Tools you need to wallpaper like a pro

No matter what your wallpapering job is, you'll want to have a certain set of tools to do the job smoothly. These include a steel measuring tape, a pencil and a straightedge to help you accurately trim your paper, and a supply of towels and sponges for cleaning. You might also want to have these tools at the ready as well to help you work like a pro:

• Apply the paste for your wallpaper with a 15 centimetre (6 inch) roller or brush.
• If you use an old paintbrush, be sure to clean it so that there isn't any paint mixing with your paste.
• Whether it's a roller or a brush, thoroughly wash what you're using to apply the paste in warm water after use.

• You can mix the paste in any clean household bucket.
• To make a cradle for your brush, tie a piece of string across your bucket's rim, between the handle anchor points. You can rest the brush on this string when you're not using it.
• Plus, wiping the brush across this string will remove excess paste.

• A pair of paperhanger's scissors with blades that measure 25 centimetres (10 inches) are best for cutting your paper.
• The longer the blades on your scissors, the easier it will be to cut a straight line.
• You should also have a pair of small scissors with you for any fine trimming you might have to do.

• A clean damp sponge is perfect for wiping paste off equipment
• You can also use your damp sponge to remove excess paste from vinyl surfaces and washable wallpaper.

• If you have one, a reliable utility knife is useful for trimming and cutting thicker wallpapers and vinyl wall coverings.
• You might find it easier to trim already pasted paper neatly with a knife and straightedge instead of a pair of scissors
• If you are going to use a utility knife, make sure the paper you'll be slicing is not too thin.

• You can use plastic spreaders to smooth out any bubbles and creases that are left after you've hung your wall coverings.
• You should use a small spreader for pressing down your wallpaper's seams.

• Because few walls are straight, you should use a plumbline to mark down a wall's true vertical before hanging the first length of wallpaper.
• You can buy a plumbline or just tie a small weight (like a metal nut or small screwdriver) to a length of string.

Keep these tools nearby while you work on your wallpapering jobs and you'll be well on your way to wallpapering like the pros.