Let’s face it; some areas are difficult to hang wallpaper, especially windows and door frames. That’s why I’ve put together this guide on how to wallpaper around a window.
Tools & Materials
Tools:
- A damp cloth for cleaning walls
- Rosin paper or drop cloth to protect floors
- Tape measure
- Paste brush
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Putty knife
- Utility knife
Materials:
- Wallpaper
- Paste
How To Wallpaper Around a Window — Step-by-Step Instructions
You can use two different kinds of wallpaper: unpasted and prepasted.
Each has pros and cons, and your choice will depend on your preference.
Prepasted wallpaper means you don’t have to paste the walls. However, you’ll have to wet the back of your wallpaper before applying it, ensuring you don’t get it too wet. Also, prepasted wallpaper comes off sooner than unpasted.
Unpasted wallpaper can be messier and more expensive, but it lasts longer. Of course, there’s still the risk of using too much or too little paste.
1. Preparation
Prepare your walls for wallpapering by following the steps below:
- Remove any existing wallpaper or paint from your walls.
- Fill in any holes with Pollyfilla and smooth out rough areas so your walls are perfectly flat (or as much as they can be).
- Wipe off debris with a damp cloth and ensure the walls are clean.
- Lay rosin paper (hard floors) or canvas drop cloths (carpet) to protect your floors.
2. Cut Wallpaper
You will have a much easier time if you pre-cut the wallpaper, especially when it comes to applying wallpaper around a window.
Using a measuring tape, measure the wall and add an extra 10–15cm for overhang. This will make the process much quicker, and you won’t have to work with a bunch of extra wallpaper.
3. Paste the Wall
If you’re using unpasted wallpaper, you’ll need to mix the paste and apply it to the wall before you hang the strips. If it’s prepasted, you’ll likely have to spray the back of the wallpaper with water.
Either way, follow the instructions that should have come with the wallpaper you purchased.
4. Hang Strips
Once you’ve made your way to the wall section by the window, hang the wallpaper, so it overlaps the frame by 10–15cm. It’s easier if you start on the right-hand side of the window and work your way across.
5. Trim
Once the wallpaper has been put up around the window, feel for the corner of the window frame and mark it with a pencil, then cut the paper straight across the top and bottom so it’s easy to fold and paste the flap into the window reveal or ledge if there is one.
The video below demonstrates how to do this step:
If the window has trim around it, the process is slightly different. Instead of cutting the wallpaper straight across, start making diagonal cuts in the paper from the edge of the overlap to the corner of the trim at a 45-degree angle.
Once the wallpaper has been smoothed out with a putty knife, use it to push the wallpaper right up against the edge of the window trim.
Then, with a sharp blade, cut the excess wallpaper off by putting your putty knife up against the edge of the window trim and cutting it with your utility knife.
Finish wallpapering above and below the entire window frame.
6. Do the Rest of the Room
Once you’ve made your way around the window, you can continue wallpapering the rest of the room!
7. Let it Dry
Before you start hanging things back up on the walls or putting furniture back in place, please wait between two and seven days for the wallpaper paste to fully dry and set.
This wide time range depends on the several factors described in this post by worldofwallpaper.com When wallpaper is still wet, it can rip easily, and all your hard work will be ruined.
How To Wallpaper Around a Window — Final Thoughts
Wallpaper is a fantastic way to add personality and colour to your home, but when it comes to wallpapering around certain areas, like windows, it can be a little tricky.
I hope this guide gives you the confidence to hang wallpaper yourself. Once you start, you’ll realize it isn’t all that difficult, and the finished look will be worth it.
Check out our guide to wallpapering a feature wall to learn more about hanging wallpaper.