For a successful hanging job, it is essential that your wallpaper be hung straight. Most homes, however, have walls and ceilings that are often slightly out of alignment. To compensate for this, you must begin your job with a truly vertical plumb line. In fact, you should make several vertical plumb lines around the room as you go along.

To make vertical plumb lines:

• Decide where you want to begin your hanging (see the Where to Start section in this Web site).
• Line up a carpenter's level or straightedge/level and lightly draw a straight vertical line with a pencil. (Always use a pencil as inks may bleed through your wallpaper after it is hung.)
• Line up your first strip of wallpaper with this line.
• For best results, make several plumb lines around the room to make certain all wallpaper strips are straight.

Special Tip: If you are starting your hanging at a corner, make your plumb line half an inch less than the width of your wallpaper from the corner. This way, your wallpaper will overlap on the adjoining wall by about a half-inch and can be covered by your final strip.

Back to How to Hang