B&M's Wallpaper Guide For Beginners...With a Little Help from Harris

Okay, so after weeks of painstaking research and dozens of samples hanging from the wall, you’ve finally put your foot down and decided which wallpaper you want – but how can you be sure you’re doing the job properly?

For decorating novices, it can all seem a bit daunting and if you’re a first time buyer looking to put your own stamp on your new home, then you’ll want it looking perfect.

Luckily, the Decorating team here at B&M HQ are here to give you a helping hand. With a few tips from the experts at Harris, our wallpaper and decorating guide will take you from DIY dunce to wallpaper wizz in no time!

What You’ll Need

• Harris Paste Table
• Sandpaper
• Harris Paperhanging Scissors
• Harris Wallpaper Hanging Set 4pc
• Harris Paste Brush
• Masking tape
• Harris Complete Decorating Kit 12pc
• Harris Cotton Twill Dust Sheet

Preparation

1. Remove ornaments and furniture from the room and cover any remaining furniture and floor space with double protection dust sheets.
2. Remove any existing wallpaper using a wallpaper stripping solution and scraper, or use Earlex Wallpaper Stripper for speedier results.
3. Repair any holes and cracks with filler, applied with a flexible filling knife. When the filler is dry, smooth the surface with fine sandpaper.
4. Thoroughly remove all traces of dust by brushing over the walls with a large brush.
5. If walls are particularly dirty, you may want to wash down with a sponge and a warm water-vinegar solution (ensure walls are completely dry before hanging).

How to Hang Wallpaper

1. Before you start you'll need to know exactly how much wallpaper you'll need. Buying too much is preferable to running out halfway through! Use our handy Wallpaper Calculator to work out how much you'll need.
2. Measure the height of the wall you're applying your wallpaper to. Err on the side of caution by adding 10cm onto your measurement (this will allow for slight variations in height around the room).
3. Place the paper pattern side down on your pasting table and draw a ruled line across the width where you've measured.
4. Apply wallpaper adhesive to the middle of the strip and brush outward. You will have to apply it one section at a time, folding the pasted section over on itself in a concertina fashion.
5. Start hanging at one of the corners of the room, allowing 5cm extra to overlap onto the ceiling (this will need to be scored and cut away once the wallpaper has dried).
6. Use a hanging brush to smooth the strip, going from the centre outwards. This will remove any trapped air bubbles and ensure a smooth finish.
7. Repeat with your next strip of wallpaper (taking care to line up as accurately as possible if you have a pattern) and use a seam roller along the join to flatten the edges of each strip.

Did we leave anything out? Share your decorating tips, wallpaper hacks and sneaky shortcuts with us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.