Wall paper will add elegance to your walls
Jan 08, 2010
IF you intend to erase the dull look of your house, add an elegance to the walls by using wallpaper.
IF you intend to erase the dull look of your house, add an elegance to the walls by using wallpaper.
Wallpaper has various designs and colours.
Though Ivan Kasujja, an interior designer with Anitos designers, says there are companies with experts to place the paper, you can place the paper yourself.
“Using wallpaper is cost-effective and an easy way of creating an interesting space,†Kasujja says.
He says the paper should not be used in areas of high water usage like bathrooms and kitchens. Kasujja says though it is called wallpaper, it is made of polyethylene material.
The paper differs depending on where they are suited to be used.
For example, the paper used in homes is different from that used in salons and photo studios. Wall paper does not affect the wall, therefore, if one gets tired of it, he or she can replace it with others, or paint.
Rose Nazart, a hardware dealer, says wallpaper lasts longer than paint depending on the environment. You can get wallpaper at sh15,000 to sh30,000 depending on the quality.
Before you begin placing the paper on the wall, ensure you have wallpaper paste, painter’s tape, a flat work surface, a tape measure, a level, a step ladder and drop clothes.
You should also have sandpaper (and spackle, putty and a knife), a large bucket, water, sponges, rags, a utility knife, a smoothing brush and a seam roller.
Kasujja says having a smooth and well prepared wall surface is critical to the outcome of your wallpaper project; wallpaper cannot look neat if the walls have bumps and holes.
It is also advisable to remove the plates that cover switches, curtains and any other hardware that could pose as an obstacle.
Then select the starting point, this is where the last strip of paper will meet the first as well as where the patterns will match up.
This should be an inconspicuous spot, such as behind a door, or in a far corner.
Measure the height of the wall from the edge of the ceiling to the floor. Use a level and pencil to draw a light vertical line on the wall.
The first strip of wallpaper will lie against the line. If you start at a corner, be sure to use the level, not the corner, as your guide and align your paper to this line.
Lay the wallpaper on a hard work surface and measure the length needed for the wall. Cut several more pieces, stacking them in order to make pasting fast. Pay careful attention to patterns when taking this step.
Once several strips of wallpaper have been cut, you are ready to begin pasting and placing on the wall. Much of the wallpaper comes pre-pasted, so all you need is water to activate the adhesive.
Gently roll the paper on the side that is not printed and then place it in water.
The entire back of the wallpaper must be covered with paste, or water to activate the pre-paste so that the wallpaper completely adheres to the wall.
If the walls are covered with gloss paint, a coat of wallpaper primer may be necessary for proper adhesion.
Start from the ceiling downward and pay attention as you make the changes to the vertical starting line.
Then press the paper onto the wall with enough pressure to make it stick.
After, use a smoothing brush to brush out any air bubbles, working from the top of the paper, smoothing outward from the centre of the strip and firmly bind the edges to the wall.
Then trim the excess paper from the top and bottom of the wall.
Use a ruler to hold the wallpaper edge in place. Wipe any paste or water away with a sponge.
Once the wallpaper has been put on the wall, you have about 10 minutes to make any adjustments before the glue sets.