How to Hang A Straight Wallpaper Border Without a "Level"

Putting a border on the top of the wall is very different than trying to put a border as a division thorugh the middle of the wall. Measurement must be very accurate.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• a yardstick or measuring tape
• a one by one measured to the correct length
• a wallpaper border of your choice.
• a damp sponge

1. Decide on the placement of your border. A "chair rail" border is usually situated just about the height of a chair back and came from the idea of protecting the area of the wall where the chairs would hit if pushed back accidentally into the wall. A true "chair rail" is made from wood molding but a decorative wallpaper border is simply an embellishment of your wall using wallpaper.

2. Make a one by one board that is the exact length from the floor that you want to place your "chair rail" border.

3. Using a pencil, draw small lines on the wall all along the wall where you will be placing the paper, by putting the flat edge of your board on the floor, (standing the board upright) and marking along the top edge. This marking should be every couple of feet.

4. Now measure along the lines you have made with the one by one board. Use this board to measure the length of the wallpaper piece you will need by simply counting the number of board lengths that you need to reach the end of the wall or section that you are covering. If you use an extra "half length" or whatever, simply mark on the board with a small line the length of the extra amount.

5. Unroll your wallpaper and measure the length you will need with the one by one board. Add one extra inch or so on the end.

6. Trim the wallpaper.

7. Wet the paper according to instructions that came with the roll.

8. Place the wallpaper along the pre marked lines on your wall.

9. Wipe the front side of the wallpaper carefully with your damp sponge to rub out any air bubbles.

10. Trim any excess with your exacto knife after it is partially dry and while it still can be removed from the wall.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful if you are pasting up a long length of wallpaper to rub with your sponge from one end to the other all the way to smooth out bubbles.
• For taller ceilings make your wallpaper border higher on the wall and also "shorten" visually the height of your ceiling by adding another border at the top of the wall against the edge of the ceiling.
• If your length of wet wallpaper is longer than eight feet or so, it can be difficult to keep it straight, so "accordion" fold it (inside out)after you have gotten it wet so as to be able to lay it out more easily along your wall.

[showpup]

on 5/30/2008 Great information. And that which I can put to use later this week in my Mom's new office. :) 5 stars

[Amroch]

on 1/21/2008 Very nice knewf. And I always thought that hanging a wallpaper without a Level is just impossible.

Thanks for the "how to".

[HowToDating]

on 1/20/2008 Another great knewf ehow!

Your style is so... elegant and readable and streamlined. I need to learn how to do Ehows more like yours.