Most traditional wallpapers need to be “booked” or given time to expand after they’re pasted. This helps avoid wrinkles and bad seams.
Taking the time to prep your walls correctly can help cut down on the amount of time needed for your wallpaper install. It can also save you money!
Small Rooms
If you are transforming a small room, wallpaper is the best way to give it a lift. There are a lot of different patterns to choose from and some have the added benefit of making the room feel larger. This is because they use larger repeated patterns, which pull the eye upward and across the wall.
This is especially important in a smaller room where you want to open up the space as much as possible. If you go for a scene wallpaper such as a forest, seascape or even a tulip tree, it will distract the eye from the walls and make the room feel more spacious.
It is also important to wipe down your walls and prime them before applying any wallpaper. This will ensure that the wall is smooth and ready to accept wallpaper, which should be applied over a premium eggshell, satin or semi-gloss paint. If you are painting the room, we advise allowing the paint to fully dry before you start your project.
A standard roll of wallpaper will cover around 30 square feet, which is sufficient to paper a small room with ease. However, if you have a few obstacles to overcome such as light sockets and switches, corners and fireplaces then this could add a bit more time to the job.
Before you start, it is helpful to measure your room and work out how many rolls of wallpaper you will need to cover the area in question. To do this, simply take the height of your walls and mark it on the backside of your wallpaper. Then, add 4 inches to this measurement and mark it again. This will ensure that the pattern on subsequent sheets of wallpaper will line up with those already on the wall. Lastly, it is a good idea to move any furniture or similar items away from the wall to give the wallpaper some space to breathe.
Medium to Large Rooms
A good wallpaper professional will be able to complete an average sized room in a day or so, depending on the complexity of the design and whether there are any obstacles that need cutting around – fireplaces, doors, electrical fittings, alcoves etc. The cost of the labour will vary as most decorators charge a standard day rate which can range from PS100 to PS150 per room. This cost will increase if the wall is in a poor state and requires more preparation time such as filling cracks and holes.
The first thing a decorator will do when they enter a room is to plan where the seams are going to be placed. They will take into consideration the overall pattern repeat in the wallpaper and if it has a feature such as a fireplace or window then these should be positioned accordingly. Ideally, the first strip should be hung in the corner opposite the most used entrance to the room. This will allow for the rest of the strips to be butted up against this, which should minimize the visibility of the seams.
Once the location of each strip is planned it will be easier to calculate how much wallpaper you need. Generally, it is recommended that you order slightly more than you need to ensure you don’t run out of any of the wallpaper. This can be done by using one of the online wallpaper calculators or by simply looking at the instructions on the back of the roll and working out how many drops you need. For more info I’ll suggest you visit the website wallpaper singapore.
There are several benefits to choosing wallpaper over painted walls, including the fact that it is far less likely to chip or peel and can last 10 to 15 years before any touch ups or repainting are required. Wallpaper is also very versatile and can be used in a number of different ways, with textured, metallic, vinyl and embossed styles available to suit any décor.
