Ask Alice: How do I put up Wallpaper?

Dear Alice, It seems like wallpaper is becoming the new accent wall. I have never hung wallpaper before, how do I put it up? ~ Jessica
via Seidman Paperhanging

image from Rosie's Vintage Wallpaper via Lara Lewis

Dear Jessica,

The best tutorial I know of is the one Martha Stewart put together. She has great step by step instructions and lots of photos to help. I can't be that precise. When I wallpaper, I usually have a towel, a needle, wallpaper adhesive and a paintbrush. Since I often find my wallpaper secondhand, there are rarely instructions handy. It happens like this: when the time is not right, and there are lots of other things going on, I decide, hey! I have some wallpaper, why not put it up NOW? I grab my generic wallpaper adhesive, my paintbrush, needle and towel, and start hanging. I don't recommend it. Instead of pasting the paper, I paint the adhesive right on the wall, nice and thick. Then I {always starting at the top! If it insists on falling down, you can tack it into the wall with pushpins to hold it still while the adhesive sets} start hanging the paper, depending on the project the best rule is to begin in the middle of the wall and work outward. Leave a few inches of extra paper at the ceiling and floor trim, because it is aways a better idea to trim it after, rather than cut it 'to fit' and find you cut it too short. Then I wipe the whole thing down with my towel, {damp} and start working out the bubbles, from the center towards the edges. If there is a horrible bubble that won't budge, I poke it with my needle and work all the air out. Continue on with the rest of your wallpaper, making sure that the pattern lines up. You can paper over light switches {just cut a little hole for the switch}  and outlets and trim around them after you work out the bubbles.  Hooray! Wallpaper! {If you can, buy extra, because chances are you will have a few 'accidents', but that's ok! It will all turn out good in the end, but if it doesn't, I'll come help you.}

If all that sounds too messy and difficult, you can frame some wallpaper pieces and hang them on your wall. Katy Elliot explains it all here.

I documented a little wallpaper project a while ago here.

Folding clothes, Alice

Ask Alice: What am I doing wrong?	Ask Alice: How do I put up wallpaper?	Ask Alice: Is it hard to re-wire a Lamp?
Ask Alice: What's your Secret?	Ask Alice: Open Shelves or Cabinets?	Ask Alice: Spray Paint or Brush?

Ask Alice: How should I clean wood floors?