As the custodians of William Morris’ legacy, we are dedicated to preserving and uplifting great craftsmanship, which includes shedding light on the art of how to hang wallpaper.
After much deliberation, between herbal greens or tempting terracotta, bold blooms or delicate leaves, you have achieved the hardest feat and selected your heritage wallpaper from our extensive collection.
Now, it’s time to decorate. Paste your patterns with pride knowing that you’ve followed our comprehensive guidance on how to hang wallpaper in your home. Here’s everything you need to know about how to hang wallpaper.
Wallpaper Toolkit
- Step ladder
- Tape measure
- Spirit level
- Wallpaper
- Wallpaper paste
- Pasting/wallpaper brush
- Pencil
- Roller
- Stanley knife
- Scissors
- Clean damp cloth
Step one: Prepare your space
One of the most important steps is preparing the area, before you hang any wallpaper. Clear your work space and cover any furniture with dust sheets, before you strip the old wallpaper down - either with a steamer or by hand. At this stage, the walls should be smooth to touch.
If there are any uneven surfaces still, fill in any holes and consider lining the walls first with lining paper to add a seamless finish to your Morris & Co. paper.
Expert tip: When crafting a feature wall, it’s best to paint the room first and apply the wallpaper last. After all, we don’t want any splatters on your freshly hung wallpaper!
Step two: Measure
Use your spirit level to make sure that your walls are even. Make a mark in the top corner of your room to ensure your wallpaper will hang straight.
Step three: Cut the first drop
Firstly, check the pattern position of your wallpaper to make sure the print is hanging the right way up. Bring the wallpaper down the height of your wall, leaving a trim allowance of 5cm at the bottom, then score the edge.
Cut carefully along this line. Alternatively, measure the height of your wall and then measure the wallpaper laying flat, leaving the additional centimeters at the bottom still.
Expert tip: When you are confident on your measuring, cut a couple of drops in advance to reduce time later on. Make sure to match the pattern on each drop and be mindful of obstacles on the wall such as plug sockets, light switches etc.
Step four: Paste away!
Use the roller to apply a thin layer of paste to the wall or the back of your wallpaper. Climb the step ladder and line up the first top corner and allow the paper to fold back on itself down the wall.
Step five: Slow and steady wins the race
Carefully smooth the top of the paper against the wall, once you have checked it’s hanging vertically and in-line with the edge of your wall.
Gently use a clean, dry brush to sweep across the surface of the paper and continue all the way down the paper, removing any air bubbles and creases as you go.
If the wallpaper doesn’t look entirely straight, the paste is still damp so softly slide it into place.
Step six: Finishing touches
Once it’s hanging vertically, peel back the top edge of the paper and score the line, smooth it back down and do the same for the bottom. Score the excess or use a Stanley knife to remove any extra from the top or bottom of the wall. Use a clean, damp cloth to wipe any paste off the wallpaper now too.
Step seven: Hang the rest of your heritage wallpaper
When you’re happy with the appearance of the first drop, it’s time to match the pattern to the second drop and repeat the process.
Some patterns will be harder than others to match, so take your time lining each of our intricate designs up. Once again, mark the bottom with an extra 5cm to avoid cutting the paper too short for the walls. .
Use a clean roller to join drop one and two seamlessly together, and wipe off any paste that comes through the join.
Browse our full range of authentic wallpapers designed by British pioneers of the Arts & Crafts movement such as William Morris, John Henry Dearle and May Morris.
If you have any questions, contact our customer service team who are on-hand to help with all your wallpaper queries.
