Transforming a cupboard

1. Rub down and prepare woodwork: If woodwork needs painting do this before hanging the wallpaper. Wash down with sugar soap dissolved in hot water, scrubbing with a plastic scourer to remove dirt. Rinse off suds with clean water. Scrape away any loose paint and rub down with fine abrasive paper to create a key so the new paint will adhere.

2. Prepare wall surface: If the cupboard is already papered, score with a stripping knife. Put washing-up liquid in some hot water and sponge on. After 10 minutes, test if the paper can be easily pulled away; if not, soak again. Gloss painted walls should be wiped over with warm water, then roughened with fine abrasive paper.

3. Find a true vertical with a plumb line: It’s important to hang the first length of paper against a true vertical, but in a period home the ceilings and floors often slope and corners can be skewed. To check hold up a plumb line close to the ceiling and allow the weight to come to rest. Haven’t got a plumb line? Just tie a key to a length of string.

4. Measure out paper sections: Removing shelves makes the job easier, but these were securely fixed to the wall. The space between each shelf was measured allowing a 2in margin all round for discrepancies, and for pattern matching. A pasting table is ideal to work on, but a kitchen table or floor covered with dust sheets are acceptable.

5. Apply paper to pasted wall: Always refer to a manufacturer’s instructions. Ours advises pasting the wall rather than the paper with a ready-mixed adhesive. Apply to wall with a paste brush ensuring the pasted area is wider than the wall covering. Slide paper into place with your fingers. If you need to reposition it, peel it off and rehang.

6. Wipe away any excess paste: Use a damp sponge to wipe away any adhesive from the surface of the paper. This is important as if left it may stain and prove impossible to remove. The next piece of paper butts up against the first. If the walls are uneven the paper will overlap in various places so you will need to paste the edge with a small brush.

7. Make neat joins with the paper: To make a neat join against uneven panelling run the back of your scissors along the edge. Peel the paper back and trim along the crease. This is fiddly and takes time but gives a finished look. Small scissors tend to snag the paper and give a jagged cut. A pair of large paperhanger’s scissors are best.

8. End with a professional finish: Use a soft roller to press the wallpaper firmly against the wall. Work from the middle out towards the edges to ensure no air bubbles are trapped beneath the paper. After rolling, wipe the paper with a damp cloth to make sure there are no traces of paste left on the surface, which would spoil the finish.