Installation & Assembly

5. Place Your Paper
Finally, it’s time to start putting up wallpaper. Be especially cautious with your first strip of wallpaper. It’s
crucial that the first piece is perfectly strai ght, since all of the following pieces cascade off of the original.
It’s best to have at least one helper to keep the wallpaper in line. Place a wallpaper section on the wall,
and utilize a wallpaper brush to brush out bubbles and apply pressure to the adhesive. After the first
swath of wallpaper, start each swath at eye level. This will ensure that the continuity of your wallpaper
design is its best at eye level; minor mistakes will only occur near the ceiling or floor of your wall. Once
your paper is positioned correctly on the wall, you can begin to cut the edges with a utility blade and/or
scissors. Since the adhesive won’t dry for a few minutes, you can adjust your wallpaper while it is on the
wall - just know that the adhesive won’t stay fluid forever! Also, be cautious not to shift the wallpaper as
you make cuts. You can utilize a seam roller to make sure that your seams are… well… seamless.
Take note, during this phase, if you’re using adhesive (instead of pre-pasted paper), some adhesive may squeeze out
around the edges of your wallpaper. Just use a sponge and warm water to clean away excess adhesive.
6. Corners, Outlets, Windows, Doors, Etc.
With interior corners, you can utilize your wallpaper brush to press the wallpaper into the corner. It may be best to cut
wallpaper an inch or two past the corner (after adhering the paper to the wall), and then overlap a bit of the last
section (around a foot or so) with a new wallpaper segment. This will help you to keep your pattern straight and your
corner tight.
When it comes to outlets, light switches, and the like, be sure that you turn off your power. Remove the outlet cover
prior to placing a wallpaper segment. Then, feel for the corner edges of the cavity. Mark these corners, and then cut
from corner to corner. Once you’ve cut a hole that’s just as big as the cavity within your wall, adhere the wallpaper,
and make sure that there is no loose paper near electrical lines (that’s a fire hazard!). When you reinstall an outlet or
light switch cover, it should nicely conceal the cut edges of your wallpaper.
When it comes to windows and doors, brush the wallpaper right up to the edge of the frame. You can use scissors to
cut the wallpaper close to the size and shape of the frame. Then use a drywall taping knife and your utility blade to
cut these edges perfectly at the corner of the frame. Make sure these edges are pressed firmly into the frame corner
to ensure adhesion.
7. Clean Up
You’ve done it! Clean up, and then it’s on to phase eight, our personal favorite...
8. Celebrate
Cheers! You’re all set! Sit back, crack open a cola, and bask in the glory that is your new Detroit Wallpaper wall. Now
that wasn’t so hard was it?
Protips:
It’s easiest to make accurate cuts with sharp scissors and brand -new utility blades. When using a utility blade against
a wall, you won’t need much pressure at all. Using too much pressure can easily gauge the wall.
Also, make sure that you’re using a level to plan your sections. Wallpaper can quickly turn askew if you don’t start
right and maintain precision across the entirety of your walls.
An assistant can be a major help. You’ll save time, be more accurate, and you’ll have someone to talk/argue with.
When placing a sheet on the wall, one person should be on the ladder, while the other person aligns the lower
segment of the wallpaper.
Use slow smooth motions when brushing the wallpaper against the wall. Otherwise, you can create folds, or you
might shift the wallpaper as you’re trying to adhere it. If you get a bubble be hind your wallpaper, don’t panic. You
should be able to “iron out” those pesky bubbles by gently brushing a bubble towards the edge of its wallpaper
section.
You can use painter’s tape to keep adhesive from landing where you don’t want it. Place painter’s tape on the edges around
your home, a nd use it to cover light switches and outlets (again, make s ure the power is off).