Step 1: calculate the number of strips

Measure the width of the wall or walls that you plan to wallpaper. Divide the width of the wall by the width of the roll. Round up the result for the required number of strips.

Ex. 400 cm (wall width) / 53 cm (roll width) = 7.54 strips

Once rounded up, you require 8 strips.

Step 2: calculate how many strips you can obtain from one roll

Divide the total length of the roll by the height of your wall. We recommend including a surplus of 5 to 10 centimetres that can be cut from the top and bottom of each strip.

Ex. 1000 cm (roll length) / 260 cm + 10 cm (wall height + surplus) = 3.7

Round down the result. In this case you can get 3 complete strips from one roll of wallpaper.

Step 3: divide the required number of strips by the number of strips per roll

8 / 3 = 2.33

Once rounded up, you therefore require 3 rolls of wallpaper.

Don’t forget to factor in wastage. If you order patterned wallpaper, then you’ll need to match the patterns on the various strips.
This can result in wastage. The bigger the motif, the more potential wastage you’ll have… You can use large pieces of wastage for short strips, such as above doors etc.

3. Prepare the surface of your walls

Make sure that the wall surface is smooth, even and dry. Otherwise it’s impossible to achieve flawless results. Indeed, failure to do so will quickly lead to bubbles and imperfections that ruin the entire “look” of your room.

• Remove old wallpaper remnants or peeling paint or plaster from the walls.
• Fill holes and imperfections. You can sand bumps or protrusions using sandpaper and fill small holes and cracks with a quick-drying filler.
• Allow new plaster to dry for at least six months prior to wallpapering it.
  
  

Once you’ve removed the old wallpaper and repaired any damage or imperfections, your wall is finally ready for wallpapering.

4. Free up sufficient space

Free up sufficient space in your room for unhindered access. Cover the floor with plastic film or cardboard to protect it from paste spillage and remove all electrical sockets, hooks and nails from the walls.

5. Ensure an ambient room temperature

The temperature of the room that you’re wallpapering should be between 18°C to 20°C for optimal results. Close windows and doors and turn off the heating, to enable your wallpaper to dry in the right conditions. Otherwise it can dry too quickly, resulting in unwelcome shrinkage at the seams.

6. Supplies

This list might seem lengthy at first glance, but most items are common household essentials:

• Wall filler, putty knife and sandpaper (If the wall requires levelling)
• Wallpaper rolls (obviously ;-))
• Wallpaper paste (Each type of wallpaper requires a specific wallpaper paste. Check which wallpaper paste you require in advance)
• Step ladder
• Bucket + stirrer. Use two separate buckets: one for the wallpaper paste and another for fresh water. That way you can quickly remove any spillages or wash your hands using clean water.
• Sharp utility knife and spare blades (Use new blades. This makes cutting edges easier and ensures optimal results.)
• Spatula
• Spirit level
• Tape measure
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Paint roller
• Pasting brush (To facilitate the pasting of edges and corners)
• Clean cloths
• Rubbish bags (Immediately dispose of all wallpaper remnants in a rubbish bag to keep your workplace tidy.)