4 easy tips for wallpapering your dream room

No material can transform a room as quickly as fresh wallpaper. And with practice, even a novice can master the basic techniques needed to do a good job. Here are four tips for choosing the perfect wallpaper and prepping your space before you begin the transformation.

• Choose a smaller room out of the public eye for your first project. And start on a wall with a minimum of windows and doors because the measuring, hanging and fitting will be easiest there.
• Many do-it-yourselfers also find that working with a helper makes everything go more smoothly.
• Clean and repair previously painted walls before applying wallpaper.
• If a glossy paint has been used the surface must also be deglossed with a light sanding.
• Apply a primer-sealer coat specifically designed as an undercoat for wall coverings.

Buy all the paper you need at one time because colour can vary from print run to print run.

• If you are uncertain, draw a picture of each wall, including measurements and the position and size of all the windows and doors.
• Take the sketch to your wallpaper supplier.
• An experienced salesperson can offer advice on how many rolls you need to purchase.
• When you place your wallpaper order, also buy compatible paste and a paste brush for standard papers, or a water box for prepasted papers.

If you are new to paperhanging, keep your first project as easy as possible. Choose a paper designed with the do-it-yourselfer in mind. Here are some characteristics to look for:

• High-quality, machine-printed, pretrimmed papers tend to be the most problem-free. Flocked and foil papers or wallpapers with selvage edges that must be trimmed on the job are challenges better left to professionals your first time around.
• Patterns that are "straight" are easier to hang than "dropped" patterns. Straight patterns are so called because neighbouring panels meet in a straight line, so they require little extra figuring when you cut and hang them. Dropped patterns have design repeats that are meant to be matched panel to panel, a somewhat more difficult calculation to measure. Dropped patterns also require more paper to compensate for the matching.
• Small-scaled overall patterns tend to camouflage uneven surfaces. But striped, shiny and solid wallcoverings are best reserved for very smooth, perfectly plumb walls.
• Matching pattern scale to room size is also critical. Too large a pattern in a small room can be oppressive; too small a pattern will be lost in a large room. Bring home samples of wallpaper or wallpaper books to see what patterns work best for your purposes. View them in both natural and artificial light.

• Before you begin wallpapering, remove as much furniture as possible. Spread a drop cloth on the floor, and cover remaining furniture.
• Plug work lights into an outlet in an adjoining room, and shut off electrical power to circuits in the room to be papered.
• Remove all mounted light fixtures, register covers and light-switch and electrical-outlet cover plates.
• Finally, lay out all of the tools you will need: tape measure, plumb line or chalk line, pencil, utility knife and blades, broad knife, smoothing brush, smoother blade, seam roller, bucket, sponge, rag, step stool or ladder and worktable.

Creating a new room can be this easy. Follow these simple steps, and you'll be wallpapering in no time!