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A Simple & Easy Guide on How to Hang Wallpaper Like a Pro

April 9 2020

Are you thinking of an interior design upgrade? Walls are often the first thing that comes to mind when you start considering how to transform your space. Whether you simply switch out your wall art or opt for a total make-over, changing the colour, texture, and design of your walls is the easiest way to metamorphose the feel of a room completely. 

The options are endless: if you can think it, there’s a wallpaper for it! From demure textures to wood or stone imitation, bold colour blocking to classic patterns and prints, boho-chic to opulent luxe, it’s all out there somewhere – and you’ll have so much fun hunting for the perfect paper to dress your room in. 

Wallpaper can be used to draw the eye to a particular feature, create an accent wall, produce a cohesive scheme throughout the room or home, break the ice when guests arrive… It’s easier and less time-consuming than painting your walls, and a lot of wallpapers are safely removable, meaning you can make a rental flat your own without worrying about that security deposit! 

Feeling a bit stuck? We’ve got your back! (Or your walls…). Here’s a hassle-free guide to choosing, prepping and hanging our wallpapers for best results, so you can get on with the business of enjoying your home. 

Ready, Set, Transform!

Making the Choice

There’s a range of factors to consider when you’re choosing the perfect wallpaper. Don’t rush this process! Enjoy it, savour it, and follow your gut. 

Style and Mood

Take a moment to think about the style you want to emulate or the mood you’d like to create. This will strongly impact the colour, pattern and texture that you choose, from gilded metallic motifs for a modern twist on a classic tale that feels chic and warm, to rustic details for a more cosy vibe. 

How Will You Use the Wallpaper?

Are you using it to emphasise exciting features in your home? A fireplace chute or other unusual architectural elements can be subtly brought to the forefront of your design scheme, or not so subtly if that’s more your style, with a splash of colour or pattern that stands out from the rest of the space.

Or you might be creating a feature wall, to draw the eye and generate interest. In that case, you’ll want something that ties in with the rest of the scheme but takes it one step further. (Or two!) 

If you’re going for the full make-over and covering all the walls, think about how you can tie your wallpaper into a scheme, using soft furnishings or furniture. You’ll also want to create contrast so that the design has depth and whimsy. 

Go Big and Go Home (with the biggest samples possible)

When you’ve settled on a few options, grab the biggest sample you can and hang it up in the room for a week. Look at it, touch it, feel it, breathe it. If after seven days you’re not in love, grab a new one and start again! 

How Much Do I Order?

While it’s always frustrating to be left with surplus paper, there’s nothing worse than running out of wallpaper before you finish the room! For every wall that you want to cover, measure the height and length and multiply them together. Subtract for windows or any other wall-features you don’t want to be included, count up the total, and off you go!

Getting Ready

Alright, you’ve chosen your wallpaper, and you’re excited to get started! Hold your horses, though; there’s some work to do first so that your interior design looks great, and lasts as long as possible. 

A Clean Slate

Start by taking down any wall decor and hangings that are in the way of the process. 

For best results, Luxe Walls wallpaper should be hung on smooth, primed and painted walls. This means you’ll need to repair any imperfections or flaky paint jobs. Make sure your base has little-to-no surface variation. When painting walls in preparation for Luxe Walls papering, avoid flat or matt finishes, paints containing Teflon and chlorinated waxes and silicones, textured paints, and oil alkyd primers and enamels.

For a more detailed guide on prepping your walls, have a look here

Preparation time is really where Luxe Walls papers stand out from the crowd. Because our papers are self-adhesive, they don’t require any messy glues, soaking in water or any of that other malarkey. This means they can be repositioned if you don’t get it right on the first go! Phew, so much less pressure. 

A lot of them are also removable, so you can experiment boldly with different prints and colours knowing you’re not making an unbreakable commitment. 

Transformation Time!

It’s finally time to get that paper on the wall! Precision and patience are vital in the quest for papery perfection. 

C1: the trailblazer

The first panel to go up is always the one labelled C1. It’s crucial to get this one right because it’ll act as a base for all the other panels! Start on the left side of your wall and work your way across. 

Line up the top of the panel carefully with the ceiling, and the left side of the panel down the corner. Secure the panel in place with a strip of masking tape at the top. Peel off 10 centimetres of backing paper and, using a clean cloth, gently smooth the paper down, so it adheres to the wall. Then peel off another 10cm, and so on, so forth. 

Smooth over bubble and bumps as you go, or gently peel off the paper and reposition it. Alternatively, you can pierce the bubbles with a very thin pin and re-smooth. 

Don’t worry about any excess paper when you get to the bottom of the wall: when you’re done, you can trim it with a sharp knife. 

C2: the trusty side-kick

Grab the panel labelled C2, and align it oh-so-carefully with C1. There’s a 10cm overlap between the two to help you. 

Repeat the same process as C1. Make sure your panels line up at eye level: people will be making eye-contact with the middle of your wall, not the top or the bottom! 

C3: eh, you get it

Repeat the process until all the panels are hung. Step back, admire your work, and celebrate with a glass of wine. Oh, wait: not yet!

Final Touches

Grab a sharp knife and trim the excess from the bottom of your walls. If necessary, remove any overflow from the last panel on the right as well. Now go and grab yourself that glass of wine!