7 Tips for Hanging Wallpaper

It's easy to get the hang of wallpapering once you've laid the groundwork. Here's what you need to do before getting started:

1. To figure out how many rolls you need for a room, first determine the square footage. Add the lengths of all the walls and multiply the sum by the height. Now look at the repeat-the vertical distance between two identical points in the pattern-of the wallpaper you choose. If your repeat is under 3 inches, divide your calculated square footage by 25 square feet of usable yield. If it's 3 to 8 inches, divide by 23 square feet. If it's more than 8 inches, divide by 20 square feet. This will tell you the number of single rolls you'll need. Remember that most rolls of wallpaper are sold in double rolls.

2. Wallpaper is manufactured in "lots" or "runs," meaning the manufacturer will make from a few hundred to a few thousand rolls of a certain design at a time. Each time it repeats the pattern, there may be tiny differences. So if you're buying from different lots, you may see subtle differences, and your paper may not match. In other words, be sure to buy plenty the first time around.

3. Keep a permanent record of pattern and dye-lot numbers by saving one or all of the manufacturer's information labels in case you need to buy more wall covering or border to finish your project. Cut out a sample piece of wallpaper and staple it to the manufacturer's information.

4. To prepare a room for wallpapering, remove all outlet covers and anything else that can be removed. Turn off electricity in the room, and cover outlets with masking tape. For painted walls, wash with a solution of trisodium phosphate, rinse clean with water and allow to dry. For new sheet rock, apply two coats of high-quality drywall primer or sizer. For already-wallpapered walls, remove, clean off old paste, rinse and dry. For non-strippable paper, dilute a liquid remover with water, apply it to the surface with a spray bottle and allow it to soak (an old hair-spray pump bottle works well for this). Use a pattern marker, or "paper tiger," to score the walls, allowing the liquid remover to penetrate through to the underside of the paper. Use a metal spatula or a plastic or rubber dustpan to scrape the paper off.

5. Measure the wall with a bubble stick to attain a vertical level. Mark it with a light pencil line. Following this line will ensure that your paper will hang straight. To make your own bubble stick, superglue a level to a yardstick and allow it to dry for 15 minutes.

6. Begin wallpapering in an inconspicuous corner. If the pattern doesn't match up perfectly, it will be hidden well in the corner.

7. If you have wallpaper left over, don't throw it out. You can use it to decorate lampshades, valances and light-plate switches throughout the room. You can also line drawers with the leftover paper or make a decorative fan. And you can cover drapery rods with the excess to match the walls. Just attach the paper with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), let dry and apply several coats of matte varnish to protect the paper.