wallpaper questions

I started with no experience, but have gone on to papering 5 bedrooms, 2 baths and a kitchen. If you’re reasonably handy and meticulous, it can be done well. The easiest papers to hang are the vinyl ones cause they’re less susceptible to tearing. Can’t speak to using wallpaper paste; have always used pre-pasted. Proper wall preparation is the most important step. Walls should be very smooth and existing paint should be sealed with one of those stain-killing primers. Then, after a coat of sizing–very important–the wallpapering can commence. As Arkady said, sharp blades are important. I use lots and lots of single-edge razor blades for cutting. One piece of advice if you decide to take the plunge: don’t start your wallpapering career in a complicated room, one with lots of windows and doors or other objects that must be cut around. Try working on some flat, unobstructed walls first and see if you’re capable and like doing it. (It’s easy enough to remove with a steamer if you’re unhappy with the results.)

Finally, there are lots of on-line wallpapering tutorials you can consult. And there are many discount wallpaper outlets on-line as well. I always went to a paint store and found the pattern I wanted, then ordered it on-line at a huge–and I do mean huge–discount.

Good luck.

I did one very small powder room myself once. It had absolutely pristine walls. I learned two things: 1) use very sharp blades to cut & 2) hire someone to do it.

True, bohuna. Also, if your surface isn’t totally, totally smooth it’s gonna look like crap. Removing it from plaster is one thing but drywall is a real problem.

Precut, prepasted rolls if it’s DIY, especially first timer. Expensive paper that needs to be cut and pasted really needs a professional to hang it. For the best in Victorian paper google bradbury & bradbury.