Residential wallpaper installation

Typical residential projects

Most home projects fall into a few familiar shapes. Each has its own practical questions, and knowing them early helps the estimate reflect the real job.

• Feature walls: one wall, maximum attention. Centring the pattern on a bed, fireplace or sofa matters more than on any other job.
• Powder rooms and bathrooms: small rooms with many cuts around mirrors, vanities and fixtures. Ask the manufacturer whether the product suits humid rooms and ventilation.
• Stairwells and entries: long drops, raking cuts along the stringer and access that needs planning before the day.
• Bedrooms, nurseries and dining rooms: whole rooms, where the final pattern mismatch should land somewhere discreet, such as behind a door.
• Ceilings and alcoves: occasionally, for the right pattern, room and product.

Choosing and ordering material

Many homeowners choose and buy wallpaper before they contact an installer. That is fine, but share the product details before you order if you can. Three things affect quantity more than wall area alone:

• Pattern repeat: a large straight or drop match repeat creates waste on every drop, so a room can need noticeably more rolls than a plain paper.
• Roll size: widths and lengths vary by maker and by region, so roll counts from another product do not transfer.
• Batch numbers: rolls from different print runs can differ slightly in shade. Order enough from one batch, plus a spare for future repairs.

Also note how the paper is pasted. Paste-the-wall, paste-the-paper and pre-pasted products are handled differently, and some papers have specific booking times. Read repeats and ordering before placing an order.

Is the wall ready?

New wallpaper shows what is underneath. Glossy paint, patched areas, flaking coatings and fresh plaster can all affect adhesion or show through thinner papers. Before installation we look at:

• Whether old wallpaper or lining paper is still on the wall
• Cracks, dents, nail holes and torn drywall facing that need filling or sealing
• Whether the surface needs a wallcovering primer, which many manufacturers recommend or require
• Moisture or stains that should be resolved before any finish goes on

Repairs and priming are listed in the scope rather than discovered on the day. See installation preparation.

Removing old paper first

If there is paper on the wall already, removal and wall repair usually come first. Some papers peel away dry; others need scoring and soaking, and some reveal damaged facing or several layers. We test before estimating removal. Read more on the removal page or in removal or papering over.

How a home project runs

1. 01
   Send photos and product details

   Rooms, rough measurements, what is on the walls now and the paper you have chosen or are considering.

2. 02
   Review and written scope

   We list removal, repairs, priming, installation and what is excluded, such as furniture moving or painting.

3. 03
   Material check

   Rolls counted, batch numbers matched, one roll inspected before any cutting begins.

4. 04
   Preparation day or days

   Old paper removed, repairs made and primer allowed to dry as the product requires.

5. 05
   Installation and walkthrough

   Paper hung, trimmed and cleaned; we look at the room together and you keep any leftover rolls.

Living around the work

Expect the room to be out of use while paper is hung and trimmed. We will ask what furniture can be moved, which rooms must stay usable, and how floors should be protected. Where fixtures or covers need removal, agree who handles them safely before work begins. Pets and children are best kept out of the work area.

Residential questions