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Original poster

Has anyone wallpapered themselves?

24 replies

Beccarolloveragain · 13/10/2006 14:34

I have one small wall in the bathroom to do.

Have bought wallpaper, paste, brush and smoothing/cutting thing.

Any tips!?

OP posts:
JessaJackOLantern · 13/10/2006 14:35

no tips but highly amused at idea of a MNer covering herself in wallpaper
sorry!

Skribble · 13/10/2006 14:36

LOL I had image of you covered in paper desperatly typing this looking for help on escaping the blown vinyl

Peggotty · 13/10/2006 14:38

My brother's a painter & decorater and says it all in the preparation!! MAke sure the wall you are papering is very well prepared, smooth, dust free, cracks filled in etc. ALso before you hang paper, roller on some wallpaper paste and let it dry completely, this creates extra grip when you hang the wallpaper. THe actual hanging of paper's abit fiddly, is it patterned?

aaah my brother would be proud of me!!

Cassoulet · 13/10/2006 14:38

I wallpapered a friend once. Don' fancy it for myself though.

Flamebat · 13/10/2006 14:38

I clicked because I had the image of a woman papered into the wall...

PrettyCandles · 13/10/2006 14:40

Yes, and it's relatively easy, especially if you don't have any odd bits to go around (eg windows, lightswitches).

You need a plumb bob as well, to make sure the first strip of paper is hanging dead straight. Don't assume that the corner of the wall is perfectly straight, so, although you'll start from there, take your straight line from the plumb bob, not the corner.

Take your time, read the instructions, if something doesn't seem right don't worry at it. Many apparent flaws dry out perfectly, and most can be put right later.

BTW, I've also papered myself - literally .

alligator · 13/10/2006 14:41

I did a wall in hte kids room with lining paper after plastering it myself. Am very proud of it. It was definitely an 'artistic' job . I went for the 'country' look ie bockety

Mumpbump · 13/10/2006 14:42
  1. Check the wall which runs perpindicular at which you are starting (what a mouthful!) to see if it is vertical. It is quite likely that it is not.
  1. Get a plumb line or spirit level and draw a vertical line. If the perpindicular wall is not vertical, draw the line less than the width of the roll away from the wall. This means you end up trimming the wall paper, rather than having a very narrow strip to fill. Much easier.
  1. When measuring the length of the wallpaper, check that any pattern matches up and cut over length.
  1. Fold the wallpaper up with the sticky side in so it's easier to manage and start at the top - probably blindingly obvious, I know! Wipe down from the top to push any air bubbles to the bottom.
  1. Trim top and bottom of wallpaper in situ!

Can't think of anything else. Hope it goes well...

Original poster
Beccarolloveragain · 13/10/2006 14:43

It is very very heavily patterned. Its a black and white sort of art deco design.

How do I make a plumb bomb then?

OP posts:
Skribble · 13/10/2006 14:44

Careful now

Peggotty · 13/10/2006 14:45

YOu can buy a plumb line in B & Q it's just a long bit of string with a weight on the end for making sure that you're first bit of wallpaper goes on straight.

Skribble · 13/10/2006 14:46

How to guide

PhantomCAM · 13/10/2006 14:46

No it wouldn't suit me

Skribble · 13/10/2006 14:47

Get a long bit of string and tie a small toy on it .

SoMuchToBats · 13/10/2006 14:51

No, I've never wallpapered myself. However, I have successfully wallpapered two rooms in our house, with no previous experience. I just followed the instructions in the DIY book. I also made sure dh was out, as he likes to interfere/be critical. As long as you take it steadily and don't rush, it's fairly straightforward. You can easily make a plumb bob by tying any small, heavy weight on the end of a piece of string.

julezboo · 13/10/2006 15:35

My mother says, you learn by your mistakes! And always buy an extra roll just in case you mess it up, you wont run out, but it is fairly easy! Good luck x I just cant do the fiddly bits either!

Original poster
Beccarolloveragain · 13/10/2006 15:43

The wallpaper is this pattern

will that make it harder on me because its such a bold pattern?

OP posts:
Mumpbump · 13/10/2006 15:48

Harder! Just make sure you buy an extra roll as julesbooz has already said and be careful to match the pattern before roughly cutting off the length you need. At least it's a big pattern so you're unlikely to match up the wrong bit.

Mumpbump · 13/10/2006 15:50

Harder! Just make sure you buy an extra roll as julesbooz has already said and be careful to match the pattern before roughly cutting off the length you need. At least it's a big pattern so you're unlikely to match up the wrong bit.

Skribble · 13/10/2006 21:47

Harder and easier

More wastage as you will have to lose bits to get it to match up but easier to line it up and know you have it right.

Is the background white or black?

PretendFriend · 13/10/2006 21:52

Don't use a plumb line, they are a nightmare, get a loooong spirit level and use that to get a true vertical instead.

I have done lots of papering with lining paper and anaglypta, but for patterned paper I got a bloke in. Not worth the aggravation IMHO

lucy5 · 13/10/2006 21:55

Make sure your batch numbers match on your rolls or you may get slightly different colours etc.

rustycreakingdoorbear · 13/10/2006 22:04

This title reminds me of the time DD came out of playgroup saying "Jamie painted Sarah today" That's nice I thought - then I saw Sarah.......
Thick blue paint all over her hair.

Original poster
Beccarolloveragain · 14/10/2006 00:05

skribble, background white pattern black

OP posts:
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