Want to give your walls a makeover? Try wallpaper

LITTLE NOTE: This project application is based on a wall of standard height and 3 - 4 m in height.

What you’ll need:

•    Hard brush
•    Wallpaper of your choice
•    Wallpaper paste
•    Bucket & stirrer
•    Paint roller
•    Soft cloth
•    Cutting knife

First things first:

1.    Before you get going make sure the wall surface is well prepared.
2.    Check for cracks and imperfections and fix them, remove all screws or nails and fill the holes.
3.    The surface must be smooth.
4.    Give the wall a good clean with a scrubbing brush to remove any dust.

How to mix the wallpaper paste

1.    Mixing wallpaper paste is like cooking a white sauce, stir continuously to avoid lumps.

2.    Follow the manufacturer’s instructions with precision, as different ones vary slightly, but I find that mixing a small amount of powder to the desired amount of water little by little, while stirring, mostly does the trick.

3.    Let the mixture settle for a few of minutes before applying it to the back of the paper.

How to apply the wallpaper

1.    Use a painting roller to spread the paste confidently and without hesitation over the edges.

2.    Leave extra wallpaper at both top and bottom that can be carefully removed with a carpet knife after applying to the wall.
3.    If you have a pattern on the paper, bring the roll up to each installed panel and match the pattern every time before cutting and applying a new one.

4.    A clear marking can be made with a pencil to ensure the paper will be cut accurately for precision - I will only ever cut the paper once I am one hundred percent certain it will be a perfect fit.

To finish

1.    After applying each panel, air pockets might be caught up between the paper and the wall.
2.    Wipe the air bubbles from the middle outward with a soft cloth or window squeegee.

TIPS:

•    Always consider the quality of the wallpaper. The glue is essentially like a gel - it wets the paper and if handled without care can cause tears (both kinds).
•    Cold glue can be added to the wallpaper paste to make it stickier.
•    When covering melamine cupboard doors, only use cold glue to fix the paper to the surface.

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