How to Hang Wallpaper on a High Staircase

Prepare the walls. Examine the walls carefully, using a putty knife to gently scrape off any small bumps. Apply spackling compound to any holes, using a putty knife to smooth the compound. Sand the spackle with 250-grit sandpaper after it has thoroughly dried.

Apply wallpaper primer. Wallpaper primer allows the installer more time to adjust the wallpaper once it is hung on the wall. Use a 3/8-inch roller to apply wallpaper primer on the walls. Use a paint brush for smaller areas or areas that are difficult to reach. Allow it to dry thoroughly before hanging the wallpaper.

Inspect wallpaper rolls. Check that the dye lot numbers on each roll of wallpaper are the same. Open all rolls and inspect each for flaws or inconsistencies in color, texture or pattern.

Determine the starting point. Using a tape measure and an adjustable ladder designed for use on uneven surfaces, such as stairs, determine the width and height of the tallest wall along the staircase. Use a 4-foot level to make a pencil mark at the midpoint of the wall, as well as a plumb line to ensure the paper will be exactly vertical.

Cut the wallpaper with scissors or a box-cutter as you go. Allow for a 1-inch to 2-inch overhang at the top and bottom of the paper when cutting.

Apply wallpaper paste. Lay the paper face down on a work table. Roll paste generously to the entire back of the paper and to the edges using a 3/8-inch-nap paint roller. If the paper is pre-pasted, roll the paper up so the pasted side is out, and immerse it in a trough of water until the paper is wet.

Book the paper to allow it to expand. Fold each end of the paper back onto itself so that the pasted sides are touching and the ends meet in the middle. There should be no glue left exposed to the air. Let the paper stand for three to five minutes.

Hang the wallpaper. Unfold the top half of the first strip of paper, and align one edge with the plumb line previously marked on the tallest wall of the staircase. Smooth the edges first with a damp sponge, and lightly smooth from the center of the paper to the edges. Pull a smoother across the wallpaper to remove wrinkles or air bubbles. Unfold the bottom half and smooth with a sponge, then with the smoother.

Trim the paper. Use a box-cutter to trim any paper at the top and bottom of the wall. Remove any adhesive from the paper, woodwork, or ceiling with a wet sponge.

Match the pattern and butt wallpaper seams closely. Hang additional strips as close as possible to the seam of the previously hung strip without overlapping the paper. Refrain from sliding the paper on the wall to reach the edge of the previously hung paper in order to avoid tearing or stretching the paper.