How to Hang Prepasted Wallpaper in 5 Easy Steps

Brighten up that wall surface by learning to hang prepasted wallpaper in your home.

Are you ready to spruce up the walls in your home but don’t know where to start? Hanging prepasted wallpaper can be intimidating and time-consuming, but with the right preparation and tools it can be a breeze. Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or have never handled traditional wallpaper before, you’ll have all the information you need to hang prepasted wallpaper.

From gathering the necessary tools to proper installation, the steps outlined here are straightforward and easy to follow. By the end of the piece, you’ll have the confidence to transform any room with custom wallpaper.

Wallpaper has slowly been making its comeback as a fashionable choice for wall decor design. There is now a plethora of wallpaper patterns, a big bonus for those of us who remember it coming in floral designs with matching curtain fabrics.

If you are like me and have not had much practice putting up wallpaper since you were a child, you will need a few refresher tips for installing. The most important tip is to remember to be patient. The easiest way to ruin wallpaper application if by rushing.

If you have never installed wallpaper before, I would recommend hiring a professional, getting someone with experience to help, or buying cheap wallpaper first and practicing. I decided to call in an expert to help with this wallpaper project - my mother in-law.  She has years of experience with floor to ceiling wallpaper all over her home and every last seam is perfect!

Supplies for Hanging Prepasted Wallpaper

• Prepasted rolls of wallpaper
• Yardstick or measuring tape
• Cutting mat
• Sharp utility knife
• Water
• Either bathtub, large sink or a bin
• Level
• Rag or sponge
• Wallpaper smoothing tool, optional

How to Hang Prepasted Wallpaper

When redoing my daughter's bedroom, I decided to add an accent wall. Wallpaper and woodworking are perfect for that. We added a chair rail with molding and then opted to leave the bottom of the wall painted while using wallpaper on the top. I searched and searched until I found this beautiful prepasted paper by Clairebella Studio. The vibrant colors and the beautiful flowers are perfect for this basement bedroom.

A Few Tips Before You Begin

• Make sure your walls are smooth and prepped or it will show in your wallpaper
• Take your time and do it right!
• Double check your measurements

Measure and Cut - Step 1

The great thing about this prepasted paper is that no application of glue is necessary. The wallpaper paste has already been applied so you can move right into cutting!

Figure out the measurements needed depending on your wall space. Do NOT just start cutting strips! For the first time, measure your piece and make sure it is a couple of inches larger than needed. When you are done measuring, cut your wallpaper strip with a utility knife for best results. You can also use a cutting mat to guide you in getting a straight line. This will help to give you a straight edge.

Keep in mind that on each strip of wallpaper there is usually about 18" to 24" of waste depending on the pattern. So don't be alarmed if there is overhang!

Wet Your Wallpaper - Step 2

Next, make sure your prepasted wallpaper is good and wet for the wallpaper glue to activate. Take your first strip of wallpaper and soak it. I use my kitchen sink to eliminate mess on the floor, but you can also use a bathtub or bins available to buy at the store specifically for wallpaper. After everything is good and wet, remove it and let your wallpaper sit for a minimum of 2-3 minutes up to 5 minutes. (Read specific instructions on your wallpaper to see if it needs longer.)

It is important to let the wallpaper sit the allotted time because it expands after it is wet and then shrinks back down. Hanging it before it relaxes can cause problems with your seam alignment. While it sits you don't want the edges to dry out. If the edges of the wallpaper dry out while sitting, you can also end up with seams coming up. Avoid the seams drying out by book folding your wallpaper.

To avoid dry seams, pull the wallpaper out of the water and lay the pattern side face down with the glue side up. Then take one edge and fold it to the center. Do the same to the other side and fold the edge to the center. This will keep the glue from drying out while it sits.

Apply to the Wall - Step 3

After your wallpaper has sat for the required time, it is time to put up the first panel. I find it easiest to have a starting point in the corner and follow the vertical line of the wall. Press the pasted side to the wall. If you look close you can see it is too big on the top and on the bottom. Too much wallpaper is not a bad thing because you can trim excess paper off.

Remove Air Bubbles From Wallpaper - Step 4

For this next step, you will want to remove any air bubbles from the entire surface. Use clean water and a wet sponge or a warm wet rag like we did. Or you can use a wallpaper tool specifically for pressing out air bubbles. The wet sponge will also help you to remove any excess paste leaking out of the side seams.

Start in the center and push the air bubbles outward to the seams. Do this before you cut off the extra wallpaper.

Match Seams With Prepasted Wallpaper - Step 5

Before you move to applying the next strip of wallpaper, make sure the seams will match up correctly. Hold up the roll to where you can see the pattern repeat and line it up next to the first piece. This may cause you to have excess paper on both ends. Do not cut your second piece until you have lined up the pattern in the proper place along the seam.

Hang the next piece of prepasted wallpaper along the seam of the first. Clairebella Studio's wallpaper is great to work with because matching the seams is so easy.

Continue this process with each new panel as you hang the pieces along the entire surface of the wall.

Want to fix that boring white wall? Following these 5 simple steps will help you to hang prepasted wallpaper on your own. You can transform your room with a gorgeous wallpaper accent that brightens up the space and takes your design to the next level with a lovely focal point.

Looking for more wallpaper ideas? Try out one of these!

• My girls' bathroom with Boho wallpaper
• Peel and stick wallpaper in the closet
• Girl room wall mural
• Easy laundry room wallpaper

Happy Decorating!

Brooke