Paste the Wall Wallpaper

Preparation is key! Preparing a wall for wallpaper is the most important step. From triple checking your measurements to preparing your wall and making sure your panels are in the correct install order — never skip your wall preparation guide. Find your inner perfectionist, grab a friend or two, and follow these steps:

Order A Sample

Browse our wide range of wallpapers and always order a sample so you can review your chosen design, colour and pattern in your space before committing to a full wall.

Do not skip this step. Lighting, undertones, existing wall colour, and nearby finishes can all impact how wallpaper appears once installed. As wallpaper is custom made, it is non-refundable, so always ensure you have ordered a sample and that you love the design before ordering a full wall.

Prepare Your Walls

Whilst you’re waiting for your wallpaper samples to arrive, you’ll need to prepare your wall. This can take time and it is critical to the success of your installation and the final result.

Your wall must be clean, smooth, dry, and clear of any marks prior to wallpaper application. Wallpaper is not designed to conceal underlying surface issues such as stains, patchiness, roller marks, pen marks, uneven paint lines, or strong colour contrasts.

Important: Dark or strongly pigmented walls must be repainted to a light, even tone and allowed to dry and cure fully before wallpaper installation. If the surface beneath is dark, patchy, or heavily marked, it can show through — especially with lighter wallpaper designs. Wallpaper will not “block out” dark colours, and contrast beneath the surface will always risk being visible once applied.

Never install wallpaper directly to plasterboard, drywall, or concrete without proper sealing and preparation. For paste-the-wall wallpaper, raw plaster or porous concrete can soak up the paste, leaving insufficient adhesive performance for the wallpaper to bond correctly.

To prepare the wall properly:

• Fill and level dents and cracks using a suitable putty or polyester filler, then sand back to achieve a flat, smooth surface.
  
• Prime the wall — priming seals fillers, reduces uneven absorption, and helps prevent bubbling or adhesion issues.
  
• If you skip priming, or prime inconsistently, wallpaper may bubble, lift, or fail to adhere properly. If you experience bubbling or poor adhesion after installation, inadequate preparation and priming is the reason.
  

We want to go over this again in a little more detail.

Many modern paints contain “wash & wear” or “washable” properties. These paints are designed to repel substances from adhering to them (great for busy homes, not ideal for wallpaper). This can repel wallpaper paste and can also interfere with self-adhesive wallpapers.

You must always prime your walls prior to installation.

Prime the surface with a water-based plaster sealer such as Metylan wallpapering primer for old plaster, drywall and concrete. Prime new gypsum plaster and firm, highly absorbent surfaces with diluted wallpaper paste (also called sizing the wall). If the surface is smooth but not absorbent, you can make the surface compatible with wallpaper by applying a nonwoven liner. If you are unsure, consult a professional wallpaper installer to ensure your finished result is one you can enjoy for years to come.

Pro Tip: You must wait a minimum of 30 days before commencing any work on a freshly painted wall, allowing the paint adequate time to cure/set. Do not prime a wall or install wallpaper on a wall that has been painted less than 30 days ago.

Now that your wall is fully prepared and you have confirmed your sample, you are ready to place your order.

Check Your Measurements

(And then check them again.)

It is important that you order the correct size on your first order (including excess required for install). We cannot guarantee wallpaper printed in different print runs on different days will be an exact match. Each wallpaper is custom made just for you.

Most Olive et Oriel wallpaper designs are not repeat patterns, and purchasing “extension panels” after your initial order is not possible. To avoid disappointment, please triple check your measurements and ensure you have allowed sufficient excess for installation.

Instructions for Installing

We strongly recommend engaging a professional for the installation of traditional paste-the-wall wallpaper. It's imperative that regardless of the installer's proficiency or experience level, they meticulously adhere to our provided instructions to safeguard your luxurious wallpaper from any damage. Below, you'll find detailed installation guidelines for both linen textured and smooth paste-the-wall wallpapers.

• Linen textured wallpaper installation instructions.
• Smooth wallpaper installation instructions.

It's critical that your installer strictly follows the provided instructions and handles your wallpaper with utmost care. Excessive pressure or rubbing during installation should be avoided, as damages caused by the installer are not covered under warranty. We highly advise strict adherence to our installation and care instructions for optimal results.

The information provided above and within is for guidance only and is intended to assist with do-it-yourself installation; however, it is provided without warranty, as installation skill, wall preparation, surface condition, wall colour, and site/environmental factors are beyond our control.

Walls must be clean, smooth, fully cured, and free from marks or strong colour contrast prior to installation. Dark or heavily pigmented surfaces must be repainted to a light, even tone and allowed to dry and cure fully. Wallpaper is not designed to conceal underlying surface imperfections or dark colours, which may show through once applied.

If you are unsure about any step of the preparation or installation process, we strongly recommend consulting a professional installer experienced with non-woven wallpaper.

Olive et Oriel provides premium quality wallcoverings; however, we are not responsible for issues arising from incorrect measuring, inadequate wall preparation, unsuitable substrates, underlying wall colour or markings, or installation errors.