Laying the groundwork

Although this is the least exciting part of the job, it is the most important.

This is your opportunity to nip any wallpapering problems in the bud – wallpaper not sticking, difficult adjustments, and so on.

The wall or other surface on which you are going to stick the wallpaper must be clean, dry and ready for the paste. Don’t forget to:

•        Dust the surface with a clean cloth.
•        Smooth out any roughness by applying primer with a spatula.
•        Apply a layer of undercoat if the surface is unpainted (especially on plasterboard, which might otherwise absorb too much paste).
•        Test a small area to see if it holds the paste. If the paste dries too fast, keep applying undercoat until the problem is resolved.
•        Check that the surface is dry and firm.

It is not recommended to put new wallpaper on top of old, as the result can be messy.

Measurements

All Open Wall wallpapers are different, and the positioning of the strips depends on your deco project.

It is therefore important to think carefully how you are going to cut the strips. Consider this when choosing the layout of your wallpaper design.

A quick sketch will help prevent any mistakes when cutting.

Once you have decided where to put up the wallpaper, measure the height of the ceiling. Do this in several places: ceilings are often not perfectly level.

Although you can stick the strips where you want, it is best to start from the point where the ceiling is highest.