How to install wallpaper
How to Install Wallpaper with Better Results.
Successful wallpaper installation starts before the first panel goes on the wall. Learn how to measure, prepare surfaces, understand material differences, and plan installation properly so your finished space looks clean, balanced, and long-lasting.
- 01
Measure the wall
Calculate height × width per wall, then add a 10–15% pattern repeat allowance. Note window and door cutouts separately.
- 02
Prepare the substrate
Walls should be smooth, clean, and primed with a wallpaper-grade primer. Repair and sand any imperfections before installation.
- 03
Mix and book the paste
Follow manufacturer specs by material — grasscloth, silk, and vinyl each behave differently. Book pasted strips for even hydration.
- 04
Hang the first drop plumb
Use a laser level or chalk line to set a perfectly vertical first drop. Every subsequent strip references this baseline.
- 05
Match the pattern
Align repeats carefully. Trim at ceiling, baseboard, and openings using a sharp blade and a flexible smoothing tool.
- 06
Cure and inspect
Allow 24–48 hours of undisturbed cure. Inspect seams, edges, and pattern continuity in raked light.