Funny you should ask, years ago DH and I wallpapered the bathroom, it's amazing that we didn't get a divorce over it, we fussed and argued so much during the experience. Hope you get it done successfully, p.s., we're still together, lol.

I've done some and I found it quite easy. Best advice go to HD and see if they have a How-to class (free). Make sure you have a metal straight edge. Measure twice cut once. Good luck and have fun with it.

I've never papered as I'm not much of a paper person. I just finally discovered colored (painted) walls after living with off/country/dirty looking white walls for 20 years here.

How about this, if you want to work alone...I do understand.

Since you will be learning from this, why not learn how to skim coat the wall and then paint? I watched a friend skimcoat a wall not long back, and he made it look like anyone could do it. I'm sure there is some learning to it, but you could maybe just try it on at least one wall and see what you think and how you get along.

A google search for skim coat or skim coat rough wall will yield lots of sites.

You might also get some estimates from contractors as to how much it would cost to have it done. Maybe you even know someone who could do it for you reasonably.

I've never skimcoated, but have gotten really good with spackling and sanding holes b4 painting to the point that they are not seen at all.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Skim Coating Techniques for Do it Yourselfers

Unless you have really high ceilings, you can do it yourself. I don't want DH anywhere around when I'm papering. I like to do it, but I have to concentrate and do better without distractions. Last time I papered--about 5 or 6 years ago, I had 12' ceilings and a wobbly ladder. Let's just say the air was a little blue from my epithats. It actually turned out the best I'd ever done. Go figure! Just one piece of advice. Size the walls before you start. Most important step to make if you ever want to get the paper off.

I always wallpaper alone, it's just easier that way, no arguments, no power struggles, no advise from someone who knows less about it than I do. My XH used to hang wallpaper for a living and I helped him a lot, so I learned a LOT. And I pay a lot of attention to detail, so I'm pretty good at it. He was excellent.

Yes, be sure the walls are sized or prepainted. And use a level for your first piece of paper, if you get the first one up straight, half the battle is won, if your walls are square and plumb. Have on hand a LOT of single-edged razor blades for cuts, change blades often. I use them with no holder, but whatever works best for you, some peeps like the holder. Use a big sponge to work out air bubbles and wipe off excess paste. Use a brush to finish it off. Never wrap an inside corner- as the paper dries it will shrink and pull away, making your corners rounded and they'll look bad. Wrap about a 1/2" or so, then butt the next piece over that all the way into the corner. You may have to cut the piece to get that 1/2".

I love wallpaper. It does hide a ton of imperfections if you get the right kind. Textured is best if you have really bad spots. Have fun!

I would rather hang paper by myself and I learned how from the Flamingo....listen to her...she knows what she is talking about.

I like to use the bathtub instead of wallpaper trays to soak the strips. Or, put the tray in the bath tub, weight the paper tube down with a couple of butter knives and let the wall paper book over the side of the tub or the bathroom counter. Put down some towels by the tube, over the counter and from the bathroom to the room you are working on to catch any drips.

Lori

I would rather die than hang wallpaper. I one wallpapered a small bathroom. It came out "okay", so I decided I could do a bedroom. WRONG! I tried to hang floral paper in my daughter's room. It was a horror! I worked so hard and fin
sally got one strip on straight. I couldn't face doing the rest of the room, so I called in a pro. It was well worth the money!

This is the simple design I am interested in. I was going to paint and faux paint over. I saw this in a hallway at a business office and it looked fantastic.

{{!gwi}}

Gayle,
The reason I painted my bathroom the way I did, is because of all the lumpyness and imperfections.

I put a dark coat of paint on first and the used the end of a paint brush to dab and smear a light coat on top.

Here is a picture:
{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

I forgot to add:

We had chipped off the old plastic tiles with a screwdriver.

You can see the digs and the edges where the tile ended.

I really like this look and it has a bit of a "marble" look. I'm not saying that it was easier than papering, because it took me 7 hours to do the second coat. I just don't like papering, if I can avoid it.

Hayjud,

That is exactly the look I want. Why don't you come on down to Texas and "show" me how to do that? LOL!

That looks fantastic.

Gayle

I wallpapered our last house. The very first time, I did Our bathroom, around the vanity and behind the toilet and around the shower. I did it myself. No big deal. Just read the directions. I did use wallpaper paste and didn't rely on the prepasted paste.

It was quite fun to do. If you messed up and got a little too much top coat on, then you just cover that area with bottom coat again and start dabbing again.

AND... IF I came down, just how many hours of demonstrating would you be needing................LOL

It sounds like you NEED the experience!
(Although I would LOVE to be there and WATCH you!) LOL

I'm sure you would be "very" entertained, Kat. LOL!

Gayle