Ask me a few years ago and I might have turned my nose up at the idea of wallpapering. It will create flashbacks to my Nan’s dated ‘Eternal Beau’-inspired chintzy borders or my Gran’s bold-but-questionable devotion to 1970s psychedelic florals. For a long time, wallpaper was firmly filed under “best left in the past.”
But then I moved into a Victorian house and realized that wallpaper can actually be the decoration of a good concealer. Uneven walls or unclear plasterwork? covered up Wonky chimney breast? distracted from. Instant results? Sure!
I have tried many times since then Wallpapering By my house – with mixed results. So, in the interest of saving you from peeling seams, mismatched patterns, and paste-related regret, here are some wallpapering mistakes I’ve learned the hard way, as well as some expert tips on how to fix them.
1. Not using enough paste
Wallpapering our A narrow hallway Our steep staircase posed quite a challenge, but we were happy with our paper choice and results, at least for a while. Then we started noticing that it was peeling in two places on the edges, but why didn’t it work.
According to Ulams Mazulis, co-owner of , it’s a common problem Fancy walls. “Many first-time wallpaper installers run into this problem,” he says. “It often means there wasn’t enough glue on the wallpaper or the wall. To fix it, lift the edge of the peel, use a small brush to add more wallpaper glue underneath, press the wallpaper back down and smooth it out with a wallpaper roller.”
We used traditional wallpaper, but this problem can occur as well bark-and-wood Variation “This usually indicates that the wall was not properly cleaned prior to installation, leaving dust and debris behind,” says Ulams. “But again, you can buy wallpaper glue just like traditional wallpaper and apply it to the peeling area. Another option is to use thin double-sided tape around the loose edge.”
Bartolin
Border and Overlap Adhesive (500 g)
If you have the same problem then try this readymade paste. It is designed for quick seam fixing and dries quickly and has a strong hold.
Ulams is the Chief Technical Officer at Fancy Walls. He is not only responsible for overseeing the production but also for the quality of materials used by the company. His daily work involves improving printing technology and helping business partners and customers better understand the materials and installation process to achieve the best possible results.
2. I didn’t cover every wall right away
This is a particular regret of mine Guest bedroomWhere I chose a beautiful mid-century sion khadi design in gray, but only used it in the room’s alcoves. While the paper wasn’t cheap, (which probably explains why I was so timid at the time), I regret not covering all my walls for a stronger design statement. Especially now that the wallpaper has been discontinued.
“We definitely see a single default feature wall Or maybe two alcoves as a wallpapering mistake,” says Sophie Smith, director and co-founder. Living House.
“People are now very brave with their interior choices, even wallpapering every wall Ceiling paperWhich creates a comfortable, cocooning feel and brings real character to the space. In fact, a feature wall in a long narrow room can actually work against you,” she adds, “making the wall feel like it’s coming towards you and making the room feel smaller as a result.”
Sophie has worked in interior design for over 8 years, and aims to make her services affordable and accessible through the brand she co-founded – The Living House. Apart from designing, Sophie loves finding a good interior design deal or the Facebook Marketplace. Her favorite brands include H&M Home, Dunelm, Habitat and her superpower is a great memory for all products in all shops. “I can pull off exactly the right thing for each customer,” she says. “I don’t know how I do it—that’s all!”
3. Washing drying on radiators with wallpaper behind them
Full disclosure – this is more my best friend’s problem than mine, as my decorator already had some stern words for me as he wallpapered the back. Radiators. My big takeaway from his lecture was to never dry washing on a radiator with wallpaper behind it, as the moisture and steam created causes problems.
But that’s not the only potential culprit.
“Bubbling behind a radiator often happens because the heat from the radiator slowly dries out the wallpaper glue,” says Ulams Mazulis. “As the glue dries, the wallpaper can stretch or expand, causing these bubbles.”
During the summer months when the radiators are off can give the wallpapering glue more time to adhere more strongly, but if the advice comes too late for you and you see bubbles, you can try the method below to fix them.
Start by gently smoothing the bubble with Wallpaper Smoother. “Slowly move from the edge of the bubble toward the center to push the air out,” says Ulams Mazulis. “If a bubble remains after smoothing, use a needle to make a small pinhole in the center, then gently squeeze air out of the hole.”
4. The small scale pattern I’ve chosen looks very sketchy
Now, this is a mistake that I will definitely not make again, and I will make my latest Think wallpaper. But why do small scale models fail in so many places?
“Many people assume that small rooms need small prints, but large-scale patterns can actually trick the eye to make a space appear larger,” says Sophie Smith. “It’s also worth thinking about what other patterns you’ll combine the wallpaper with, such as your soft furnishings, light shades, cushions and accessories.”
Vague patterns with too many colors in them can actually be quite difficult to mix and match with soft furnishings and Paint colors. So bolder prints and a more limited palette can make life easier – especially in the long run, when you want to switch out other accessories.
5. Too much paste leaves dirty marks on my ceiling
As a first time wallpaper, we definitely faced this problem. And I can attest that if you don’t deal with cleaning off the excess paste, you’ll be looking regretfully at the marks on your ceiling for years, instead of admiring your beautiful wallpaper pattern.
It’s best to tackle the problem while you’re decorating. “To clean excess paste from your ceiling, use warm water and a microfiber cloth,” says Ulams Mazulis. “Usually, cleaning the area will fix the problem. If that doesn’t work, you or the person who installed the wallpaper may need to go back and repaint the spot.”
6. Poor pattern placement distracts
Not matching your pattern correctly is one of those details that you can’t see once you see it. A poorly placed wallpaper repeat can turn an otherwise beautiful design into something strangely distracting – whether it’s a flower clumsily cut in two or a poor animal or bird losing its head all together.
“Hang patterned wallpaper You need to think about where the motif starts and stops,” explains Sophie. “If it’s a design featuring animals or flowers, you really don’t want the motif to be cut in half at the top of the wall where it’s the first thing people notice.”
“Take the time to plan your drops before you begin, positioning the pattern so that the most prominent motifs are on the most visible and flattering parts of the wall.”
If you’re nervous, go for a more forgiving patterned design like this one B&Q Goodhome Nivosa Plaster-Effect Embossed Wallpaper in Teal Which I have used in mine the hallway It’s been part of the range for years and we’ve been impressed with the quality – it feels as thick as some very expensive looks, and hides a lot of sins.
FAQ
Why is the wallpaper peeling on my newly painted walls?
If you’ve recently wallpapered your new-build home, you’ll notice gaps between the lengths of your wallpaper despite your best efforts. But this will not necessarily be due to your pasting skills.
“If you’ve just moved into a new build, the building materials will still be adjusting to their new environment for 12 months,” says interior design expert, Hannah Prescott. Diamond Interiors. “Wood, concrete and plaster take about 12 months to dry and settle properly, so if you paint or apply wallpaper prematurely, you could face cracks and gaps as the material adjusts to temperature changes and settles.”
Our guide to Wallpapering new plaster can help ensure nothing goes wrong.
Now that we’ve dealt with any potential pitfalls and hopefully renewed your confidence in wallpapering, brush up on some Wallpapering Hacks It will help you finish pro and make sure you invest in the best Wallpaper tools To make the job easier.
