Paper up to each switch and socket safely, with the power off, then trim neatly and refit the faceplate.
WS-01Clear the area and protect your floorMove furniture away from the wall you're papering and lay dust sheets. Check the wall is dry and any old paper is stripped back to a sound surface. Have a torch to hand — you'll be working close to the wall with the light switch off.
WS-02Turn off the power and prove it's deadGo to the consumer unit and switch off the circuit that feeds the sockets and switches you're working on. If you're not sure which breaker it is, turn off the whole board while you work. Use your voltage tester on each faceplate to prove it's dead before you touch any screws — never rely on the light switch itself, it only breaks the light, not the supply to the plate.
WS-03Loosen the faceplatesUnscrew the two fixing screws on each switch or socket and ease the faceplate away from the wall. Leave the wires connected and let the plate hang on its cable — don't pull on it. Rest it on a folded cloth so it doesn't strain the wiring while you paper around it.
1 each · Screwdriver (flat or pozi, to match your plates)
WS-04Paste and hang the paper as normalPaste your paper (or paste the wall, if that's what your paper needs) and hang the length as you would anywhere else on the wall, running it straight over the switch or socket box. Smooth it down with your brush or smoothing tool, working from the centre outward.
WS-05Cut a cross over the boxWith the paper smoothed over the recessed box, press it gently into the recess so you can feel its edges through the paper. Make a diagonal cut from the centre of the box out to each corner, like slicing an envelope open, using your utility knife. This gives you four triangular flaps.
WS-06Trim the flaps to the recess edgeFold each triangular flap back and trim it flush with the edge of the recessed box using the utility knife against a straight edge or the edge of the box itself. Work slowly with light passes rather than one heavy cut — you can always trim a little more, but you can't put paper back once it's cut too short.
WS-07Refit the faceplateGently push the wires back into the box, sit the faceplate back over the trimmed paper edge, and feed the fixing screws through the original holes. Tighten evenly so the plate sits flat, sandwiching the paper neatly underneath. Wipe away any paste that's squeezed out with a clean damp cloth straight away, before it dries.
WS-08Smooth and check the finishRun a seam roller lightly around the edge of the faceplate and check for trapped air bubbles nearby. Step back and check the pattern lines up above and below the switch or socket. Leave the paper to dry fully before disturbing it further.
WS-09Restore power and testOnce the paste has dried, go back to the consumer unit and switch the circuit on again. Test each switch and socket works as it should before you consider the job finished.
WS-10Tidy upRemove dust sheets, wipe down skirting and any paste splashes, and dispose of paper trimmings. Rinse your paste brush and smoothing tool before the paste dries on them.
Some links may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you.