Some even have a pointed bottom to make accurate marking easier. What can I use as a plumb bob? Many chalk lines can be used as plumb- bobs as they are essentially a weight tied to a string. For example, in a room that is square, the corner that is behind where the door opens is a good option, and where there is a chimney breast the internal corner next to it is ideal. Wallpapering Tips Where To Start Choose your joining corner according to whether it is the most inconspicuous in the room. Likewise, where do you start when wallpapering a room? Place a level at the mark and draw a straight, vertical line ( plumb line).Measure from the corner of the wall the width of the paper minus 1/2 inch and mark with a pencil.
Make a diagonal relief cut in the wall covering at each frame corner. Then plumb and hang the other piece one-half inch from the corner, overlapping the first piece.Īt a door or a window, paste the strip over the frame. On outward-projecting corners, cut the first piece to go around the corner one inch. (For overlapped vinyl, use special vinyl-to-vinyl adhesive or it won’t stick properly.) Align this section with the plumb line and let it overlap the first section. On the other wall, snap a plumb line at a distance from the corner equal to the width of the second section of the cut wall covering strip. Hand first section around the corner, pressing it into the angle. Add one-half inch to the largest measurement and cut a strip of wall covering to that width, saving the second section. Then pull off the waste pieces and smooth the seam.Īs you near a corner, measure the distance from the edge of the last whole strip to the corner in several places. To do this, overlap the edges and slice through both layers. After 10 minutes, press the seam with your seam roller. Push new strip against the previous strip’s edge slightly so that the two form a slight ridge it will flatten as the paper dries. Align each strip along the previous strip’s edge, matching the patterns. Follow the manufacturer’s directions.Ĭut and hang the remaining strips on the wall. You may be able to hang the strip directly from the water tray or you may have to book it as described above. Place it in a tray filled with water and soak as directed. If you are working with pre-pasted wall covering, roll up the cut strip with the pattern side in. Corners are never perfectly square and usually require a little fudging. Each time you turn a corner, create a new plumb line to get a fresh alignment. Strike the plumb line a wall covering strip’s width minus one-half inch from the doorway starting point. Your first wall plumb line will be a guide for aligning the first strip of wall coverings you put up. In such a case, make the center of this area the starting point, and work out on both sides toward a mismatch next to a doorway.
With a large or very definite wallpaper design, it is usually desirable to create a center of interest over a fireplace, between two windows or directly above a sofa. From the doorway, work to the right if you are right-handed and to the left if you are left-handed, going around the room.
At a doorway, the pattern mismatch between the first and last strips will be most inconspicuous. The string will chalk a perfectly vertical line as it hits the wall.Īfter walls have been prepared properly for papering, the usual place to put the first strip of wallpaper is next to a doorway. Then pull it and let it go, snapping it against the wall. Holding the bob where it falls naturally, pull the cord taut. Then attach a plumb bob (or other small weight) to the loose end. To make a plumb line, rub a string with colored chalk and tack it to the top of the wall. If wall coverings are to look natural, they must be hung against a plumb line.