The most important step happens before installation.

Wall preparation determines whether wallpaper lasts years or fails in weeks.

Do not skip this.

  1. Fresh paint has to cure fully
  2. Walls need to be clean and dry
  3. The texture and paint finish have to be compatible
  4. Test a sample first, every time
Back to Install Guides

A professional-grade, paste-the-wall installation designed to last for years.

A beautiful install is a permanent transformation. So read the whole guide first, start to finish, then work through the steps in order.

Installation Conditions

Beautiful results depend on the environment and surface preparation.

Most wallpaper failures trace back to wall preparation. Don't skip this part.

Surface preparation checklist

  • Fresh paint needs at least 4 weeks to cure
  • Strip old wallpaper and every trace of adhesive residue
  • Fill holes and fix any damage to the wall
  • Sand lightly with 220-grit to knock off the sheen
  • Vacuum and wipe the walls down after sanding
  • Take off switch plates and any wall hardware
  • Walls must be clean, smooth, dry and dust-free

Prime the Wall (Critical Step)

Before any paper goes up, coat the wall in wallpaper primer/sealer.

Roman Pro-977, Zinsser Shieldz or an equivalent will do it.

Why it's worth the extra coat:

  • The paste adheres properly
  • Seams don't fail
  • The paper comes down safely later
  • Wall porosity evens out, so it all dries evenly

Then wait. The primer must dry fully, per its manufacturer's instructions, before you hang anything.

Tools & Materials

Required

  • Wallpaper smoothing tool
  • Sharp utility knife + extra blades
  • Level or laser level
  • Pencil
  • Paste roller or brush
  • Bucket + stir stick
  • Clean sponge or cloth
  • Tape measure

Recommended

  • Drop cloth
  • Step stool
  • Gentle seam roller
  • Patch filler + sanding sponge
  • Screwdriver for outlet covers

Before you start

  1. Unroll the wallpaper and lay the panels out on the floor.
  2. Check the pattern repeat. Panel numbers only matter on a mural, since each panel there is a different slice of one image and they have to go up in order. Repeating pattern? Hang the panels in any order you like. Every one carries the same repeat.
  3. Look each panel over for printing or color problems before anything goes on the wall.
  4. Allow an extra 2–3 in (5–7 cm) at the top and bottom for trimming.
  5. Turn off the electricity to the wall you're papering.

First 3 Steps

Step 1: Mix paste according to the paste manufacturer’s instructions.

Do not guess ratios. Paste mixed to the right consistency gives you:

  • Enough slip to slide each panel into position
  • A strong grip on the wall
  • Clean seams

Once it's mixed, let the paste rest for a little while.

Step 2: Professionals do not automatically start in a corner.

Where you start should:

  • Put the final seam somewhere it won't be noticed
  • Save you from a thin sliver at the end of the wall
  • Keep the pattern balanced all the way around the room
  1. From your starting reference, measure one panel width, less ½–1 in.
  2. Draw a plumb line there with a level or laser, dead vertical.
  3. That's the line the right edge of Panel #1 will follow.

Step 3: Paste-the-wall non-woven wallpaper does not require booking*.

  1. Put a thick, even coat of paste on the wall.
  2. Only cover one panel's width at a time.
  3. You can hang each panel as soon as its stretch of wall is pasted.

*“Booking” is the traditional way: you paste the back of the wallpaper, fold the pasted sides together (paste-to-paste) and leave it to rest for several minutes before hanging.

Steps 4, 5 & 6

Step 4: Hang Panel #1

  1. Position panel at ceiling leaving 2–3 in trim allowance.
  2. Line the right edge up with your plumb line.
  3. Smooth vertically first. Then go over it diagonally.
  4. Work from the center outward to chase out air pockets.
  5. Paste on the face? Wipe it off right away.

Step 5: Install Remaining Panels

Seam method: Butt seams

  1. Paste the next section of wall.
  2. Match the pattern carefully before you smooth anything.
  3. Panels meet edge to edge. No overlap.
  4. Try not to push paste into the seams.
  5. And don't overwork them.

Step 6: Inside Corners, Windows & Outlets

Never wrap a full panel around a corner.

  1. Wrap just 1–2 cm around the corner, no more.
  2. Cut the rest away in a vertical line.
  3. On the next wall, start over with a new plumb line.

Windows and doors

  • Hang a full panel right over the opening. Smooth it, then trim.

Outlets and switches

  • Hang the panel over the opening and trim around it carefully, then put the covers back on.

Final Trim - Drying & Curing

Trim:

  1. Trim ceiling, baseboards and corners using a sharp blade.
  2. Swap in a fresh blade often, so every cut stays clean.
  3. Wipe off any paste residue with a damp sponge.

Important Notes:

  • No strong airflow or heat for 24 hours
  • A few small bubbles may show up. They settle as the paste dries
  • Full cure takes 3–7 days
  • Don't wash the walls for 2 weeks

Troubleshooting:

  • Bubbles: smooth them outward while the paste is still wet
  • Seams lifting: work a little paste under the edge and smooth it down
  • Pattern drifting: check your plumb line alignment again
  • Paste residue: wipe it off right away with a damp sponge

You Did It

Your space has changed. That matters.

Hanging it carefully is the last step in making a room feel like yours, chosen on purpose and properly lived in. Thanks for taking the time to get it right.

Share your finished space

We'd honestly love to see it, and to cheer it on with you.

Tag us when you post the finished wall:

Instagram: @William.MorrisWallpaper
Pinterest: William Morris Wallpaper Co.

Someone out there is staring at a bare wall. Yours might be what gets them started.