A change of wallpaper literally brings new life into the room. There are no limits to the room design with wallpaper through various materials and patterns. You give your home a distinctive look, from the monochrome wood chip wallpaper to the non-woven wallpaper with photo motifs – with different colors and patterns.

In our step-by-step wallpapering guide, you’ll find the right tools and practical tips to make your DIY project a complete success. Are you ready?

Let’s get started!

Once you’ve found the wallpaper you want, you’re ready to get started. This simple step-by-step guide will show you that wallpapering is not witchcraft and can be done yourself with a little skill without any problems!

Wallpapering tools: What you need

*Spirit level

*Pencil

*Folding rule

*Foam rubber roller & seam roller

*Ladder

*Wallpaper table

*Wallpaper paste

*Tassel/paste brush

*Bucket

*Stirring wood

*Cutter knife/scissors

*Spray bottle

*Spiked roller

*Wallpaper stripper

*putty

*primer

*And, of course, wallpaper!

Here are your step by step instructions for wallpapering

1. Remove old wallpaper

In the very first step, you should check a seam of your old wallpaper to see how many layers are already stuck to the wall so you know exactly what you’re dealing with. To give the new wallpaper the best possible hold, you should remove the old wallpaper. Then tape the floor with foil for protection.

Now spread your wallpaper solvent on the old wallpaper on the wall with a tassel. Alternatively, you can use a spray bottle. If you don’t have any wallpaper remover at hand, you can simply dilute the commercial washing-up liquid with water and apply it.

If the wallpaper solvent shows an effect, you can start to remove the old strips from the wall.

Pro Tip:

Roughen old wallpaper with a spiked roller! This loosens it already times from the wall. Subsequently, soak properly so that the wallpaper remover can develop its effect!

2. Repair the surface

The exposed wall probably still needs a few small beauty corrections. It may be necessary to wash or scrape any remaining old paint from the wall. Fill any cracks and spalls that have formed with putty and allow them to dry out thoroughly.

Pro Tip:

You can also paint your walls with a pigmented wallpaper primer so that colour-varying substrates don’t show through later and the new wallpaper adheres well. This is particularly recommended for new buildings or chalky walls.

3. Mix the wallpaper paste

You can find premixed wallpaper paste and powder that you must mix in your specialist centre. Which type of paste is best suited for your project depends on the nature of your wallpaper.

To mix the paste:

1. Fill the required amount of water into a large plastic bucket, depending on the package instructions, and stir it into a swirl with a stick.
2. Add all the paste powder and continue stirring.
3. Make sure that no lumps form! Since some wallpaper pastes need to rest before they are ready to use, you should do this step now.

Pro Tip:

Non-woven wallpaper is applied directly to the pasted wall when dry. Woodchip and textured wallpaper, on the other hand, must be pasted in advance on the wallpaper table.

4. Measuring and cutting wallpaper

If you are wondering how much wallpaper you need, here is a simple formula to calculate it: Height x wall width = m² needed + 3% surcharge for “normal” wallpaper.

Cut the wallpaper strips lengthwise to the required room height – plus 3 to 5 cm excess length at the top and bottom. Then you can already paste the wall with a paste brush or paint roller.

Pro Tip:

To achieve a professional result, draw a vertical line on the wall before wallpapering as an orientation for the first strip – it is best to use a plumb line and a spirit level for this.

5. Apply the wallpaper

Place the top edge of the first cut strip of wallpaper protruding from the edge of the ceiling and the corner of the room. Then align it with the help of the marked vertical line.

Now fold the wallpaper strip completely open and smooth it with a brush or rubber roller from the inside to the outside. No more bubbles should be visible on the wall.

Now glue the subsequent individual strips together exactly butt to butt. But please always guide the web gently by hand to the seam.

Finally, you only need to press all the butt edges together. It is advisable to use a seam roller for this.

Pro Tip:

To ensure that the wallpaper paste dries evenly, it is best to keep the windows and doors closed.

6. Wallpaper details and corners

Since wall corners are rarely completely straight and the strips would not abut flush against each other, you should apply the wallpaper a small piece over the corner. You can press the resulting protrusions on the ceiling, adjacent walls and floor firmly into the corners with the wallpaper spatula and cut along the spatula with a sharp cutter knife.

By the way, you wallpaper details such as sockets and light switches, window reveals or door frames in the same way.

Pro Tip:

If you want to apply pattern wallpaper around corners, start wallpapering in the most visible corner of the room and end in the darkest. Also, leave only a few inches of wallpaper sticking out. This way, only a small area of the pattern will be swallowed up, and there will be no breakage.

7. Done! You’re wallpapering like a pro!

The wallpaper change is now successfully completed! Whether wallpapering, painting or decorating – we at BAUHAUS always have the right tips and tricks for you!

Have fun in your newly designed walls!