Oshibana Wallpaper

Wall Preparation

Effective wall preparation will ensure success when installing wallpaper. Ensure that the wall surface is well painted, clean, smooth, and dry before installing wallpaper. Here are some recommended preparation steps for all wall surfaces:

• Remove all items from the wall, including outlet and switch plates, old wallpaper, etc. Turn off the power for safety.
• Thoroughly clean, smooth, and dry the wall surface, ensuring it is free of grease, stains, dust, or any other substance. Clean the wall with detergent or sugar soap.
• Fix any wall irregularities such as holes, cracks, and chipped paint to ensure a smooth surface for wallpaper installation.
• Cover drywall/plasterboard compound, grease, colours, texture, or any other wall contamination, we recommend using at least one coat of primer. 
• Avoid using washable and Teflon paints.
• If there is any mould on the wall, remove it and eliminate and repair the source of moisture to prevent future growth of mould.

Working with Obstacles: Windows, Doors, and Outlets

When installing your wallpaper, it’s essential to work carefully around windows, door frames, and outlets. To overlap these obstacles, apply the wallpaper as usual and then use a straightedge and utility knife to trim away the excess. Smooth the paper against the wall around all sides of the obstacle to ensure it adheres properly.

For electrical outlets and switch plates, be sure to turn off the power before proceeding. Be careful when cutting away the paper over the opening using a utility knife, and don’t worry about rough edges. The outlet cover or switch plate will hide most imperfections.

After installation, check for air bubbles. If you notice any, use the tip of your utility knife or a pin to create a small hole in the middle of the bubble. Press down to release the trapped air and use your squeegee to smooth the wallpaper once again.

Install Peel & Stick Wallpaper

1. Gather your tools, including a squeegee, ruler, pencil, ladder or chair, masking tape, blade, level, and tape measure.
2. Locate the first panel and measure its width, noting the panel number at the bottom.
3. Mark a vertical plumb line on the wall with a pencil, using the same measurement as the first panel width, to ensure levelness.
4. Use a level to confirm that the plumb line is straight.
5. (OPTIONAL) To help with alignment, overlap the second panel with the first one by 2cm and secure the joint with masking tape. Cut the tape where the panels meet to guide panel alignment during installation. Repeat for all panels.
6. Peel off about 20cm of the backing paper from the top of the first panel.
7. Align the right side of the panel with the vertical line and the top of the wall, leaving a few extra centimetres protruding from the top, bottom, and left side, as recommended in our guidelines.
8. Carefully attach the top of the panel to the wall, using the squeegee to smooth it from the centre outwards.
9. Gradually peel off about 40cm of the backing paper, while a second person holds the panel from the bottom, keeping it level and taut. Use the squeegee to smooth the wallpaper onto the wall.
10. Install the next panel, aligning the joint with the previously installed panel using the cut masking tape pieces. We recommend having another person to help with alignment.
11. Repeat steps 9 and 10 for all remaining panels.
12. Use a knife to trim off any excess wallpaper.

Install Paste the Wall Wallpaper

Our ‘Paste-the-wall’ wallpaper uses a backing containing ‘non- woven’ or polyester fibres, which means that the wallpaper is dimensionally stable and doesn’t expand when wet. This means that the paper can be hung dry from the roll, reducing the installation time. There’s no need for paste table and there’s no soaking time required and it’s easier to cut around light switches and sockets, because the paper is dry.  Rather than applying paste to the back of the wallpaper, you put the paste on the wall and hang your wallpaper ‘dry’ from the roll. It’s easier, quicker, and less messy!  While “Paste the wall” wallpaper is easier to install than traditional wallpaper we do recommend that you use a professional installer as they will have the skills needed to match the pattern and will have mastered the double cut installation method required to get seamless joins. 

With the double cut installation method, rather than butting one panel up to another, you’ll need to create your own seam. This is called a double cut. The best way to do this is to lap one panel over the other, and cut down the middle of the overlap. Then peel the two pieces apart, and pull out the small strip that was cut off the underlying piece. 

1. Pick Where To Start - Our wallpaper rolls are numbered at the bottom of each panel so start with  roll 1 on the left side of the wall you plan to cover, if you choose to start in a corner, overlap the corner by about 2cm. Most corners are not square so by overlapping the corner and cutting away the excess, you ensure that you cover the entire corner seam. Start by using a level to draw a vertical plumb line with a pencil marking the outer edge of your first panel.
2. Apply the adhesive to the wall but only enough for one panel at a time - Once you've marked your plumb line, the next step is to apply the wallpaper paste or adhesive. Wallpaper adhesive can dry quickly so apply it only in the area you are currently working on. Ensure full even coverage by using a roller to apply the paste and use a brush to get into the corners. Hang up the panel and press against it with your hands, moving any air bubbles out to the side. Then, use a rubber float to gently but firmly secure the wallpaper against the wall. Apply the paste liberally to the wall, ideally with a roller (it’s quicker). You can paste over the plumb line and make sure you apply paste a couple of centimetres wider than the wallpaper you are about to hang. This means you can hang the second drop of wallpaper without worrying about applying the paste over the top of the first drop. Use a paintbrush to add paste at the top of the wall, around sockets, or just above the skirting. This will ensure even coverage in difficult areas and avoid the wallpaper “lifting” when dry.
3. Apply the first drop to the wall -With our paste-the-wall wallpaper it should be hung dry from the roll. Use a ladders to get to the ceiling or coving, and allow a little extra product, e.g. 2-3cm at the top. As you hang from the roll, lightly brush into place as you go down to the skirting board. Here you can gently push the paper to the wall. Ensure that the paper is in the correct position and is vertically correct. Brush down the paper with the smoothing squeegee from the centre to the edges of the roll. Cut the excess paper at the top and bottom with a knife
4. Hang the next drop of wallpaper - Working to the right of this first "drop", paste the wall again, allowing a few centimetres wider than the width of the wallpaper. You should see you don't need to get close to the first drop of paper when doing this.
5. For the second drop – look to see where the paper matches (the point at which the design fits together along the edges of the wallpaper). Starting at the top, match the paper as you hang it dry from the roll – lightly brushing the paper to the wall as you go. The paper will slide into place on the paste.
6. Double cut the join - As you will be cutting through two strips of paper simultaneously, it is important to use a fresh blade on a snap off knife.

• When sticking the second strip over the first, align the pattern of both strips as perfectly as you can. Patience and a steady hand will be rewarded with a precise looking finish.
• When you are ready to cut, place a wallpaper edge trimmer or other guide such as a long ruler on to the area where both strips overlap. Use your cutting tool to cut through both strips.
• Now, simply peel away the cut-off strips from both wallpaper lengths. Brush down both strips and go over the edges with a seam roller. Both edges should touch each other creating a perfect seam that is difficult to see.
• Use a damp cloth to wipe off any excess paste.

Repeat steps for all remaining panels