How to Hang Wallpaper

The Pure Edit wallpaper is produced to order within the UK. Hanging your new wallpaper couldn’t be simpler, with the paste the wall application speeding up the whole process.

Our premium quality wallpaper is made using a special backing paper that doesn’t expand when wet, so there is no need to soak before hanging as with traditional wallpaper.

Before ordering your wallpaper, use our wallpaper calculator to ensure that you are ordering the correct number of rolls. Once you have found a wallpaper that you like, click on the link named ‘Wallpaper Calculator’ to open up our calculator. Note that our wallpaper calculator takes into account the individual pattern repeat and width of the wallpaper, so the number of rolls needed may change from one wallpaper to another.

There are a number of tools you’ll need for your wallpapering project.

• Sharp DIY knife and cutting guide, and suitable wallpaper scissors
• Ready-mixed paste the wall adhesive
• Roller and tray and paint brush
• Spirit level or plumb line
• Wallpapering brush
• Clean, damp sponge
• Tape measure and pencil

The wall that you are applying wallpaper to needs to be clean, smooth and without imperfections. This includes removing any dirt, old wallpaper or loose paint. Detergent or sugar soap make great cleaning solutions.

If your walls contain any holes or irregularities, apply some filler before sanding over to create a smooth finish. If your wall is painted, roughen with fine sandpaper.

Newly plastered walls will need to be primed first, with either a diluted wallpaper adhesive or a primer. Allow to dry fully before hanging your wallpaper.

We would always recommend lining your walls first with lining paper. Lining paper should be hung horizontally and again, ensure your this has dried fully before attempting to hang any wallpaper.

Wallpaper should never be hung on a wall with a history of damp. Ensure that any problems with damp are resolved before hanging any wallpaper.

1. Cut off the instruction label strip.  
2. When you’ve found your starting point, measure the height of the wall and add on round 6-10cm to the measurement to allow for trimming. Cut your first length and, with a soft pencil, lightly mark on the reverse the top and bottom positions of the join of the ceiling and the skirting, also noting which way up. You will need to know this position for laying out the subsequent lengths and cutting them to match.
3. Cutting enough lengths in advance for each wall is advised, making sure that you pay attention to pattern matching. This allows you to hang all pieces in quicker succession, taking advantage of the wet paste adjacent to the previously hung length.
4. Use a plumb line or spirit level and a pencil to mark a vertical straight line very lightly on the wall, within roughly 2-3cm of where the edge of your first strip will be. This line can be used as a vertical guide for hanging the first length. Repeat this on each wall to keep the wallpaper vertical.
5. Now apply the paste to the wall. We’d recommend using our premium ready-mixed paste the wall adhesive, specially formulated for hanging The Pure Edit wallcoverings. Apply with a roller and have a brush handy for edges and areas too small for the roller.
6. Apply a thin, even layer of adhesive on the wall. If you cover an area slightly wider than the width of the wallpaper, you can then hang then paste the wall for the next length of wallpaper without getting too close to the last length hung. covering an area several centimetres wider than the width of the wallpaper. Be thorough when pasting the wall as any patches not covered in paste can cause blisters beneath the wallpaper.
7. Roll the first length into a tube and start by applying at the top of the wall. Make sure the edge of the wallpaper is parallel to the vertical line you previously made on the wall. Unroll the paper as you move down the wall, lightly brushing it into place as you make your way to the skirting board.
8. Be sure to brush the paper down from top to bottom, as well as from the centre outwards too. This will push out any air bubbles. Keep the brush clean and if you get any paste on the surface of the paper wipe immediately with a damp sponge and clean water. Do not use any detergents or cleaning fluids. Trim the excess with scissors or a knife and trimming guide. If using a knife, make sure the blade remains sharp so as to not snag the wallpaper.
9. If you make a mistake when hanging the wallpaper, simply remove the length and start again, applying more paste to the wall if the first coat has dried.
10. When you have successfully hung a length of wallpaper, continue with the next length. Paste the wall and then start hanging the paper from the top, making sure that the pattern matches. Ensure that the neighbouring wallpaper strips do not at any point overlap, while also making sure that there are no gaps visible between them either. When you’re happy that the pattern lines up and the edges are flush, brushing down the paper as previously described. Finally trim the excess paper top and bottom.  
11. Continue to hang the remaining wallpaper following the steps above until the wall is finished.
12. If you need to wallpaper around an internal corner, a recommended method is to cut the final length on the first wall so that it is wide enough to continue approximately 1.5cm around the corner onto the adjacent wall. Use the wallpaper brush to gently push the paper into the corner. You may see small horizontal creases in the 1.5cm strip that laps around the corner.
13. Just cut through the middle of a crease and smooth it down, slightly overlapping itself. This will then be covered up with the next length on the new wall you are wallpapering.
    The first length on the new wall will overlap on top of the 1.5cm. Most corners are not perfectly square so, again, lightly mark a vertical line just adjacent to the 1.5cm wrap around so you can see the true angle of the corner. This will show you if the wall leans and will help you to position this first length correctly.
14. When you are happy with the position of the first strip of wallpaper, mark a vertical line 2-3cms beyond the edge of the first length and hang as previously, this time overlapping the wrap around. If you need to, trim vertically any excess into the corner with scissors and brush down over the overlap.

1. Firstly, switch your mains power off.
2. Loosen the socket or switch and pull it very slightly (approximately 1cm) away from the wall.
3. Loosen the socket or switch and pull it ever so slightly (approximately 1cm) away from the wall.
4. Follow the wallpaper hanging instructions detailed above. When you reach the switch or socket, allow the wallpaper to hang over, with the protrusion being visible under the paper.
5. Follow the corners of the switch or socket with your clean fingertips to lightly crease the paper. This will give you a guide to cut to.
6. Take your wallpaper scissors and carefully push through the paper roughly in the middle of the switch or socket. Proceed to cut from the centre to one of the corners, repeating this then from the centre to the rest of the corners. This will then reveal the socket or switch.
7. The wallpaper over the switch or socket will now be in four triangles. You can trim these triangles back, parallel with the edge of the switch or socket, but so that 3 or 4 mms can be tucked behind it. When the walls have dried, screw the socket back on.

For your wallpaper to dry properly, leave it to air and maintain a room temperature of a minimum of +18°c. You should never completely close off a room of newly-hung wallpaper.