Wallpapering Reminders

Recently, while working with customers who are wallpapering their dollhouses, I was reminded of a couple things I thought I should share with you. The bottom line is "prepare and be prepared."

In the first instance, my customer had decided to install wallpaper on a wall she had previously intended to paint. After a change of heart, she decided she wanted it papered with the same paper as she had on the other two walls. When the paper we ordered arrived we discovered to our dismay that the color (or dye lot) had changed significantly. We double checked the manufacturer's numbers and it was the same paper, but the tones and hues were distinctly different. A word to the wise: when purchasing wallpaper, acquire enough paper to finish an entire room.

In the second instance, a customer had completely finished the entire dollhouse. Walls were papered, carpeting and hardwood floors installed. Since he intended to sell the dollhouse, he was giving it a once over looking for imperfections or problems. As he inspected the house, he discovered smudges and markings on a wall in one room. No amount of erasing or cleaning would remove the damage. Fortunately, in this instance we were able to perfectly match the wallpaper. While this case ended with acceptable results, had he sealed the paper before installing it, he may have avoided the need to remove and re-install the wallpaper. The word of caution here is to take the time to seal the wallpaper (front and back) with a good acrylic spray sealer. The sealer may not eliminate all types of smudges or scratches, but it will help keep down the number of potential problems.

In conclusion, buy enough wallpaper at the same time to finish an entire room. It is also advisable to have at least one extra sheet for potential future repairs. Protect your wallpaper from fading and smudges by applying a good acrylic spray sealer to both sides of the paper before installation.