• Home
  • DIY
    • Self build
    • Projects and advice
      • Bathroom
      • Building, brickwork and masonry
      • Ceilings
      • Cleaning
      • Concrete work
      • Damp, rot and infestation
      • Drains
      • Electrical
      • Fireplaces
      • Floors
      • Garden
      • Heating
      • Insulation
      • Kitchen
      • Lighting
      • Lofts
      • Painting and decorating
      • Plasterwork
      • Plumbing
      • Roof and guttering
      • Safety
      • Security
      • Tiling
      • Walls
      • Windows
      • Woodwork
    • Glossary
    • Know your tools
    • Know your materials
  • Cost guides
  • News
  • Community
Facebook Twitter Instagram
lets-do-diy.com
  • Home
  • DIY
    • Self build
    • Projects and advice
      • Bathroom
      • Building, brickwork and masonry
      • Ceilings
      • Cleaning
      • Concrete work
      • Damp, rot and infestation
      • Drains
      • Electrical
      • Fireplaces
      • Floors
      • Garden
      • Heating
      • Insulation
      • Kitchen
      • Lighting
      • Lofts
      • Painting and decorating
      • Plasterwork
      • Plumbing
      • Roof and guttering
      • Safety
      • Security
      • Tiling
      • Walls
      • Windows
      • Woodwork
    • Glossary
    • Know your tools
    • Know your materials
  • Cost guides
  • News
  • Community
lets-do-diy.com
You are at:Home»Projects and advice»Wallpapering a stairwell

Wallpapering a stairwell

Summary: Learn how to wallpaper a stairwell, paper the head wall, paper the well wall and wallpaper the landing.


This can be an awkward job and is better done with two people – one on a ladder to hang the paper and another to support the weight of the pasted paper from below. Consult the section on working with ladders for safety advice. An alternative to working from ladders is to hire a staircase platform. If possible use wallpaper that doesn’t require matching a pattern, as long lengths of pasted wallpaper can stretch making matching difficult. The method for hanging the wallpaper is the same as when wallpapering a room; so here we will take a look at the best way of approaching the more difficult task of wallpapering a stairwell.

A safe working platform for the well wall and the head wall.

Building a safe working platform

  • Position a stepladder on the landing a safe distance away from the edge of the top stair.
  • Position a straight ladder several stairs up with the top leaning against the head wall (the wall at your back when climbing the stairs) and the bottom pushed into the angle between the tread and riser.
  • Wrap the top ends of the ladder with padding to prevent the ladder sticking to, or damaging, the walls.
  • Place a scaffold board horizontally between the two ladders. If the distance between the two ladders exceeds 1.5m (5ft), place another scaffold board on top of the first to provide greater support.
  • Standing on the platform, you will be able to hang the wallpaper on both the well wall (the wall adjacent to the stairs) and the head wall.

Re-position the stepladder underneath the head wall at the bottom of the stairs and reposition the scaffold board with one end resting on the tread of a stair while the other rests on a step of the stepladder.

Papering the head wall

  • Measure the height of the head wall and cut a corresponding length of wallpaper.
  • Apply paste to the back of the wallpaper and fold the bottom half back on itself.
  • Climb onto the platform and get your helper to pass you the pasted wallpaper.
  • Hang the top half of the wallpaper, brushing out any air bubbles with a wallpaper brush but leaving the lower half folded over.
  • Remove the planks and straight ladder and re-position the stepladder underneath the head wall at the bottom of the stairs.
  • Reposition the scaffold board with one end resting on the tread of a stair while the other rests on a step of the stepladder.
  • From the rearranged platform unfold the bottom half of the wallpaper and paste it to the lower half of the wall.




Papering the well wall

Papering the well wall involves working with longer drops and thus longer lengths of wallpaper. However, the process remains the same. Long lengths of pasted wallpaper folded concertina fashion can be quite heavy, so this is where having a helper is a bonus.

  • As you paste the top half of the wallpaper to the wall your helper can support the lower part of the wallpaper.
  • Once the top half has been pasted and smoothed into position, remove the scaffold boards and paste the lower half of the wallpaper to the wall. 
  • Remember that because stairs rise at an angle each length of paper has to be cut quite a bit longer than you would if papering a room.

Rearrange your platform to enable you to work comfortably and safely.

Papering the landing

If your staircase has been built to include a landing you will need to rearrange your platform once again to enable you to work comfortably and safely. This could involve the platform being supported over the balustrade. 

  • Position the straight ladder on the staircase at a convenient height.
  • Cut a length of batten and fix it temporarily to the tread of a stair. This will prevent the ladder slipping off the stair.
  • Rest the top of the ladder against the landing wall. The top ends of the ladder should once again be wrapped in cloth to protect the wall.
  • Position a stepladder on the landing.
  • Lay a scaffold board between the straight ladder and stepladder. If the distance between the two ladders exceeds 1.5m (5ft), place another scaffold board on top of the first to provide greater support.
  • Paste the wallpaper and fold it as before. When on the platform get your helper to pass the pasted length of wallpaper up to you.
  • Position the top of the folded wallpaper against the wall and smooth into position.
  • Climb down from the platform to unfold the lower half of the paper and smooth it into position. Alternatively, your helper could paste the lower sections of wallpaper to the wall.

Tools needed

  • Staircase platform OR Straight ladder, stepladder and scaffold planks
  • Craft knife
  • Wallpaper scissors
  • Seam roller
  • Radiator roller
  • Pasting table
  • Pasting brush
  • Paperhanger’s brush

Materials needed

  • Batten
  • Wallpaper paste

See how to hang wallpaper (guide and videos)


Related projects

  • Removing wallpaper
  • Removing wallpaper paste
  • Repairing damage to plasterboard
  • Repairing wallpaper
  • Wallpapering a stairwell
  • How to use a wallpaper steamer
  • How to paper a ceiling

Related cost guides

  • Average cost to decorate a room or house
  • Average cost of plastering
  • Average cost to tile a bathroom
  • Average cost of a door
  • Average laminate floor cost
  • Average cost to tile a bathroom
  • Average cost of a plumber
  • Average cost of an electrician
  • Average hardwood floor cost
Recent Comments
  • Vic on Is Christmas a good time for DIY?
  • Anonymous on Average air source heat pump cost (2022)
  • Reggie on Prepare your home for moth season
Latest News
0

Potential DIY home improvement trends for 2023

1

Is Christmas a good time for DIY?

0

Design trends for 2022 and 2023

0

Product Review: Handsaws

Popular Guides

Average fence installation cost

Average cost of a greenhouse (2022)

Average cost to rewire a house

Average hardwood floor cost

Popular Projects

Removing cork, polystyrene or vinyl tiles

A guide to Victorian, Georgian and Edwardian housing

Filling gaps in floorboards

How to use a wood chisel

DIY Categories
Bathroom
Building, brickwork and masonry
Ceilings
Cleaning
Concrete work
Damp, rot and infestation
Drains
Electrical
Fireplaces
Floors
Garden
Heating
Insulation
Kitchen
Lighting
Lofts
Painting and decorating
Plasterwork
Plumbing
Roof and guttering
Safety
Security
Tiling
Walls
Windows
Woodwork

Self Build Guide
How to find a building plot
Evaluating a building plot (2023)
How to get a self build mortgage
Self build construction options
Self build architect and design considerations (2023)
Self build planning permission and legal consents
© 2023 lets do diy ltd | ebuild
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact us

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT