How to Soak & Hang Wallpaper Borders

Use a sharp knife for the most precise cuts.

Wallpaper borders can be hung over existing wallpaper or painted walls and can be part of a wallpaper or paint scheme or used by themselves as wall accents. Borders are smaller and easier to hang than regular wallpaper sheets. Typically, borders are installed at the chair rail level or at the top of walls. Placement is up to you, but the configuration of walls, furniture, cabinets or other features should be taken into consideration.

Things You'll Need

• Drop cloth
• Measuring tape
• Level
• Pencil
• Utility knife
• Ruler
• Paste or water
• Smoothing brush
• Old towel

Instructions

1. Measure the width of your wallpaper border and decide where you would like to apply the border. Figure out how many feet of border is needed, and divide the number by the length of a single roll to estimate how many rolls are needed.

2. Mark a line along the wall where the top of the border should lie. Make small marks at intervals along the line using the measuring tape, then connect the marks with a line. Use the level to ensure a straight line.

3. Measure the first wall, bringing the border ½-inch around any corners.

4. Cut the paper with a sharp utility knife, using a ruler as a straight line for your cut.

5. Apply paste to the back of the border if it is not pre-pasted. If it is pre-pasted, soak it in water -- a bathtub or sink works well for this -- for thirty seconds or until the paste begins to develop and thicken. This may happen very quickly with brand new wallpaper.

6. Remove the border and fold it in half so the paste sides meet one another. This is called "booking" and it allows the paste to fully develop, creating a more lasting adhesive.

7. Pull the pieces apart carefully, and stick the paper to the wall along the drawn line. If working with a long piece, have an assistant hold one end of the border so it doesn't break. If working by yourself, it is best to book the pieces by folding both ends in toward the center and then unfold them in sections. This way you can hold onto the entire sheet and avoid tearing the border.

8. Press the border into place, and use a smoothing brush to smooth any lumps. Mop up excess glue carefully with an old towel.

9. Apply each piece, lining up the pattern on any seams or corners. If you must begin a new piece in the middle of a wall, overlap both pieces by ¼-inch, then run a utility knife down the middle. Remove the excess pieces from underneath the paper and butt the two edges against one another.

Tips & Warnings

• Always estimate an extra roll, since you will need to match the pattern on seams and may not be able to use a few sections of paper. Match the label numbers for each roll you purchase; some are not cut in the same place, even if the pattern is identical.

References

• Ebay Guides: How to Hang Wallpaper Border Like a Professional