How to install vinyl wallpaper on a non-woven backing?

You are already on the home stretch toward a spectacular transformation of your interior. To enjoy your beautiful wallpaper in the living room or any other space for a long time, always begin the installation by properly preparing the wall for wallpapering. So how do you install designer vinyl wallpaper on a non-woven backing? Here is a practical guide to make the job easier!

Installing vinyl wallpaper on a non-woven backing step by step

Vinyl wallpaper on a non-woven backing is installed edge to edge, meaning that each strip is placed directly against the next one. This is not the only option—you can also use the so-called double-cut method. This method is preferred for very high walls or geometric patterns, where every millimetre of movement affects the final appearance of the wallpaper.

In addition to preparing the wall, another step you must not skip is checking whether the wallpaper you are about to apply matches your order and whether no little production mishap has occurred. Make sure you have the correct wallpaper design and the ordered colour scheme, and that the print aligns across the successive strips. If you are thinking that you do not have a basketball court available to spread out several metres of wallpaper on the floor—don’t worry. A small section of floor is enough, where you can line up the strips one by one, rather than all at once, edge to edge.   

Get your paint roller or brush moving and start wallpapering!

Begin installation from the natural light source or, on uninterrupted walls, from one of the room’s corners. If precision is not your strong suit and you are worried about applying each wallpaper strip evenly, you can draw vertical lines on the wall approximately 2 cm from the points where the strips meet. A laser level will be especially useful, as it precisely marks the vertical line without having to draw on the wall or laboriously measure each section.

When working with vinyl wallpaper on a non-woven backing, apply the adhesive only to the wall. A paint roller is the quickest, easiest and most effective way to apply it, but if you have a brush available, that works too—just make sure not to apply too thick a layer. Apply adhesive to no more than the width of one strip at a time.

This is your moment of truth: time to apply the first strip. Apply the wallpaper from the top, remembering not to align the strip’s upper edge exactly with the ceiling line, but always fold it over by approximately 5 cm. Wall Art wallpapers are produced with a 5 cm allowance along the outer edges, so you do not need to remember to add extra when placing your order. Why is folding a few centimetres of wallpaper over at the ceiling so important? Unfortunately, walls and ceilings in our homes are often not perfectly straight. As a result, when matching the pattern on subsequent strips, the fact that the first strip is aligned with the ceiling does not mean that the others will be too.

Smooth the applied piece with a paint roller or squeegee, using a fluid motion from the centre toward the edges. If something goes wrong and your dream designer wallpaper has been applied crookedly, do not try to slide it into position. Even strips that are only slightly saturated with adhesive become more delicate, and any attempt to move them may damage them. Don’t worry—the wallpaper will regain its durability once dry. A better solution is to carefully lift it and reapply it without adding more adhesive.

Install the next strip in the same way as the first. If we have applied too much adhesive and it starts to seep out at the seams while smoothing the surface, we must of course remove it. For the same reason that we do not move applied wallpaper, we should not wipe away excess adhesive by rubbing vigorously. Instead, remove it gently with a dabbing motion.

After applying the second strip, we can cut off the excess wallpaper at the top of the first strip. Use a sharp wallpaper knife for this. Sharpness is essential for cutting off excess wallpaper evenly and efficiently, so if you have a wallpaper knife inherited from your parents in a cupboard, consider buying a new one or make sure the blade is still “in good shape”.  

The finishing touches—reach for dry pastels if needed

The substrates on which we print our modern wallpapers are white, so with dark designs, a trained eye may notice the seams between the strips—specifically, the inner edge of the wallpaper. Dry pastels are the solution to this aesthetic imperfection, allowing us to easily conceal the light-coloured edge.

Our wall has just been transformed into a spectacular mural and needs to “rest” after this transformation. The wallpaper should dry slowly on the wall over several days at a constant temperature. During this time, avoid sudden cooling, heating and intensive airing of the room for at least 24 hours.

I have beautiful wallpaper on my wall—what next?

Some time after installation, small air bubbles may appear on the wallpaper as a result of the wall expanding and contracting. This is a completely natural phenomenon and nothing to worry about. Simply prick the bubbles and fill them with adhesive using a syringe.

Unless the wallpaper was installed in a museum, there is a high probability that sooner or later it will get dirty from little children’s hands, pets or simple carelessness. Vinyl wallpaper on a non-woven backing, especially wallpaper printed using UV gel technology, is resistant to dirt, but in an emergency it can be gently wiped with a cloth or the soft side of a sponge using mild cleaning products.

We have also prepared an instructional video for you with wallpapering specialist Magdalena Rzepka—we invite you to visit our YouTube channel! https://youtu.be/TDo58xiOWAc