Matching wallpaper primarily refers to aligning the pattern repeat from one strip to the next during installation to create a seamless, continuous design across your wall. Achieving a perfect match requires careful preparation and precise handling of the wallpaper strips.
Before you begin matching and hanging your wallpaper, there are a couple of essential preparatory steps.
Starting Your Wallpaper Installation
To ensure your wallpaper hangs straight and makes pattern matching easier, it's crucial to start correctly.
- Start with a Guide: Use a level or plumb line to draw a vertical line where your first strip will hang. This line will serve as your starting point and guarantee that your initial strip is perfectly straight, which is fundamental for matching subsequent strips.
Preparing Wallpaper Strips (Booking)
Once you're ready to hang a strip, proper preparation is key, especially if using paste.
- Book the Wallpaper: Once you've applied adhesive to the wallpaper, gently fold it onto itself (adhesive side to adhesive side) and let it sit for a few minutes. This process, known as "booking," allows the adhesive to penetrate the paper evenly, making it more pliable and easier to work with, which aids in the matching process.
Aligning Patterns During Hanging
The actual process of matching occurs as you hang each subsequent strip next to the one before it.
- Position the New Strip: Bring the booked strip to the wall. Align its vertical edge next to the edge of the previously hung strip.
- Find the Match: While the paper is still pliable (thanks to booking), gently slide the new strip up or down and sideways until the pattern on the new strip perfectly aligns with the pattern on the adjacent strip. Look closely at the design elements crossing the seam.
- Smooth and Secure: Once the pattern is matched, carefully smooth the strip onto the wall, working from the center outwards to remove air bubbles and ensure full contact.
Understanding Pattern Repeats
Wallpaper patterns aren't random; they repeat at specific intervals. Knowing your wallpaper's pattern repeat type is vital for successful matching and calculating how much paper you'll need.
Common Pattern Match Types
| Match Type | Description | How to Match | Waste Consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Random | The pattern matches regardless of how the strips are placed next to each other. | No pattern matching required at the seams. | Minimal |
| Straight | The pattern matches across the seam horizontally at the same height on adjacent strips. | Each strip starts at the same point in the pattern as the previous one. | Moderate |
| Drop | The pattern matches across the seam, but the pattern drops down by half the repeat on alternating strips. | Strips 1, 3, 5... match; strips 2, 4, 6... match each other but are offset. | Higher |
- Straight Match: The most straightforward type. Align the design elements directly across the seam.
- Drop Match: Requires more attention as the pattern on the second strip will be aligned with the first strip but shifted down (typically by half the pattern repeat). Subsequent strips will alternate between the straight and drop alignment.
By carefully preparing your workspace and wallpaper strips, understanding the pattern repeat, and taking your time to align each section, you can achieve a professional-looking finish with seamless pattern matching.
You can find more detailed information on wallpaper pattern repeats and installation steps here.
