Hanging wallpaper can give any room a new look with a completely different style. The array of different wall covering patterns can drastically change a room from old and outdated to modern.

The wall surface should be clean, dry, and free of grease, mildew or other stains. Mildew can be cleaned with a solution of two cups of bleach per gallon of water. Mildew stains should be sealed with a good quality stain killer/prime.

Loose paint must be removed from the wall. Apply a coat of primer prior to the installation of wallpaper. Any wall irregularities should be corrected with drywall compound or any other wall repair materials.

Decide on a budget at the beginning of you project. If your money is limited, decorate your rooms one at a time. Buy items that will have the most dramatic effect on the room first. Keep a scrapbook of decorating ideas, wallpaper samples, colors, and wall covering schemes, etc.

Buy wallpaper, fabric and wall coverings for their practical as well as decorative effect. Remember walls can be one color or pattern, ceilings another. To mix textures in a room, make sure there is a common denominator, like a common color.

Before cutting, examine the wallpaper material to make sure the pattern and color are correct. When hanging an entire room, choose the place where the partial strip will butt against a full strip, Choose a short area of wall to place the mismatch, like over a door or window that is not on the focal wall.

You are now ready to hang your first piece. Apply the wallpaper so that one edge is exactly vertical and aligned with your plumb mark. Leave the bottom fold and work with the upper part of the sheet. If you are working at an inside corner, wrap one-inch overlap into the corner.

Use a wallpaper brush to work out any bubbles, stroking the brush inside to the outside to push the air out. Start at the top and work your way down the paper. Be sure you stay aligned with your plumb mark as you work with the brush. After the upper part is smooth, release the bottom fold and position, using the palms of your hands. You will trim the paper after the next sheet is hung.