DIY: Wallpapering My Bathroom
Ultimately, the goal of wallpapering the bathroom was to bring a modern element into the room that would help create a balance between the glam decor and traditional architecture, (you can read more about my bathroom design plans here). I chose a marble pattern because of its trendiness and prominent use in minimalist designs. This marble wallpaper is the perfect portal to my modern glam bathroom.
This was my first time hanging wallpaper and I definitely ran into some challenges, made mistakes, but learned a lot along the way. If you’re wallpapering for the first time, you’ll find this post useful as I’ve listed the tools and processes used as well as some tips and tricks.
If the wall has a curve, like mine did, make sure you get a seam roller, as this will be a vital tool for the curved portion of the wall. Scroll to the bottom to read my 3 Tips for Wallpapering a Curved Ceiling
Prep the walls
There are a lot of blogs and articles out there that say you get can get by without priming your walls before wallpapering, and giving them a good wipe will suffice. In my experience, I found this to be exceptionally untrue. Save yourself the grief of a gooey panel sliding off the wall and onto your head by simply priming your walls first. You won’t be sorry.
Wallpaper materials
Before you start wallpapering make sure you have the materials you need based on the type of wallpaper you purchased. Mine was a ‘paste-the-wall’ paper that had specific instructions of what type of supplies to get. My marble wallpaper mural is from MuralsWallpaper
Wallpaper paste
I had originally purchased a handheld squeeze bottle filled with paste that had a roller attached to it, thinking that 2-in-1seemed like a great idea, and also less messy. Unfortunately, it was dysfunctional and ended up making a huge mess. Plan B: I opted in for the good-ole-fashion gallon of paste and brush, which had great results.
You’ll want to tackle this project with another person because two sets of hands are needed.
Materials used
Roman Heavy Duty Wallpaper Paste, 1 gal.
Included in the tool kit:
Pasting brush
Smoothing tool
Seam roller *a must-have for curved ceiling or wall
Trim knife
Plumb line
You’ll also want to be prepared with:
Rags
Drop cloth
Step stool
Pencil
Wallpapering process
Line it up
Use the plum line and pencil to mark where the panel should lay on the wall. This will help ensure the first panel is aligned properly. You only need the plum line for the first panel; after you set the first one, you can use it as a guide to lay the rest.
Brush it on
Use the pasting brush to douse the wall in paste. Wait a few seconds for the paste to get tacky, then line up the top corners of the panel to the wall. Use your hands to guide the panel until it’s aligned with the markings from the plumb line. Since the paste is still wet, you can push on the panel a bit until it looks right. Just be careful not to tug too hard, as you can rip or warp it.
Use a friend
While I aligned the top half of the panel, my mom lined up the bottom half, then we worked together to adjust it until it was straight. Having her there helped me avoid getting on and off the stool a hundred times. We made a great team!
Smooth it out
Once you’ve straightened out the panel, use the smoothing tool to squeeze the excess paste from underneath the panel. For the best result, start in the middle of the panel and work your way out. Do this to every inch of the panel, otherwise, it will dry with paste lumps underneath.
Wipe it off
Have a mix of damp and dry rags readily available to wipe away the paste that is being squeezed out. You’ll want to do this quickly to avoid it drying on top of the wallpaper. Have someone dedicated to rinsing rags and handing you fresh ones, so you can move as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Hanging wallpaper is an inexpensive and impactful way to refresh a room, or enhance a design style
Mistakes to avoid for next time
Every new project comes with a few mistakes and learning experiences. If I were to wallpaper again, which I probably will (because look at it, it’s absolutely gorgeous), here are a few things I would do differently:
Prime
Paint the wall with a primer prior to hanging the wallpaper. Priming the wall provides a smooth surface, helps the wallpaper stick better, and makes for an easier application overall. I could have finished this project a lot sooner had I started with primed walls.
Measure everything
I did not think to measure the portion of the wall where the stucco ceiling meets the wall. Turns out, it’s not straight, resulting in an uneven gap between the top of the wallpaper and the seam of the ceiling. Had I known, I would have raised the mural a few inches and cut off the excess to hide the gap. To remedy, I am applying a 1/2 inch molding at the top of the wallpaper.
3 Tips for Hanging Wallpaper on a Curved Ceiling
If you’re tackling a wallpaper project that involves a curved wall or ceiling, first off, kudos to you, and second, I have 4 tips for hanging wallpaper on a curved surface that might make the process go more smoothly:
Tip #1: Leave a border of excess wallpaper
Gravity is not your friend when you’re dealing with a curved wall. The panel is going to want to slide down and away from the curved portion of the wall. To avoid this from happening, leave yourself a little wiggle room, say 1-2 inches, of excess wallpaper at the top, to help alleviate the downward pull. You can then use the excess paper to push the panel back up if it begins to slide down.
Tip #2: Use a Seam Roller
Removing excess glue in the curve can be a bit tricky as you can’t use a traditional smoothing tool from side to side due to the curvature of the wall. I found that using a seam roller and a rag were the best tools for glue removal in the curve. When using the seam roller, move slowly to avoid creasing the panel.
Tip #3: Lighting & Angles
Always check your lighting and angles as you wallpaper. In certain lighting, or at different angles, it can be nearly impossible to see globs of glue, air bubbles, or creases in the wallpaper. Use additional lamps or whatever lighting you have available to examine the wall from every possible angle.
Below is an example of an air bubble in the curve of the wall that I missed. As you can see in the second photo, the light from the ceiling is camouflaging the bubble, almost completely. It isn’t until the lights are off that the bubble becomes visible. Whoops!
Curved ceilings aren’t easy; the best advice I can give is to be patient and work slowly.