TIPS & TRICKS

How to prepare your wall

Figuring out how much wallpaper you need is easy! We pride ourselves on being eco-friendly, why pay for more wallpaper than you need and why waste any that you don’t? Use the simple steps below to figure out just how much you’ll need to elevate your space.

*Roll width = 26.5’’ on all artmurale wallpaper and murals*

  1. Measure the length of your wall. When ordering wallpaper, make sure the length you order is at least two inches longer than the length of your wall.
  2. Measure the width of your wall and divide that number by 26.5 inches.

You can never be too prepared, right? The same mantra goes for applying wallpaper. Here are some tips to make sure your wallpaper installation goes smoothly and looks professional:

  1. Cover the floor with cardboard, a plastic dust sheet or drop cloth.
  2. Make sure to remove any nails or screws.
  3. Remove any light switch or outlet covers, and turn off the main power to the room.
  4. Spackle any holes or rough areas, and smooth out your surfaces with sandpaper.
  5. Prep your wall by washing it with a wet sponge. * If your wall needs to be washed with cleaning products, wash 24 hours prior to installation.

Paint the wall prior to wallpapering if there are significant color differences .* If your wall has just been repainted, allow the paint to fully dry for 4 weeks before the wallpaper installation.

Ready for a change? Follow the simple steps below to remove your old wallpaper and prep your wall to apply your new artmurale wallpaper or mural properly, and professionally. We focused on using simple, proven techniques, with tools that most already have in their homes. We strive to be eco-friendly and encourage just using dish soap and hot water as a removal aid, avoiding methods that use chemicals or expensive machinery.

  1. Remove any loose wallpaper.
  2. Use a blade knife to detach angles and corners from the wall.
  3. Use a trowel to easily remove the wallpaper.
  4. If you are having trouble removing the wallpaper, spray a mixture of hot water and dish soap to dampen the old wallpaper, let it rest for 10 minutes and then, carefully, pull it off panel by panel.

Applying wallpaper around windows and doors

  • A pencil
  • Steel ruler
  • Wallpaper sponge (preferably a cellulose sponge, but a soft cloth can also be used)
  • A craft or utility knife

“Wallpapering tool” A plastic smoother

When it comes to windows and doors, gently push the wallpaper to the edge of the frame and mark where you’ll need to cut. Use scissors to cut the wallpaper close to the size and shape of the frame and then once you’re ready, use your razor to cut the edge perfectly and make sure these edges are pressed firmly into the frame corner.

Wallpapering around wall sockets and switches

There are two ways you can wallpaper around wall sockets and switches. This is entirely up to your personal preference. Don’t forget to turn off the power regardless of which method you choose.

  • Remove the socket
  • Wallpaper around the whole socket
  • A pencil
  • Screwdriver
  • Steel ruler
  • A craft or utility knife
  • “Wallpapering tool” A plastic smoother
  • Sharp scissors
  1. Switch off the power to the room you are working with and remove any sockets and/or light switches that you don’t want to cover.
  2. Place the wallpaper panel over the socket and/or switch and use your scissors to carefully cut an X where the socket hole is. Carefully cut away each of the four flaps of the X, making sure the area you cut is smaller than your socket
  3. Smooth the mural into place using the smoothing tool and place your socket cover back into place, and secure it back to the wall.
  1. Switch off the power to the room you are working with and undo the screws of the socket just enough to pull it away from the wall slightly.
  2. Hang the wallpaper over the top of the socket and/or light switch. This will be your reference of what you need to remove.
  3. Take your scissors and carefully make a small hole in the middle of where the switch is, make an X and cut diagonally outwards from each corner.
  4. Next, press the wallpaper against the edges and cut around the socket
  5. Try to press the wallpaper edges behind the socket as much as you can with your wallpaper tool and re-tighten the screws