Wallpaper Tips and Tricks

The Process

Your installer will probably use an oil-based primer to prep the walls. If you’ve chosen an especially delicate paper, he may apply liner paper, which absorbs excess moisture and helps everything dry faster. Trimming the paper involves slicing off the selvages (the edges that have no pattern on them) with a single-edge razor. Some papers come pre-trimmed. Based on the paper, your installer will decide what type of adhesive to use. The two most common are a clay paste and a cellulose paste called “clear hang.” To eliminate bubbles as the paper goes up, the installer will use a plastic smoother (picture a large version of a spackle knife) or a paintbrush. For the paper to cure properly, the room will need to be about 65 degrees Fahrenheit—extreme temperatures can have an adverse effect on drying. After 24 hours, you’re free to rehang pictures and fully enjoy the space.