

Any tips to get a more accomplished finish? "

I just get my dad to do it ??

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I’m going to wallpaper my bedroom wall for the second time. The first time I did it, it looked ok but not amazing.

Any tips to get a more accomplished finish? "

Get someone else to do it

I am shite at DIY but I am also a perfectionist, so me doing it would be a huge no no

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By *aggy dollsCouple
over a year ago

Bradford

"Try getting a wallpaper that hasn't got much of a pattern to it. Easier to match up. If your not that confident doing it

The last one had a simple pattern and I actually matched it up perfectly, which surprised me. It was cutting the edges that I struggled with

Use a super sharp blade and use a new one after every 4 or so cuts as they soon go blunt and tear the paper, I found that razor blades are better than Stanley blades (other brands are available) as they have a much finer edge.

Mr Hayes

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Make sure you have a sharp knife and scissors and a straight edge if it's a flat wall mark out start one end if curved mark out so joint is in the corner if that's no good do what I do and pay a professional

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By *uke olovingmanMan
over a year ago

Gravesend

Don't be stingy sizing the walls ...slap it on ...make sure there's no lumps

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

The issue was definitely the testing when cutting the bottom. Do I wait for the adhesive to dry before I cut it or cut it wet?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"The issue was definitely the testing when cutting the bottom. Do I wait for the adhesive to dry before I cut it or cut it wet? "
yeah let it dry a bit but not fully dry it cuts much easier without ripping

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By *asterR and slut mayaMan
over a year ago

Bradford

Get someone else to do it

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Get someone else to do it"

Nah, I’m more than capable of doing it myself. Greater satisfaction

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'm a decorator, I'll ping you a message... hopefully I can help

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I’m going to wallpaper my bedroom wall for the second time. The first time I did it, it looked ok but not amazing.

Any tips to get a more accomplished finish? "

I totally hate it so am absolutely no good to advise you , wallpapering ain't my thing tbh, there's an art to being good at it , that's what l think anyway.

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By *2000ManMan
over a year ago

Worthing

More trouble than it's worth o/p. Ensure wall is smooth and filled where needed. Use a good 'trade' paint instead.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"The issue was definitely the testing when cutting the bottom. Do I wait for the adhesive to dry before I cut it or cut it wet? "

Cut when wet. Trim before applying next length

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By *alandNitaCouple
over a year ago

Scunthorpe

Try the Harris Wallpaper cutting guide, it has a triangle profile that allows you to cut along the straight edge then move the guide to allow the paper to sit perfectly on the wall.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"More trouble than it's worth o/p. Ensure wall is smooth and filled where needed. Use a good 'trade' paint instead."

You’d still need to make sure the wall is smooth and filled if you were painting it…

Why say paint it when she wants it papered - two completely different things

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Tip 1. Pay somebody to do it.

Tip 2. Don’t do it.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I would mess this up big time

Good on you!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Tip 1. Pay somebody to do it.

Tip 2. Don’t do it."

This!

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By *iss.ddWoman
over a year ago

Leeds + Newcastle

An absolutely razor sharp knife for the perfect cut without jaggy bits

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By *nselfishpleaserMan
over a year ago

kent

As said before, just paint it. Wallpapering is an arse of a job

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By *iamondCougarWoman
over a year ago

Norfuck! / Lincolnshire

Measure twice, cut once and use a plumb line to ensure straight lines. Oh! And end in a corner or behind a door to hide any mistakes!

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By *ools and the brainCouple
over a year ago

couple, us we him her.

Sand walls before get rid of any lumps.

Paint the wall with a good quality silk finish paint,this is more about making it easier to strip the paper at a later date should you wish and clean walls after.

Use a plumbbob or level to level a line down. Never start from a corner.

Don't leave a gap between sheets as it will always shrink back when dry and leave an unsightly line try to overlap/butt edges so you can flatten.

Use a damp sponge to work out any air bubbles.

Make sure you get mor paper than you need all from same batch have at least one or two extra rolls.

Good quality paper is worth paying for.

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By *a LunaWoman
over a year ago

South Wales

Get the air bubbles out.

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By *ife NinjaMan
over a year ago

Dunfermline

"Get the air bubbles out. "

Yeah, buy one of those all one scraper/smoother tools

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Depending what the walls are like I would use a lining paper first then you can paper your walls to cut top and bottom try and use a spatula band a craft knife the spatula will help push the paper tighter into the ceiling and down to the skirting good lucky

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By *andyMinx_tvTV/TS
over a year ago

Leeds

I find "paste the wall" papers easier to hang. Choose a no match pattern if possible. Seam roller the joints. Trim when wet with a sharp wallpaper knife. Don't paper under electric lights unless you have no option. Spend time ensuring the walls are as smooth as possible. Don't paper around internal corners.

I've just done the whole house so hope this helps

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Thanks everyone.

I managed to do it well mart time, it was just the cutting of the ends that wasn’t as neat as I’d liked.

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By *agneto.Man
over a year ago

Bham

My tip, hire someone!

Glad it went went. Use a craft knife for the ends.

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By *irtydevil666Man
over a year ago

bristol

A good plum line and brush.......

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By *ig1gaz1Man
over a year ago

bradford

paste the paper to the require amount allow to soak

different papers need different soak times.

plumb bob a straight line or mark wall with a line done by a level and pencil but you need to first mark the wall and check paper width to corner adjust the mark so you can trim at the corner edge of wall.

walls are never straight so allways start in the corner

use a wall paper brush to brush out any air bubbles from the middle to one edge and then to the other edge as your hanging the paper

many use knives but there not always the best a good long pair of scissors are best to use

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

It’s going well so far, thanks for the tips

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By *instonandLadyAstorCouple
over a year ago

Not where we seem to be...

Don't start from the corners, middle of the paper aligns with the middle of the wall. That way any pattern is perfectly matched at either end when the wall meets the corner.

If you're confident loosen the sockets off the wall and paper to the mounting box behind. When the papers dry screw the sockets and switches back to the wall. Much neater finish.

Winston

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Get a professional

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Always start in the centre and find your plume line. Sharp scissos a must preferably paper scissors and a craft knife. Smoothing out brush or dry clean cloth and away you go

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I’m going to wallpaper my bedroom wall for the second time. The first time I did it, it looked ok but not amazing.

Any tips to get a more accomplished finish? "

Yeah pay someone else to do it lol

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By *iss SJWoman
over a year ago

Hull

"It’s going well so far, thanks for the tips

Kudos to you for doing it. I do not have a straight, flat wall in my house and daren’t attempt any diy because invariably it leads to a million other jobs that need doing.

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By *ife NinjaMan
over a year ago

Dunfermline

"It’s going well so far, thanks for the tips

Kudos to you for doing it. I do not have a straight, flat wall in my house and daren’t attempt any diy because invariably it leads to a million other jobs that need doing.

My wife use to say every time I did DIY I took thousands off the value if the house

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By *instonandLadyAstorCouple
over a year ago

Not where we seem to be...

"It’s going well so far, thanks for the tips

Kudos to you for doing it. I do not have a straight, flat wall in my house and daren’t attempt any diy because invariably it leads to a million other jobs that need doing.

You should see my apartment. Two of the external walls are curved (outwards) as is the ceiling line (upwards).

Actually, you should see my apartment.

Winston

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By *iss SJWoman
over a year ago

Hull

"It’s going well so far, thanks for the tips

Kudos to you for doing it. I do not have a straight, flat wall in my house and daren’t attempt any diy because invariably it leads to a million other jobs that need doing.

My wife use to say every time I did DIY I took thousands off the value if the house

My loo needed a new handle and ballcock. Ended up needing a completely new bathroom including flooring, bath, shower everything!

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By *ifty grades of shadyCouple
over a year ago

Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight

Never start in a corner, hang paper to be trimmed in the corners. Don't wrap around much external corners, inch is plenty, tear paper down and match the tear on other side and ensure you make sure this is plumb too. For best results around fittings loosen, not remove, and tuck about 5mm under, making sure that paste isn't going to be oozing out, a quick wipe and the tighten fitting.

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By *ife NinjaMan
over a year ago

Dunfermline

"It’s going well so far, thanks for the tips

Kudos to you for doing it. I do not have a straight, flat wall in my house and daren’t attempt any diy because invariably it leads to a million other jobs that need doing.

My wife use to say every time I did DIY I took thousands off the value if the house

My loo needed a new handle and ballcock. Ended up needing a completely new bathroom including flooring, bath, shower everything!

Impressive. Hats off to you x

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By *ife NinjaMan
over a year ago

Dunfermline

"Never start in a corner, hang paper to be trimmed in the corners. Don't wrap around much external corners, inch is plenty, tear paper down and match the tear on other side and ensure you make sure this is plumb too. For best results around fittings loosen, not remove, and tuck about 5mm under, making sure that paste isn't going to be oozing out, a quick wipe and the tighten fitting."

An inch is plenty is a term I've heard many times

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By *ad NannaWoman
over a year ago

East London

How's it going?

Always start at the part that you first see when you walk into a room.

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By *ad NannaWoman
over a year ago

East London

Never buy cheap paper.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

It’s going really well actually. The sharp blades have really made the difference

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