Tips for novice wall hangers

Tackling wallpaper for the first time can be daunting. Here are some tips from experts.

March 19, 2011 at 8:10PM
This product image courtesy of Trove shows their Nekkar wallpaper. "Atmospheric" decor is characterized by soft textures, transparency, iridescence, opacity.
This product image courtesy of Trove shows their Nekkar wallpaper. "Atmospheric" decor is characterized by soft textures, transparency, iridescence, opacity. (Associated Press - Ap/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

DO• Research. Look through the room scenes in wallpaper books. They give a good idea of the finished product.

• Know the kind of paper you are hanging. Fragile papers, for example, don't belong in the bathroom.

• Pick out paper like you pick out your wardrobe. Color palettes and prints should be what you feel comfortable in. If you wouldn't wear a large paisley, don't put it on your wall.

• A simple one-wall project. Murals are coming back.

• Hire a professional installer for natural wallcoverings and specialty papers. They are expensive, fragile and easy to damage.

DON'T

• Be afraid to put large prints in a small space. It makes the room feel more modern.

• Try to do a powder room on your first DIY project because it's hard to work around the obstacles. Start with a simple, flat wall, like behind a bed.

• Mix too much pattern throughout the home. A scheme needs to flow from room to room, especially in an open floor plan.

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