Wallpaper a feature wall

Strip old paper, repair and seal the wall, then hang and pattern-match new paper around switches over a weekend or two.

Guides in this project

01Strip wallpaper 02Fill cracks and holes before painting 03Seal bare plaster before wallpapering 04Hang wallpaper on a flat wall 05Match a wallpaper pattern 06Proving a circuit dead with a voltage tester 07Wallpaper around light switches and sockets 08Touch up paint without it showing

WP-01Strip the old wallpaperBefore you start, buy new wallpaper with 10-15% extra for pattern matching, paste, filler, and sealer, so you're not stopping mid-job. Follow the 'Strip wallpaper' guide to remove all existing paper back to bare plaster or sound lining paper. This usually takes half a day for a single feature wall. Where it goes wrong: rushing with a scraper or steamer and gouging the plaster underneath, which means more filling later.

1 day · Wallpaper steamer hire

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1 each · Stripping knife

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2 each · Dust sheets

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WP-02Fill cracks and holesFollow the 'Fill cracks and holes before painting' guide to repair gouges from stripping plus any old cracks. Let filler cure fully before sanding flat; check the tub, as some need 24 hours in a cold room. The most common mistake here is sanding too soon, leaving ridges that show through the new paper once it's pasted.

1 tub · Multi-purpose filler

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1 each · Filling knife

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1 pack · Fine sandpaper

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WP-03Seal the bare plasterFollow the 'Seal bare plaster before wallpapering' guide, paying extra attention to filled patches so paste doesn't soak in unevenly. Let it dry fully before hanging anything, usually a few hours. Skipping this step is a common cause of bubbling or paper lifting off porous patches later.

1 5L · Wallpaper size/sealer

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1 set · Paint roller and tray

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WP-04Hang the first lengthsCheck for cables and pipes with a detector before pressing a plumb line or pins into the wall, even for something this light. Follow the 'Hang wallpaper on a flat wall' guide, starting away from switches and corners and working outward. This is the longest phase: budget a full day for an average feature wall, longer for textured or heavy paper. A wall slightly out of true is where most beginners go wrong, so dry-hang the first length against your plumb line before pasting.

5 roll · Wallpaper rolls

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1 tub · Ready-mixed paste

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1 each · Pasting table hire or buy

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1 each · Smoothing brush

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1 each · Seam roller

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1 each · Plumb line

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WP-05Match the pattern across the wallFollow the 'Match a wallpaper pattern' guide as you hang each further length, checking the repeat lines up before trimming. This is why you bought extra rolls: matched offsets waste paper fast. Mismatched patterns are the most common complaint on this kind of job, usually from not checking the repeat size printed on the roll label before buying.

1 pack · Craft knife and spare blades

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WP-06Make switches and sockets safeBefore loosening any socket or switch faceplate on the papered wall, switch the circuit off at the consumer unit. Follow the 'Proving a circuit dead with a voltage tester' guide to confirm it's actually dead - test every time, even if you switched it off minutes ago. Removing and refitting an existing faceplate like-for-like is fine for a confident DIYer; moving or adding a socket is a job for a registered electrician, and it can be notifiable under Building Regulations.

RULES

1 each · Voltage tester (two-pole)

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1 set · Screwdriver set

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KNOW THE RULES

Removing and refitting an existing faceplate is fine. Moving, adding, or altering a socket or switch position is a job for a registered electrician, and it can be notifiable under Building Regulations - not a DIY job here.

WP-07Paper around switches and socketsWith the circuit still off and proved dead, follow the 'Wallpaper around light switches and sockets' guide to cut and tuck paper neatly around each faceplate. Only loosen the faceplate enough to tuck paper behind it; don't touch or disturb any wiring inside the back box. Once faceplates are refitted and the area is dry, turn the power back on at the consumer unit.

1 each · Small sharp scissors

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WP-08Touch up surrounding paintworkFollow the 'Touch up paint without it showing' guide to tidy scuffs on adjoining walls, skirting, or ceiling edges left by masking tape or the steamer. Let the new paper settle for 48 hours before trimming any skirting-line edges with a sharp blade. Overall, this project runs 1-2 weekends for a single feature wall, with total costs typically £150-£450 depending on paper choice and whether you hire a steamer.

1 250ml tin · Matching touch-up paint

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1 each · Small decorating brush

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1 roll · Low-tack masking tape

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