How to Paint & Hang Wallpaper Borders

Use stain-killing paint and primer to paint and hang wallpaper border.

Add flair to a room by painting old wallpaper borders and hanging fresh borders. Wallpaper borders are a quick way to change the look and theme of a room. Apply stain-killing paint to cover up the old border, and apply primer to get the area ready to hang a new wallpaper border.

Things You'll Need

• Stain-killing paint
• Adhesive
• Primer
• Paintbrush
• Emery board
• Utility knife

Instructions

1. Prepare the wallpaper to be painted. Secure loose or torn edges with a strong adhesive and press down firmly on the wallpaper. Apply two coats of stain-killing paint to completely cover the wallpaper, using a paintbrush File the seam of the wallpaper if it's still visible with an emery board. Apply a final coat of paint to cover the wallpaper.

2. Apply primer on the wall where you plan to hang the border, using a paintbrush. Let the primer dry and then wet and hang the pre-pasted border. Start at a corner and overlap adjoining walls by 1/4 inch so the borders match. Place the border in water for 30 seconds at a time to dampen it. Remove the border and put it on the wall.

3. Smooth the border out and soak up extra water, using a dry cloth. Cut any excess border with a utility knife.

References

• Repair Home: How to Hang Wallpaper
• National Guild of Professional Wallpaper Hangers: Wallpaper FAQ