What Side Do You Start Wallpapering? Expert Tips for Beginners
Starting a wallpaper project can feel overwhelming, but the first decision—where to begin—sets the tone for the entire room. The simple answer to "what side do you start wallpapering" is usually the least visible area, often behind a door or in a corner, allowing you to work outward toward the main focal point. This strategy minimizes the appearance of seams and ensures any minor alignment issues are hidden in less critical spaces.
The Logic Behind Starting Point Selection
Choosing the correct starting point is less about intuition and more about spatial logic. By beginning in a secondary location, you establish a clean, plumb line that serves as a guide for the rest of the roll. This vertical reference is crucial because wallpaper naturally settles and shifts; starting here prevents the primary view from developing a crooked pattern. The goal is to keep the complex cutting and pattern matching away from the viewer's immediate eye line.
Why Corners and Door Frames Matter
Corners are natural allies in wallpaper installation, yet they are often overlooked. Starting here accommodates the minor imperfections of a room that is not perfectly square, as the paper can flex slightly to meet the edges. Door frames and window openings act as ideal bookends for your initial strip, providing a ready-made boundary that simplifies the trimming process. This approach transforms structural elements of the room from obstacles into essential tools for a flawless finish.
Step-by-Step Directional Application
The directional flow of the paper dictates your starting location. If you are working with a striped or vertically repeating pattern, aligning the first strip correctly from the very beginning is non-negotiable. You should measure and cut your initial length so that the pattern meets precisely at the corner or door jamb. This ensures that as you unfold the paper across the wall, the design flows uninterrupted toward the main focal wall.
| Starting Location | Best For | Visibility of Seams |
|---|---|---|
| Behind Furniture/Corridor | Large Feature Walls | Low (Hidden) |
| Small Room / Entry | Simple Vertical Stripes | Minimal |
| Corner adjacent to door | Geometric or Complex Patterns | Strategic Concealment |
Managing the "Drop"
Professional installers refer to the "drop," which is the distance from the ceiling to the floor. Before you cut your first piece, you must account for this measurement. Starting from the ceiling ensures you have enough material to adjust the paper into the top corner without stretching it. If you start too low, you might end up with a awkward, unusable strip of excess paper at the top that compromises the pattern alignment.
Focal Wall Strategy
Every room has a focal point—a fireplace, a large piece of art, or the head of the bed. When determining what side do you start wallpapering, you must intentionally work *toward* this feature, not away from it. By hanging the final, most critical piece last, you guarantee that the alignment is perfect and the pattern is centered. This method transforms the focal wall into the hero of the room, drawing the eye exactly where you want it to go.
The final consideration is the seam placement. Seams are inevitable in most installations, and their visibility is the true test of a professional job. By adhering to the principle of starting out of sight, you ensure that the seams fall in the blind spots of the room’s architecture. This meticulous planning results in a finish that looks almost floating, where the paper appears to envelop the space rather than simply adhering to it.
