How to Hang Wallpaper Border

Add a distinctive touch to a room by hanging a wallpaper border. While wallpaper borders utilize the same application techniques as wallpaper, borders are much easier to hang because of the smaller amount of material. Follow these steps to hang the perfect border.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Work table
• Scissors
• Ruler and a level
• Paste or activator
• Sponge and pails
• Seam roller
• Adhesive
• Spools of wallpaper border

1. Plan the number of spools you'll need. Spools come in 5-yard lengths. Plan on using a separate spool for each wall. Allow an extra 2 to 4 feet on each wall for overlapping and mitering around doors and windows. Overestimate your requirements.

2. Start the borders where any design mismatch isn't obvious. Suitable places are over a doorway where you enter the room or a dark corner.

3. Measure the first wall, then measure and cut the border. Allow 2 inches extra border for a 1-inch overlap at the corners. Always measure twice and cut once.

4. Apply paste or activator to the border and "book" it as you go by gently folding it like an accordion for easy handling while pasting to the walls. Be sure not to crease the border, since creases will show afterward. Let the paper rest a few minutes to relax it and make the border easier to hang.

5. Begin hanging the border, using a damp sponge to smooth out air bubbles as you go. Have someone hold the extra border while you place the border on the wall.

6. Hang the second strip of border and make your seams invisible. Start with about 2 inches of overlap and cut through both pieces of border using a straight edge guide. Carefully peel off the extra material and use a seam roller to smooth out the seam.

7. Deal with inside corners by overlapping the first strip by 1 to 2 inches. Use a quality white glue or vinyl-to-vinyl adhesive to prevent the overlap from coming apart as your house shifts over time. You can simply wrap the border around outside corners.

Resources

• See diagrams to help hang a wallpaper border at The Workshop.