When you are preparing to install wallpaper in your home or office, you can’t just take a roll of paper and start randomly cutting off pieces. Doing so will result in a look that is less than desirable. To make your finished wallpaper project look like that of a professional, you have to make sure that the wallpaper is cut to the right size. Each piece of wallpaper must also be cut in a manner that complements and coordinates with the other pieces.
Step One
Measure the length of your walls from the top of the ceiling to the top of the baseboard. Add an extra 3 to 4 inches to your measurement to allow room for error and matching the pattern. You can always cut the excess off once your wallpaper has been hung.
Step Two
Spread your roll of wallpaper onto a flat working surface.
Step Three
Cut a piece of wallpaper off of the roll using the measurements you obtained in Step 1. When cutting the wallpaper, use a ruler or another straight-edged object to ensure that your edges remain straight as you cut the paper.
Step Four
Place the remaining roll of wallpaper on top of the piece of wallpaper that was cut in the previous step. Align the top of the roll with the top of the sheet that has been cut. Compare the pattern at the top of the roll with the pattern at the top of the cut sheet to see if the patterns perfectly match. If the patterns do not match perfectly, slide the wallpaper roll up until the patterns match. Cut off the excess paper at the top of the roll. Go down to the end of the roll and cut the wallpaper so that it perfectly matches the length of the piece of wallpaper that is underneath it.
Step Five
Cut another piece of wallpaper off of the roll that matches the measurement from Step 1.
Step Six
Repeat Steps 4 and 5 until you have cut off enough wallpaper to cover the entire width of your walls.
Step Seven
Ensure that your wallpaper fits perfectly around corners, windows and doors. To do this, overlap the corner, window border, or the edge of the door with about an extra inch of wallpaper. Use a utility knife to cut the wallpaper where it intersects with the edge of the corner, window border or door edge.