Wallpaper Guide

Wallpaper is hot and easier than ever to install.

Wallpaper is back in a big way with a wide array of luxurious papers on the market. Wallpaper offers a quick and effective way of making a design statement; colours, patterns and textures are almost limitless and can work in any room in the home. The new wallpapers are DIY-friendly, making them a popular choice for the weekend warrior.

In this article:
Before you buy
Buying wallpaper
Preparing the walls
Machine-printed paper
Hand-printed paper
Vinyl wall covering
Embossed paper
Woven fabric wall covering
Grasscloth
Flocked paper
Lining paper

Before you buy

• Measure entire wall surface excluding window or door openings
• Measure floor-to-ceiling height between baseboard and ceiling frieze
• Add about 4” to floor-to-ceiling height for trimming allowance

Buying wallpaper

• Colours may vary between batches so be sure that all rolls are from the same batch
• Buy an extra roll to allow for mistakes
• Check with manufacturer’s charts for recommended number of rolls for your measurements
• Use paste recommended by the manufacturer
• Avoid wallpapers that are too thin — heavier wallpapers are easier to hang and are less likely to tear

Preparing the walls

• Wall surface must always be smooth as any imperfections will be visible
• Baseboards, ceiling and window frames should be painted before hanging wallpaper
• Strip walls of existing wallpaper
• Walls painted with latex paint should be sanded prior to hanging paper
• Any cracks or holes in walls should be repaired
• Any new plaster must be completely dry (this typically takes a few weeks)
• If dealing with uneven surfaces, lining paper can be pasted horizontally on to walls first to provide a smooth finish for your wallpaper application

Machine-printed paper

• Most common wallpaper type available, sold in rolls
• Typically roller-printed onto white or coloured backgrounds
• Thicker papers are washable
• Paper will stretch slightly when made wet for pasting
• Some are pre-pasted for easy hanging
• Wide range of patterns and colours available

Hand-printed paper

• Patterns created using stencils, screens and blocks
• Innate hand-crafted beauty
• Colours are sharper than machine-printed papers
• Should be hung by a professional
• More expensive than machine-printed papers

Vinyl wall covering

• Water resistant so appropriate for bathrooms and kitchens
• Hard-wearing and durable
• Available in an array of colours and designs
• Surface offers a shinier look than paper
• Washable
• Hides wall surface defects well
• More costly than paper

Embossed paper

• Available in a wide variety of colours and patterns
• Also available in patterns imitating natural materials
• Delicate in quality — should only be used in low-traffic rooms
• Difficult to remove once applied to walls

Woven fabric

• Available in an array of fabrics such as burlap, silk, cotton, wool and canvas
• Creates a warm, natural look
• Provides more sound absorption than regular papers
• Maintenance requires vacuuming or sponging
• Should not be used in bathrooms or kitchens as fabric will absorb odours
• Requires underlay paper for installation

Grasscloth

• Made of paper-backed woven grasses and reeds
• Wide range of textures possible
• Creates a warm, natural look
• Seams are more apparent than with other wallpapers
• Colours are limited

Flocked paper

• A luxurious wall covering with patterns carved into velvet pile
• Most appropriate for formal areas
• Should be restricted for use in space with little traffic
• Should not be used in bathrooms or kitchens

Lining paper

• A plain underpaper that provides a flat surface for hanging decorative wallpaper
• Should be hung horizontally around a room
• Available in several grades