How to Apply Pasted Wallpaper Over a Weekend

The other day, I was in my half bathroom, noticing that it could use a little bit of a touch-up, but I didn’t want to spend a lot of money to redo it. I decided it was time to bring out the wallpaper again to add some personality to this space! 

Rather than choose peel-and-stick wallpaper as I used in my laundry room reveal, I went with a pasted wallpaper, this time from Rebel Walls. I loved it, and it was so easy to use! This is the perfect weekend project to give a wall or a room some personality in your home. Let me show you how easy it is to apply pasted wallpaper in this simple tutorial! 

Supplies for Applying Pasted Wallpaper

• Rebel Walls comes in a big roll use code HOWWEDO208 for 15% off
• Wallpaper smoothing tool
• Utility knife or Exacto knife with extra blades
• Paintbrush/roller
• level

How To Apply Pasted Wallpaper

• For the pasted wallpaper I was using, the wallpaper comes in a big roll. Cut out each panel. They are labeled 1/11, 2/11, 3/11, and so on. It is also helpful to trim off the length of the wallpaper on each panel that you won’t need prior to installing the panel. You will want to have a few inches of excess on all four sides of each panel that will overlap onto the adjacent wall, ceiling, etc. The excess will be trimmed off after you apply the panel. But if you have too much excess wallpaper, it’s more tricky to work with.
• Once sections are cut, mix the paste. There are many different types of pasted wallpapers. This one came with a powder that you mix with water, then roll it or paint it onto the wall. It is not sticky, just pretty goopy. 
• Roll or brush the paste directly onto the wall in the area of your first panel. Be sure the wall is well covered to ensure the entire panel will be well-adhered to the wall. Pay special attention to the edges.
• It is then time to apply the wallpaper. Use a level to mark a plumb edge line or draw one ahead of time on the wall (before rolling on the paste). 
• Add the first panel of wallpaper to the wall. You will want to overlap a bit at the corner and the ceiling because there is a good chance the wall and ceiling will not be plumb/level. The pieces of wallpaper can be awkward with how big they are. I found it helpful to drape it over my head and then pull the bottom of the wallpaper down. 
• Use the smoothing tool to smooth it out once one section is on the wall before moving on to the next section. This removes all the air bubbles and the extra paste behind the wallpaper. 
• If you are using a wallpaper pattern that is designed to meet up edge to edge, as I did, it is very important to get it right. Others are made to overlap; regardless of the one you use, you want to make sure to line it up perfectly. 
• To get a nice clean cut of the wallpaper, you will want to move your knife along a straight edge (the smoothing tool works great as this edge). Be sure to have many extra blades because they dull quickly with cutting wallpaper. 
• Continue this process with the second panel and so on until the space you have chosen to wallpaper is complete. It is that simple! 

Tips and FAQs

• A helpful trick I did was I painted the wall corner so that I would not have any white peeking through. I am so glad I took this small step. 
• The pieces of wallpaper can be awkward with how big they are. I found it helpful to drape it over my head and then pull the bottom of the wallpaper down. 
• If you can recruit a friend to help, do it! I have always hung my wallpaper on my own, but I can imagine how helpful an extra set of hands would be!
• One advantage of pasted paper over peel and stick is that you can move it around on the wall as you are trying to get it in the right spot. 
• If you are installing wallpaper on a wall with lights, I highly recommend removing the lights; it is so much easier to wallpaper with them removed. 

Can you see the texture of the wall through the wallpaper?

In my wallpapering experience, I cannot see the texture through the wallpaper. My walls have a Santa Fe texture to them. 

There you have it! How to apply pasted wallpaper in a snap! This project took me two days to accomplish. I know that you can tackle this project over the weekend! And if you love video tutorials, you can watch them here in my tutorial on Instagram! Be sure to tag me on Instagram in your finished projects so I can see how amazing they are! #howwedoandyoucantoo