Search

Search this blog:

« Color in House Interiors. | Main | To Clean Kid Gloves »

How to Paper a Room.

SEVERAL lengths of paper should be laid one on another upon the floor or bench, allowing the fair edges to project over, so that the paste may not touch the figured surface. The back should then be smartly brushed over with paste, covering every part, taking especial care not to soak the paper. The more quickly and dexterously this operation can be performed, the better will be the result, and no time should be lost in at once placing time wet paper upon the wall. The more common papers have less power of resisting water than those of good quality, and speedily become so rotten and weak that they will not support their own weight, while at the same time they expand so much that it is often difficult to match the patterns; in fact, some of the very common cheap papers can only be hung when they are half dry, and one person should paste the back while the other is engaged in placing the previously pasted piece upon the wall. As it is difficult to manage a very long length of wet paper, the best plan is to fold it loosely back into about half its original length; and when the upper part is fixed to the wall, unfold the lower portion, and place that in its turn. The proper place to commence hanging is the left-hand corner of the room, working round to the right. Of course great care must be taken to fix the first length perfectly upright, as, if this be not done, the whole of the paper will, in following it, be out of the perpendicular, and a most un- pleasant effect will be produced. When the first length has been properly placed, the exact lines of the ceiling and skirting-board should be marked with the back of the scissors, and the paper gently drawn away from the wall, cut off to the line, and replaced. All air-bladders and wrinkles should be pressed out, and the whole smoothed down with a soft, long-haired brush. While the paper is wet, a very little will cause it to smear; and it is consequently of the first importance not to touch its surface more than is absolutely necessary. The first length being properly placed, the others may be fixed in the same manner, until the whole of the longer lengths are in position; when time smaller portions, such as those over the windows and doors, may be filled in with the remnants before mentioned.?Ex.
- Taken from The Manufacturer and Builder Oct 1871

Found in 1870 | Victorian Living 1840-1900 | Browse By Era | Browse By Subject | Household Helps

Disclaimer - All which is found on this website: http://www.victorianpassage.com is meant only for research and/or entertainment purposes. If you use any of the information or try any of the "recipes", or follow any of the antiquated advice on this website, then you do so at your own risk. We shall not be held liable for any damages or anything of the sort that may incur if you use any of the information from this website. Please use caution and safety measures, since our ancestors did not know a lot of the hidden dangers with chemicals and the like. Thank you!