Traditional Wallpaper Installation

Ensure your wall is the perfect foundation: clean, dry, and as smooth as possible. 

Consider the texture of your walls. Optimal adhesion is found on smooth or slightly textured surfaces. More textured walls like orange peel may also work, but heavily textured surfaces pose a challenge for the adhesive to effectively grip.

To clean your walls: remove dust and loose debris using a vacuum or dry microfiber cloth. Next, wash the wall with a mixture of mild dish soap and warm water, followed by a quick wipe-down with 70% rubbing alcohol to remove oils.

Remove old coverings, fill holes, and sand medium-high texture. If needed, apply a wallpaper liner and primer for a flawless finish. Wallpaper loves painted surfaces, or walls primed with wallpaper specific primer. Paint and primer with eggshell, semigloss, or gloss enamels work best. Consider using Shieldz Universal Wallcovering Primer for better installation and removal results. Please note: we do not recommend installing wallpaper on raw or unfinished drywall. 

Remember, don't apply to freshly painted or primed walls—let paint or primer dry for at least 4 weeks, or in accordance with the paint or primer cure time specified on the product itself.

Assemble your arsenal for success: Wallpaper, measuring tape, wallpaper paste (like Roman PRO-880), scissors, drop cloth, sponge, bucket, straightedge, pencil, level, craft knife with extra blades, paint roller and tray, smoothing tool (like a squeegee with a felt edge), step ladder, apron or clothing with pockets.

Check out this resource on how to avoid visible seams.

Note: Our paper is pre-trimmed and the seams are butt joined

Carefully inspect each roll for defects before starting. Measure the height of the wall and cut the first wallpaper strip accordingly. Before continuing to cut strips, line the next panel up to the previous one, then cut the remaining strips according to the height of the wall, considering the pattern repeat.

Considering your pattern repeat: Most of our designs have a 12”, 24” or 48” pattern repeat, unless you’ve ordered a mural. The pattern repeat will be listed on your wallpaper’s label. The pattern repeat is the vertical distance between one point in a wallpaper pattern and where that same point reappears again further down the roll. Locate your pattern’s specific repeat on the label at the bottom of the roll. A note regarding 48” pattern repeats: If your wallpaper has a 48” pattern, you'll need two rolls to see the full pattern. Each of your rolls will be labeled “Roll A” or “Roll B”. You’ll want to alternate between the two in order for the pattern to repeat correctly. 

A note on seams: Seams are a part of wallpaper, especially with darker or higher contrast designs. However, there are some steps you can take to minimize their appearance prior to putting your paper on the walls. See our blog post here for some tips and tricks. Optional: Using an appropriately colored crayon or charcoal to gently color the edges of the wallpaper roll before it is hung on the wall can help blend edges between panels. 

Measure the width of the wallpaper roll and mark a guide, using a plumb line to create a vertical guideline. Position it an inch from the corner, allowing an inch for trimming. Ensuring the first panel is completely level and straight is key to the final look and pattern alignment.

Using a clean paint roller, evenly apply paste to the back of the pre-cut strip, ensuring full coverage along the length and width. Make sure to get all edges and corners! Please note: our traditional paper is paste to paper, not paste to wall.

Fold the pasted strip, top and bottom edges meeting in the middle. Fold it up like a newspaper for 5-7 minutes, allowing the paste to absorb and the paper to expand.

Align the first strip with the plumb line you drew in Step 5, leaving room for trimming along the top and bottom of the wall. Use a wallpaper brush or smoothing tool to gently adhere the first strip to the wall from top to bottom and middle to edges.

Carefully trim excess wallpaper using a straightedge and craft knife. Ensure a sharp blade to avoid tearing.

Match patterns and butt seams tightly together without overlapping. Smooth out air bubbles, wipe with warm water and a sponge, and inspect for defects after hanging two strips. Repeat Step 9 once all of your strips are hung!

Maintain your wallpapered space by wiping off any shiny marks with a damp, soft cloth or sponge. Our wallpapers are washable with mild detergent and a damp sponge. 

Questions? Please reach out to our team at 479-370-4299 or via email info@lemonpark.com