How to Use Wall Wallpaper Paste

Wallpaper can be a homemaker’s best friend; it gives you the fun bold patterns that you could never achieve with paint, and now, thanks to wallpaper paste the wall wallpaper, it’s easier than ever to install! We’ve all known the pain that hanging regular wallpaper can be: you cover the panels with adhesive or soak strips in water (getting the glue all over your hands, clothes, and even hair—yes, it’s happened—in the process), only to apply the panels to the wall and realize that they’re crooked. This is not an ideal situation if you don’t have a lot of practice hanging wallpaper.

Manufacturers of paste the wall wallpaper have the novice home decorator in mind. The concept behind this new type of paper is that, instead of applying the paste to each panel and then applying them one by one, you simply apply adhesive to the entire wall and then stick the sheets on top. This process is supposed to make wallpaper removal much easier, too, because you can pull the whole thing off in a single sheet, without killing yourself with a putty knife and sandpaper; so it’s a good option for renters.

Want to try hanging paste the wall wallpaper for yourself? Check out this handy guide for tips to get you started!

Prepare the Wall

Just like any other wallpaper job, you need to make sure your wall is nice and sparkling clean before you get started, otherwise the adhesive will be less effective. In a bucket, mix some warm water with a small amount of vinegar. Put on your work gloves and wash the walls with the vinegar solution and a sponge to remove any dirt and residue, then let dry.

Start Pasting the Wall

Usually, a special adhesive is supplied with your paste the wall wallpaper kit. Sometimes the paste will need to be mixed or prepared; refer to the manufacturer’s directions, and do as instructed.

Now that your walls are clean and dry, use a paint roller to start applying the adhesive directly to the wall in a thin, even layer. Some suggest that you apply the paste just a little bit at a time (for example, the amount you need for one strip) as opposed to over the entire wall; otherwise, it might start drying before you’re ready.

Apply the Wallpaper

Take your first strip of wallpaper. Begin at the topmost, left-hand corner, and align the strip so that it’s perfectly straight. Stretch out roughly 12 inches of paper, and affix it to the top of the wall. Slowly unroll the paper, using a wallpaper brush to smooth it down on the way, thus preventing air bubbles and wrinkles. Pros suggest you unroll the wallpaper about a foot at a time. Trim any excess leftover at the bottom, and then repeat for the rest of the wall making sure the seams line up each time.