How to Hang Unpasted Wallpaper

How to Hang American Decals Traditional Unpasted Wallpaper and Wall Murals

These instructions apply to our CLASSIC Traditional, SELECT Traditional and GRASSCLOTH Traditional wallpaper materials. All three require wallpaper adhesive, a properly prepared wall and careful panel alignment. Their weight and texture differ, but the general installation process is similar.

Which American Decals Materials Use These Instructions?

• CLASSIC Traditional: approximately 8 oz, PVC-free and finished with a subtle sailcloth-inspired texture.
• SELECT Traditional: approximately 13 oz, PVC-free and heavier, with a substantial textile-like finish.
• GRASSCLOTH Traditional: a premium textured wallcovering with a decorative grasscloth-inspired surface.

All three are unpasted materials. Wallpaper paste is not included or pre-applied. Professional installation is recommended for large, complex or highly visible projects.

What Do I Need Before Installing Unpasted Wallpaper?

• Appropriate wallcovering primer
• Clear premixed wallpaper adhesive suitable for the selected material and wall
• Paint roller or pasting brush
• Wallpaper smoother or soft wallcovering brush
• Plumb line, laser level or spirit level
• Pencil
• Tape measure
• Sharp utility knife with extra blades
• Metal straightedge
• Clean bucket, damp sponge and clean cloths
• Seam roller, if appropriate for the selected material

Follow the adhesive manufacturer’s instructions for primer compatibility, application rate, open time and cleanup. If you are unsure which paste to use, consult a professional wallpaper installer before beginning.

Before You Start

Remove the wallpaper panels from the package and allow them to relax in the room where they will be installed for at least 24 hours. Keep the panels clean, dry and loosely unrolled while they acclimate to the room’s temperature and humidity.

The wall must be smooth, clean, dry and properly prepared. Repair holes, uneven areas and loose paint before installation. Wallpaper will not conceal significant wall damage or texture.

If the wall was recently painted, wait at least six weeks before installing wallpaper. Some low-VOC, zero-VOC and specialty paints may require additional curing time.

Make sure you have every tool ready before applying paste. Everything you need can usually be found at a local paint or hardware store.

All DIY is easier and more fun together, and installing wallpaper is no different. Let your friend, family member, neighbor—or cousin, if absolutely necessary—know you are in need of their services.

1. Arrange the Wallpaper Panels

• Unroll the wallpaper and carefully separate each panel.
• Locate the number and upward-pointing arrow printed on the back near the top of every panel.
• Arrange the panels from left to right in numerical order on a clean, dry surface.
• Panel 1 always begins on the left side of the installation.
• Confirm that the artwork continues correctly from one panel to the next before applying any paste.
• Do not trim the panel height before installation. The extra material is needed to accommodate ceilings and floors that are not perfectly level.

2. Mark a Straight Starting Line

The first panel controls the alignment of every panel that follows, so it must be installed perfectly straight.

• Measure the width of the first wallpaper panel.
• Use a pencil and a plumb line, laser level or spirit level to draw a light vertical guideline where the right edge of Panel 1 will sit.
• Do not rely on a corner, ceiling or doorframe to be perfectly straight.
• Position the starting line so the first panel reaches slightly around an inside corner when necessary rather than ending exactly inside an uneven corner.

3. Apply Wallpaper Paste to the Wall

• Stir the wallpaper adhesive according to the manufacturer’s directions.
• Use a clean roller or pasting brush to apply an even layer of paste to the wall where Panel 1 will be installed.
• Extend the paste slightly beyond the panel’s right edge so there is complete adhesive coverage beneath the seam.
• Do not leave dry areas, heavy ridges or large accumulations of adhesive.
• Do not coat too large an area at once. The paste should remain wet while the panel is positioned.

Although our traditional materials are commonly installed using a paste-the-wall method, always confirm that the chosen primer and adhesive are compatible with the wall, room and selected wallcovering.

4. Hang the First Panel

• Confirm that you have Panel 1 and that its arrow points upward.
• Position the panel at the top of the wall, leaving excess wallpaper at both the ceiling and floor.
• If you added extra height when ordering, divide that allowance between the top and bottom. For example, leave approximately 1.5 inches at the ceiling and 1.5 inches at the floor when the order includes 3 inches of extra height.
• Align the right edge of the panel with the vertical guideline.
• Use a soft wallcovering brush or appropriate smoother to work from the center outward, removing trapped air without stretching or damaging the surface.
• Check the vertical alignment again before the paste begins to set.
• Wipe away surface paste immediately with a clean damp sponge. Do not scrub.

5. Match and Hang the Remaining Panels

• Apply paste to the wall for the next panel, extending slightly beyond the area it will cover.
• Begin at the top and visually match the design with the previous panel.
• American Decals panels include approximately 0.4 inches of additional material for overlap and accurate pattern alignment.
• Align the new panel over the supplied overlap without stretching or pulling the material.
• Smooth the panel from the center outward, checking the pattern alignment as you move down the wall.
• Continue in numerical order until every panel has been installed.

Should I Leave the Overlap or Double-Cut the Seam?

Unpasted wallpaper panels may be installed with the supplied overlap intact or professionally double-cut when appropriate for the material and installation.

Double-cutting requires experience, the correct protective cutting strip and a very sharp blade. Cutting too deeply can damage the wall beneath the wallpaper and cause seam failure. If you have not previously double-cut wallpaper, retain the overlap or hire a professional installer.

Never stretch a panel to force the artwork into alignment. If the pattern does not align naturally, stop and reposition it while the adhesive is still workable.

6. Clean the Wallpaper as You Work

• Remove excess paste before it dries.
• Use a clean sponge or soft cloth dampened with clean water.
• Rinse the sponge frequently so adhesive is not spread across the printed surface.
• Pay particular attention to panel seams, ceiling lines, baseboards and trim.
• Do not aggressively scrub or use household cleaning chemicals.

Textured surfaces, especially GRASSCLOTH Traditional, should be handled carefully. Paste can settle into the texture and become difficult to remove after drying.

7. Trim the Ceiling, Floor and Obstacles

• Use a sharp blade and metal straightedge to trim excess wallpaper at the ceiling and floor.
• Replace the blade frequently. A dull blade can pull, tear or fray wet wallpaper.
• Make relief cuts carefully around windows, outlets, switches and trim.
• Turn off electricity before removing outlet or switch covers and before trimming near electrical openings.
• Do not trim the entire wall with one blade. Fresh blades produce cleaner edges.

8. Allow the Wallpaper to Dry Naturally

• Allow the wallpaper and paste to dry at a stable room temperature with gentle ventilation.
• Avoid strong heat, direct airflow, open windows with large temperature changes or high humidity while the wallpaper dries.
• Turn off any radiator located directly on the wallpapered wall during installation and initial drying.
• Do not force-dry the wall with heaters or fans.
• Avoid touching, cleaning or placing furniture against the wallpaper until the adhesive has dried.

Drying time varies according to the adhesive, primer, wall surface, material, temperature and room humidity. Follow the adhesive manufacturer’s minimum drying recommendations.

What Should I Do If I See Bubbles?

Small areas may flatten as the adhesive dries. Larger bubbles usually indicate trapped air, uneven paste coverage or an area that was not fully smoothed.

While the adhesive remains workable, gently lift and reposition the affected area when possible. Do not puncture the wallpaper or inject adhesive without understanding the material and cause of the bubble. Contact us or a professional installer when uncertain.

Can I Install Traditional Wallpaper in a Bathroom?

Traditional wallpaper can be suitable for bathrooms and laundry rooms when the space is properly ventilated and the wall, primer and adhesive are appropriate for the environment.

No wallpaper should be installed where it will receive direct, repeated water exposure or serve as a substitute for tile or another waterproof surface. Discuss consistently humid rooms with an experienced wallpaper installer before beginning.

Final Installation Checklist

• Panels were installed in numerical order from left to right.
• The first panel was aligned with a level vertical guideline.
• Every area received even adhesive coverage.
• The pattern is aligned without stretched panels.
• Excess paste was removed before drying.
• Fresh blades were used for trimming.
• The room will remain at a stable temperature while the wallpaper dries.

Additional Installation Resource

This independent video shows an installer working in an older room and demonstrates how an experienced installer handles uneven corners:

Watch the traditional wallpaper installation video

Et voilà! Enjoy your new wall—and please send us a photograph of the finished room.