Old Havana wallpaper

Preparation

1. Make sure the surface is smooth and clean

Remove any old paint or wallpaper that is coming off. Clean the sur- face and apply ller where necessary. If the surface is porous, please apply a primer/mist coat or prepaste before papering. Porous surfaces include skimmed walls, walls with old wallpaper, particle board or similar. If you hang our premium murals on a dense surface that does not absorb moisture, it may take several days for the paste to dry, as our premium papers are not as breathable as our standard ones. You should also prime the surface if it has bright colours that could show through the wall mural.

2. Mix wallpaper paste from Happywall (not included)

Fill a clean bucket with 4 litres (1 US gallon) of lukewarm water and slowly add the paste powder while stirring briskly. Leave the paste to stand for 5 minutes and stir again. The paste is now ready to use. The paste should be nice and thick, so don’t use more than 4 litres (1 US gallon) of water when mixing. If you do add more, the wallpaper may not fix properly. One bag is enough for around 20-22 m≤. If you are using ready-mixed wallpaper paste, use a paste for non-woven wallpaper or one for woven wallpaper with <20% dry content.

Hanging

1. Check the wallpaper

Before hanging, make sure no panels are missing and none have any defects or damage. The panels are numbered at the top in the order they should be hung. Hang from left to right.

2. Make sure the panels are hung straight

It is vital that the first panel is hung straight. It is a good idea to draw vertical markings one panel width (50 cm) in from the corner using a spirit level, a measuring tool and a pencil. Use the markings as a guide to hang the first panel. Make sure the markings are faint so they don’t show through the wall mural.

3. Apply the paste directly to the wall

Use a roller or a brush. It’s important to cover the whole area with paste – an unpasted spot will create a blister in the wall mural. Apply the paste approximately one panel width in advance.

4. Hang the panels edge to edge

The panels should not overlap. Take care to press the panels together firmly at the seams – use a seam roller for the best results. Be careful to match up the pattern with the next panel, and avoid getting wallpaper paste on the front of the mural as this will show when it dries. Note: Avoid harsh folds as this may cause cracks in the print.

5. Smooth down the panels from the ceiling to floor

Use your hands or a wallpaper brush, starting from the middle and smoothing out towards the edges. Any small bubbles and folds will disappear once the wall mural has dried. If there are any spots of paste on the front of the wallpaper, use a damp cloth or sponge to remove them, but avoid rubbing.

6. Trim off any excess paper

Once all the panels have been hung, trim off any excess paper using a trim guide and a sharp knife.

Wait 24 hours to see the finished results

Sit back and enjoy your new room!