Wallpaper is one of the most popular decorative trends, and it is one of the best ways to personalise your home quickly, without major works and with an affordable budget.
As we know that variety is the spice of life, at L’Antic Colonial we have designed a wallpaper collection in which tradition prevails, helping to create attractive spaces that fit in with all kinds of aesthetics.
No matter what your style is: if you are looking for something classic, but with a touch of avant-garde, you can check out our Buckingham series; if you want a versatile wallpaper that invites you to “escape from reality”, the original Tarian designs will suit you; and if you are looking for personal and daring finishes inspired by nature, the Augusta designs are for you.
How to apply wallpaper, step by step
Many of you are concerned about how to put up wallpaper to get the best results. First, you should know that there are different types of wallpaper. Therefore, before putting it up, we recommend that you carefully read the manufacturer’s instructions on the label.
Other tips on how to put up wallpaper are:
Clean the surface
To apply wallpaper, it is essential that the surface is smooth, free of impurities caused by glue or other elements. Also, if there are holes in the wall, it is advisable to cover them up. And if there are supports for pictures or shelves, it is advisable to remove them.
Apply a waterproofing layer
Especially in the case of new or freshly polished walls, before installing the wallpaper, apply a waterproofing layer to ensure that the wallpaper adheres better. You can apply the product gently with a brush.
Use a reference line to place the paper
To achieve an aesthetically pleasing finish, it is a good idea to plan how you are going to lay the wallpaper before you get started.
Our recommendation is to place the whole pieces in the most prominent areas of the room. Then continue to the right and left of that point. This way, the design will be centred and symmetrical.
If you wish, you can draw a line on the wall that works as a reference for the end of the roll.
To give lateral continuity, you will have to take into account the type of case, which is the distance in which the pattern is repeated along the length of a roll of wallpaper.
→ You may be interested in: how to decorate your walls with wallpaper
Lay the strips of paper
When you have the paper ready, apply glue directly to the wall. We advise you not to stick to the width of the paper, but to add a few centimetres more.
To apply the glue, you can use a roller on the larger areas. You can also use a small brush for more difficult areas, such as skirting boards, corners or near door and window frames.
At L’Antic Colonial we recommend Butech’s SKINS FIX glue. This glue has a pinkish tone, and it will be easy for you to identify those areas of the surface where you have already applied it.
Once the glue has been applied, you have 30 minutes to lay the paper. Start laying the paper by fixing the top of the strip, leaving a three centimetre margin (on top) between each strip. Remember not to overlap the strips and to respect the reference line of the last piece of paper laid.
To improve the adhesion, you can gently press the upper half of the paper strip with a wallpaper brush or a rubber spatula.
To finish and improve adhesion, wipe the joints with a dry cloth.
Finish off the skirting boards and corners.
For best results, we recommend using a ruler and a box cutter at the junction between the skirting board and the door and window frames. This way, you will get a clean cut of the paper. Just one thing: do it when it is dry, to avoid tearing it.
In the corners, both inside and outside, you can correct small irregularities with a corner roller.
For windows and doors, you should place the strips of paper 5-10 centimetres above the frame, and make a diagonal cut from the corner using a metal ruler.
In the case of wall lights and sockets, it is advisable to remove the mechanisms beforehand and leave only the gap (or at least have the frames removed). Then remove the excess paper with a pair of scissors and place the rest of the socket on top.
Frequently asked questions and answers on how to put up wallpaper
What type of wallpaper should I choose?
To choose the right type of wallpaper, you need to consider where you are going to hang it.
Basic wallpaper is cheaper, but it also deteriorates easily, so you should be very careful if you want to put it over stippled wallpaper or wallpaper over wallpaper.
Non-woven or TNT wallpaper is easier to install, although TNT cannot be glued on gotelé or other paper, a firm, smooth, dry and flat support is always required.
On the other hand, unlike conventional paper, it will not require gluing on the wall and the back of the paper, since we will only add adhesive on the wall.
How are the strips of wallpaper prepared?
To find out how many strips of paper you need, calculate the surface area to be wallpapered. Measure the height and width of the wall, multiply it and divide the number you get by the width of the paper (which is usually 53 centimetres). You will then know how many strips of paper you need to prepare. You can also use our paper calculator.
A practical tip on how to put up wallpaper is to give each strip a 6 centimetre margin: after all, it’s better to cut it off with a cutter than to leave “bare” pieces of wall.
If the wallpaper has patters and has designs, you will have to respect the measurement corresponding to the fall (i.e. the vertical distance between two identical points of the wallpaper design). This information appears on the wallpaper label.
Is it possible to put wallpaper on top of stippled wallpaper?
It is difficult to put wallpaper over stippled wallpaper. It is advisable to first remove the stippled wallpaper by sanding it (using a specific product) or cover it with putty. Both jobs are usually done by professionals.
You can also choose to cover the wall with cork, wood or plasterboard panels, and fix the wallpaper to them. It is true that with this technique the space of the rooms is slightly reduced, but it is the best alternative to put wallpaper on top of gotelé in a quick, comfortable and economical way.
