How to Put Wallpaper on a Bedroom Wall: A Hands-On Guide From My Own Bedroom Refresh

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how to put wallpaper on bedroom wall

Let me tell you, hanging wallpaper in my bedroom was one of those projects I put off for two whole years. I kept picturing bubbling seams, crooked strips, and paste smeared everywhere. But last weekend I finally bit the bullet, and honestly? It was way less scary than I thought. If I can do it in my tiny rental bedroom with zero professional experience, you absolutely can too. Here's the exact process I followed, plus the small mistakes I'd skip if I did it again.

Gathering Your Supplies Before You Start

Sad boy emoji showing the discouraged feeling before starting a wallpaper project

The first afternoon, I just stared at my bare wall and felt totally overwhelmed. So I made a list. You will need: wallpaper (obviously), a sharp utility knife, a smoother or plastic squeegee, a seam roller, a tape measure, a pencil, a level or plumb line, a sponge, a bucket for water or paste depending on whether you bought prepasted or traditional paper, and a wide paste brush. I also grabbed a step stool and a drop cloth because paste on hardwood floors is no joke. Take my advice: buy one extra roll. I ended up needing it after miscutting my very first strip, and I would have cried if I had to run back to the store mid-project.

Prepping the Wall the Right Way

Boy student sad emoji representing the frustration of poor wall preparation

This is the step I almost skipped, and thank goodness I didn't. Take everything off your walls, fill any nail holes with spackle, and sand them smooth once dry. Wipe the wall down with a damp cloth to remove dust because paste won't stick to dusty surfaces. If your wall has any glossy paint, lightly sand it too so the wallpaper has something to grip. I also used a level and drew a faint vertical line from ceiling to floor as my guide. That single line saved my whole project. Without it, my strips would have drifted diagonally and I would not have noticed until I had four up.

Hanging Your First Strip Without Panicking

Cut your first strip about four inches longer than the wall height, so you can trim the top and bottom for a perfect fit. If you are using unpasted paper, paste the back evenly and book it, meaning fold the pasted sides toward the middle and let it sit for the time listed on the package. When you are ready, align the strip with your plumb line, press the top against the wall, then smooth downward with your squeegee working from the middle outward. Push out any air bubbles as you go. Trim the excess at the ceiling and baseboard with your utility knife. I changed the blade after every three strips because a dull blade tears paper instead of cutting it.

Matching Patterns and Finishing Strong

The pattern match is where I spent the most patience. Line up your next strip so the design flows naturally from the first, then butt the seams tightly without overlapping. Roll the seams with your seam roller, but do not press so hard that paste oozes out. Wipe any paste off the surface immediately with a damp sponge because dried paste ruins the finish. Once the last strip is up, step back and admire it. I stood in my doorway for a good ten minutes, kind of stunned that my wall actually looked like something out of a design magazine. You will too.