Quick metamorphosis of the living room. How to apply wallpaper yourself?

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Putting up new wallpaper is one way to give your living room a quick and easy makeover. You can do it yourself without professional help and without calling in a construction crew. In our article we present how to do it quickly and easily!

Wallpaper has two functions. They improve the look of the apartment and cover the imperfections of the walls, effectively protecting them from damage. In this respect they are superior to paints. In addition, wallpaper is available in almost any pattern, so the interior immediately takes on a more interesting look. Correctly placed wallpaper is not to move, and so you can refresh it much less frequently. However, as every material has its own requirements. Here’s what you need to do to make sure your wallpaper is laid perfectly.

What kind of wallpaper to choose?

There are a number of wallpapers available on the market. Each of them is made of a different material and has different properties, requirements and difficulty of application. They also have different purposes. We focused on the types of wallpaper that are worth laying in the living room

Paper wallpapers

They are available in one or two layers. They are the most easily available and most often chosen by people renovating their apartment. They work best in bedrooms and living rooms. They have numerous embossments on the surface, thanks to which they mask possible imperfections of the surface. Remember, however, that the application of paper wallpaper requires patience and accuracy

Fleece wallpaper

This is one of the most modern solutions. Fleece is a combination of cellulose and polyester. It is characterized by flexibility, which makes it adhere well to the wall surface. Its application is extremely easy and every amateur of renovation and finishing works can cope with it. The adhesive is applied on the wall and after unrolling from the roll, the wallpaper is ready to stick. The material can be easily peeled off the wall if necessary

>> See also: Brass accessories for your home

Vinyl wallpaper

This type of wallpaper is extremely resistant to scratches and damage. It does not allow water vapor or air to pass through, so the substrate does not get damaged even in extreme conditions. They are washable and relatively easy to keep clean. Children running around in the living room or spilled drinks, are no longer a problem. There are vinyl interlining wallpapers on the market that are great for self-application.

How to lay wallpaper yourself – step by step guide

To start, prepare the necessary accessories. These include

  • the wallpaper of your choice,
  • wallpaper glue,
  • sharp knife,
  • a glue roller with a tray,
  • an accessory for pressing down wallpaper,
  • a spatula for squeezing out excess glue and air from under the wallpaper

Then proceed to the next steps

Prepare the substrate

The wall for wallpaper must be even, clean, dry and free of mold. All scratches, paint residue, unevenness or pieces of old wallpaper must be removed. For small defects we recommend using universal putty, whereas bigger irregularities are better patched up with gypsum mortar. After the putty has dried, the wall should be sanded with sandpaper. Then it is recommended to wash it with warm water and detergent.

Cut the wallpaper

For this you will need some space. It is advisable to carry out the activity on the floor and after unrolling the wallpaper from the roll, assess how you want to trim it. The strips can have the same pattern or a different one. Cutting the material, it is worth leaving a slight reserve, for example cut pieces 2-5 cm longer. After gluing the unnecessary part you simply cut it off

Prepare the adhesive

The preparation and application are always indicated on the product. Follow the directions given. If the product is to be used for 8 rolls of wallpaper and you will use max. if you are going to use 8 rolls of wallpaper and you will use max. 2 rolls, prepare the adhesive from a quarter portion. It is not worth dissolving the whole product, because later it will be thrown away

Start wallpapering

First, you need to coat the entire wall with adhesive. Do this with the help of a roller. Grease the corners and small spaces with a small brush. Every surface should be thoroughly covered with it. Then apply the wallpaper. The glue is not strong, so if something comes out crooked – you can easily move it. Only after using a pressure roller, the wallpaper is unmovable. How to use it? Place the roller in the middle of the cut-out and move it to its edge. Excess adhesive and air will come out from under the wallpaper. Remove the glue right away with a spatula, and wipe the surface with a damp cloth

Trimming the wallpaper

When the wallpaper is damp, trim the excess in the corners and at the baseboards with a knife

Allow it to dry

The adhesive does not have a strong smell, but it is damp. While the wallpaper is drying in the living room, it is a good idea to ventilate the room

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