How to Properly Hang Wallpaper: 6 Tips

Learn how to hang wallpaper yourself with the help of OBI experts. All you need to know are a few simple rules — we explain them here.

Removing Old Covering

New wallpaper applied to an unprepared surface will not last long — it will start bubbling and peel off the wall quickly. Therefore, it is essential to remove the old covering.

• If it's old wallpaper — remove the sheets using a spatula. Then moisten them with warm water, so the adhesive softens and you can easily remove the remaining parts.
• If the wall was painted — use a special removal product or an electric tool with sanding attachment.

Design: Anna Bagrova
Successful purchases:
Paint and varnish remover, OBI.
Removes all types of alkyd, phthalate, ether cellulose, and water-dispersible paints, as well as enamels, varnishes, and fillers of any kind. Angle grinder Einhel, OBI.
18V battery voltage, 115 mm disc size, 8500 rpm.
Maître spatula LUX, OBI.
Handheld maître spatula with steel working part.
Leveling the Walls

This is the final step of surface preparation. If the unevenness is minor, point leveling with filler is sufficient. For full leveling, several layers of material are used, and the surface is then sanded with sandpaper.

Design: Quadrum Studio
Successful purchases:
Knaut filler based on vinyl, OBI.
Due to its high plasticity, it easily levels and fills all small irregularities. Gypsum plaster, OBI.
Provides a glossy surface that does not require additional filling. Flat trowel Lux Tools, OBI.
Suitable for thick construction mixes; made of stainless steel, ensuring durability. Applying Primer

Always prime the wall. This is essential for better adhesion of wallpaper to the base. Essentially, primer is a weak glue solution. Instructions on how to prepare it can be found on the product packaging.

Design: Serge Makhov
Successful purchases:
Universal primer Unis.
Applicable to concrete, foam concrete, gas silicate, cement-sand, gypsum surfaces, and wooden substrates. Deep-penetration primer Unis.
For strengthening loose, crumbling bases, as well as for leveling and reducing moisture absorption and technological dusting. Penetrating primer Knaut.
Fast-drying, colorless, and free of solvents; ready for use. Mixing Wallpaper Glue

It's better not to save here by using homemade mixtures. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for wallpaper — each type requires a specific glue type. By the way, the glue packaging also specifies which types of wallpaper it is intended for.

Design: Flatdesign
Successful purchases:
Wallpaper glue Metylan Vinyl, OBI.
For vinyl, structured, relief, textile, silk-screen, and other special wallpapers, as well as all types of paper wallpapers. Wallpaper glue QUELYD, OBI.
Special adhesive for all types of glass wallpapers, including those suitable for painting, and wallpapers on non-woven (felt) base. Master Klein glue for felt wallpapers, OBI.
Dissolves quickly and smoothly without lumps, leaves no stains. High adhesion strength. Has anti-fungal protection. Starting to Hang Wallpaper

Experts from the construction company "Well" remind: each type of wallpaper has its own rules, and these must be followed to achieve a beautiful result. But it's simpler than it seems — the wallpaper or glue manufacturer specifies recommendations on where to apply the adhesive and how long to wait for full drying. There may be several options: applying glue to the wallpaper or to the wall.

Design: Boho Studio
Follow Simple Rules
Here are a few more tips from the professionals.

• It's important to align the first wallpaper sheet properly, for that use a construction level. Align remaining sheets to the first one.
• In corners, overlap two wallpaper sheets and press them firmly against the wall. Then carefully cut off excess with a sharp knife so that the sheets join tightly.
• Mark where electrical outlets will be placed on the wallpaper — and then carefully cut an opening. If it's slightly uneven, that’s not a problem — it will be hidden under the outlet cover.
• To wallpaper behind radiators, remove them first. If that is not possible, just wallpaper the accessible part of the wall behind it.

Design: Irina Petrova and Olga Vasileva
Successful purchases:
Wallpaper spatula LUX BASIC, OBI.
Perfect for pressing or straightening wallpaper seams. Wallpaper glue Quelyd Express, OBI.
Fast-drying adhesive for any paper wallpapers, including washable ones. Maître roller LUX BASIC, OBI.
Roller for wallpaper seams.

On the cover: design project by Inna Tedjoeva and Zina Broyan.