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 right 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 & pattern is suitable for your interior project. Don't skip this step, you may find that the wallpaper you've chosen doesn't suit your project and unfortunately as wallpaper is custom made it's non-refundable, always ensure you've 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 some time and is very important to the success of your install and the end result. Never install any wallpaper directly to plasterboard, drywall or concrete. For paste-the-wall wallpaper, the raw plaster or porous concrete can soak up the paste, eliminating anything substantial for your wallpaper to adhere to. You'll need to apply a specific primer to seal the plasterboard or drywall before applying wallpaper paste (more on this below).

Your wallpaper needs a smooth, flat surface to look its best; with a putty or polyester filler, even out dents and cracks then sand back to achieve a flat, smooth surface.

Prime the wall - priming will do a number of things for your wallpaper from sealing any filler you've used to blocking any repelling 'washable type' paints from rejecting the wallpaper paste adhering to it. If you skip this step or prime your wall haphazardly, this may cause your new wallpaper paper to bubble or fall off. If after installing your wallpaper you experience bubbling or your wallpaper doesn't adhere fully, failing to properly prepare and prime your wall is the reason why.

We want to go over this again, in a little more detail... many modern paints contain ‘wash & wear or washable' properties (this is due to chemical additives, which in a busy modern life can be wonderful but it's no friend of wallpaper!). These types of paints are designed to repel anything from adhering to theme, this includes wallpaper paste and even self-adhesive wallpapers.

You must always prime your walls prior to installation. Prime the surface with 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 unsure, we recommend you consult a wallpaper installation professional for guidance to ensure your finished result is a beautiful one that 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 all prepared and you've decided on 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) as unfortunately we cannot guarantee that 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 unfortunately purchasing 'extension panels' after your initial order is not possible. To avoid disappointment, please triple check your measurements and ensure you have taken excess required for installation into account.

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 is for guidance only and is to assist in do-it-yourself application(s) but without warranty as the skill of application and site conditions / environment are beyond our control. If you are unsure of any steps, we highly recommend consulting a professional of non-woven wallpaper installation.

Olive et Oriel provides premium quality wallcoverings, however we are not responsible for issues encountered during installation or incorrect measuring