Interested DIYers need to know how to make ceiling wallpaper. Walls aren’t the only surface that will benefit from wallpaper. Patterned wallpaper now seems to be defying gravity and making its way onto ceilings. But unless you’re a champion designer, it’s best to start plain before venturing into the pattern.
Below, we take you through the steps to paint a ceiling wallpaper like a pro.
How to wallpaper the ceiling
Knowing how to wallpaper wallpaper needs to be somewhat rethought in order to wallpaper the ceiling. Its biggest challenge is defying gravity, which makes surface preparation awkward—you’ll probably have to remove wallpaper first before applying new wallpaper—and while professionals can handle a ceiling on their own, it certainly helps to have a partner in crime. Below, we take you through the steps to help you get your ceiling ideas right the first time.
Start by prepping and assembling the kit, including measuring the wallpaper to ensure you have the right amount before starting the job.
will need:
- Wall paper
- paste
- Paste brush
- Paper hook brush or smoothing tool
- seam reel
- Paste table
- Bucket
- sponge
- wet clothes
- Sharp scissors
- tape measure
- nails
- Thread and pencil or chalk
- dust sheets
- Stairs or step ladders and scaffolding boards
1. Prepare the roof
Lay out dust sheets and set up a platform to work from. Scaffolding board arranged on stilts or ladders is ideal. For a smooth finish, first fill any holes or cracks, and apply sealant over any spots. Clean the ceiling with cleaner. Brush the ceiling to size (diluted wallpaper paste) to create a good switch for the wallpaper and allow it to dry.
2. Mark the guidelines
The usual place to start is a window and then work away from it. “If a room doesn’t have a straight shape, choose the longest paper length first, as a starting point,” says James Greenwood, wallpaper specialist at Graham & Brown. (Opens in a new tab).
For best results with textured wallpaper, place the paper in the center of the ceiling.
For the first length, mark a guide line on the ceiling, the width of a roll from the wall, minus ½ (12 mm), which will allow the edge to overlap the wall. Use a few pins or drawing pins with string stretched between them to get a straight line, and mark it with a pencil, or use a chalk line.
3. Start hanging the wallpaper
Measure out the length you want, adding 2 inches (5 cm) at each end and cut the piece. Once glued, make concertina folds along the length without curling the paper. “If you’re working alone, you can use a cardboard tube or spare roll to hold the weight of the paper while it’s hanging,” says James. If you have a helper, he or she can support the concertina pleats on an inverted broom while you work.
Facing the window, standing to the right of the support and holding the folded sheet in your left hand, place the free end of the sheet on the ceiling against the pencil marks or chalk line. Use your hand and a paper hold brush to smooth it into place. Release the next fold, move along, brush this section into place, and continue in the same manner.
Now go back and pull the paper apart where it meets the walls, and trim the edges to fit the ceiling. Wipe off excess putty with a sponge or cloth. Pin the following and subsequent lengths, pinning the edges together. Use a seam roller to smooth it flat.
4. Wallpaper around the ceiling light fixtures
Turn off the electricity at the consumer unit and uninstall. Hang the paper in the usual way, but when you get to the fit, hang the paper over it, and then make a series of cuts from the center point of the fitting outward. (Make cuts from edge of paper to fitting if necessary). This effectively creates a “hole” for mounting. Continue pasting the length, then go back and trim off the excess paper. When you tape the back binding, the cut edges will fit neatly.
“For larger ceiling roses, use the same method, making small cuts in the leaf outward from the center of the rose,” says James. Now push the rose through the paper and loosely press the paper into place. Next, trim off the excess around the rose.
5. Use wallpaper to paste the wall or peel and stick
“When gluing wallpaper to the ceiling with sticky wallpaper, be sure to apply an adhesive to the ceiling that is about an inch wider than the wallpaper you are about to hang,” says James. This means you can hang a second length of wallpaper without having to worry about the adhesive sticking to the first piece. Use a small paintbrush to apply the putty on top of the wall or around light fixtures. This will ensure even coverage in difficult areas and avoid “lifting” of the wallpaper as it dries.
Applying peel-and-stick paper to the ceiling is another great option for first-timers because it’s easier to reposition it as you work. However, it requires surface preparation differently: Some peel-and-stick wallpaper may require that you apply a coat of glossy or satin paint to your walls before you can hang them.
Where do you start when wallpapering?
When wallpapering the ceiling, always hang the length, starting from the window and ending on the other side of the room, so that the wallpaper is hung away from the light. This is the best way to avoid shadows on the wallpapered surface.
If you’re also wallpapering, always start with wallpapering, before moving on to the walls.
Why ceiling wallpaper?
There are many reasons for ceiling wallpaper. The simplest is to cover an uneven or cracked surface; You can then paint over the wallpaper on the ceiling to get a completely flat finish, although you may want to check out How to Paint a Ceiling as it is a bit different than painting a wall.
“Wallpapered ceilings with an eye-catching design are very on-trend right now, and here’s another reason to do it,” says editor-in-chief Lucy Searle. Homes and gardens. Carrying the print from the walls up onto the ceiling creates a cocooning effect in the bedroom, while a wallpapered ceiling in a plain room can look quite effective.
