Yes , you may wallpaper your ceiling without hire a professional and still accomplish a smooth , pristine result .

Josh Grubbs

The ceiling is often referred to as the fifth rampart , but it does n’t always get the same tending our wall do . Statement ceilingsare becoming a pop elbow room to express your design vogue , andpatterned wallpaperis a fun mode to do so . Wallpapering a ceiling has benefits , too — this invention technique tot up visual top , texture , and colour to your space .

blue bedroom with wallpapered ceiling

Credit:Josh Grubbs

Although wallpaper a ceiling follows a exchangeable process aswallpapering walls , the job comes with a few surplus whole step if you need to achieve a long - lasting app . And if you ’re work with high cap , there are even more precautions to take . To aid you get the safe results , we talked to expert wallpaper installer Jove Tweddle of Wallpaper by Jove to get you professional recommendations on how to wallpaper a ceiling and pump the breaks on costly redos .

How to Choose Ceiling Wallpaper

you could apply mostly any eccentric of wallcovering sell on the food market with the proper training and mucilage . Just be sure to corrupt vinyl or damp - rated wallpaper for moisture hotspot , such as lavatory or kitchen ceilings . " My introductory advice to anyone is to slow down and appraise the whole situation before you just go in and lead off work , " Tweddle says . " It ’s so easy to get into a hurriedness , but stop and slow down . "

Tweddle also stresses the importance of take a wallpaper you will fuck for years to come . " When you put wallpaper up , it ’s expensive , and it ’s a long process , " he say . " So be heedful with what you pluck . "

KIM CORNELISON

white closet with gold abstract pattern wallpaper

Credit:KIM CORNELISON

What You’ll Need

Equipment / Tools

Materials

Instructions

How to Wallpaper a Ceiling

Assess Your Ceiling

First , assess yourceiling paint , which Tweddle pronounce is almost always a low - grade ceiling white . " And if it ’s a very low-pitched - quality paint , it postulate to be sealed using a wallpaper sealant before you wallpaper , " he says . Do n’t bound off this assessment , because it could deflower your wallpaper down the road . " If you do n’t have a strong sealer bonded to your cap , your wallpaper will pull out on your ceiling paint ( ordinarily at the seam ) , causing your wallpaper to strip , " Tweddle say .

The culprit ? Wallpaper paste can cause your cap paint to soften at first , and this underlying paint layer will then shrink your wallpaper as it dry out . " Wallpaper expands when sloshed , and as it starts to dry , it puts some tension on the surface , " Tweddle say .

Give Yourself Access

Decide on a Pattern and Direction

Before you opt your wallpaper , check the radiation diagram and management it will run across your ceiling , which can dramatically change your final expression . Tweddle suggests running your formula at the duration of your elbow room if it ’s a narrow quad , because it ’s more esthetically pleasing and can make a blank look larger .

Always consider your figure location and visualise its design across your blank space ’s architectural detail and focal points . For representative , if your focal distributor point is a beautiful palladium window , be after to start your app there — so your pattern flank your window in symmetry and figure harmony — and work outwards from that point . You wo n’t want to skimp on this operation because although you ca n’t direct how your form land in the whole space , you may control your starting full point and focal points .

Measure Your Walls and Paper

Determine the distance of your paper before you start your job , as different wallcoverings can offend your final look if you do n’t invest time ironing out the mathematics . Tweddle recommends tackling this stepbeforeyou measure your roof so you could draft a plan according to your paper character . " There are half cliff matches and unbent matches — while some are more complicated and hail in control panel , so every piece of wallpaper has to be slide down 12 inches for the form to twin . It can be very crafty , " Tweddle says .

" You have to be careful — you ca n’t just measure and cut your panels based on your measurements , " he articulate . Take the time to conceive in the lead and read your pattern lucifer in junction with the length of your ceiling so you reduce your paper length consequently .

Apply Paste to Panels

lie out your wallpaper panels in the order you ’ll demand them . One by one , apply paste to the back of each jury . Keep in mind your composition will expand as it get wet from your paste , so it ’s good to let each panel sit for a few minute between applying the spread and hanging it on the roof . This after - issue also depends on the type of wallpaper you expend , since all document oppose differently .

Tweddle warns not to hang your wallpaper now after applying your paste . If you do , you may notice house of cards and blisters form since it ’s still expanding . " You need this enlargement process to happen before you enforce it to the ceiling , " Tweddle order .

Hang Panels

When you ’re quick to give ear the panel , carefully lift each one up to the cap . This is not a one - soul line of work : You ’ll want a 2nd set of hand to hand each panel up as you stand on a ladder or staging . Carefully line up each jury as you press it onto the roof . Take your sentence and cautiously equal up the patterns as you string up the panels .

Account for Extra

It ’s also indispensable to insure you have a few additional inches at both ends of each wallpaper panel , because rooms are never dead straight . Tweddle adds that a space may be slimly oblong , or have one paries that might fall a few inch longer on one side . " Always measure out the way and make indisputable you ’re working with an excessiveness on both sides so you may pare it , alternatively of fall short , " Tweddle says .

After all your panels have been hung , take a craft tongue and carefully trim any extra newspaper so you ’re left with a smooth demarcation at each wall line .

Rinse and Wipe the Ceiling Down

As a last step , give your wallpaper a weak rinse and wipe - down . Tweddle recommends a introductory mixture of soap and water , which will lead to a uninfected , smooth finish . This pace is decisive , as you ’ll inescapably end up with redundant glue , fingerprints , or other mark on the theme . " It ’s almost out of the question to cling wallpaper without get some mucilage on the airfoil , " Tweddle state , but you could take some precautions before the mucilage prohibitionist .

How to Remove Wallpaper from a Ceiling

If you change your mind about your wallpapered ceiling down the route , or if you need to remove sure-enough wallpaper to instal a fresh one , the process is fairly straightforward .

First , you ’ll necessitate to find a style to attain the roof safely . A ladder ( held steady by another mortal ) or a scaffolding employment well . Then , you ’ll have to wet your wallpaper and use a wallpaper - remotion agent . Tweddle recommend using DIF brand wallpaper stripper . As long as your cap was seal properly at the beginning of the job , the wallpaper should be straightforward to get rid of . However , if the mucilage was adhere directly to your ceiling pigment ( versus a wallpaper sealer ) , removal may damage your ceiling . In that typeface , it ’s best to turn over send for a professional .

Frequently Asked Questions

you may practice a clear rubble mop for routine cleaning . But , if you tarnish your wallcovering with a beverage or nutrient , for example , habituate a clean sponge or tag with mild hand soap and piss .

you could purchase high - qualitywallpaper glueand a paintbrush from a home department stock to desexualise up any patches of wallpaper that start to pinch . you may also apply a hair drier to speed up the drying process and a wet sponge to wipe down any leftover glue residue .

It varies on several factors , including the size of the space(s ) you ’re wallpapering and what superfluous steps your installer has to tackle during prep sentence . For example , if you call for assist remove light fixtures and pendent , necessitate to fix paries hole , or have a place that ’s very difficult to get in and out of , these factors can mark up your travail monetary value .