You can create an Old World look in your home without costly remodeling. Embossed wallpaper is elegant on its own but when applied to a ceiling, it looks even nicer. Enhance the appearance of any room in just one weekend with a treatment of embossed wallpaper. This looks especially beautiful in a formal living or dining room.
You will need:
• English relief style wall covering
• Acrylic primer compatible with a clay-based adhesive
• Interior wall paint
• Clay-based adhesive
• Razor blade
• Wallpaper trim guard
• Nails
• Hammer
• Chalk line
• Regular paint roller
• Long-nap paint roller
• Sponges
• Paintbrush or wallpaper brush
• Wallpaper smoothing brush
• 2 large plywood boards
• 2 stepladders
• 4 milk crates
• Tape measure
• Adhesive tape
• Sandpaper
• Bleach
• Water
• Bucket
• Rubber gloves
Step 1: Make a worktable by placing one plywood board on top of the stepladders. Create a raised walkway by setting the other plywood board on top of the milk crates.
Step 2: Remove any wall covering from the ceiling. Use the sandpaper to sand the area. Put on the rubber gloves and combine 2 cups bleach and 1 gallon of water in the bucket. Dip a sponge into the solution and use it to clean the ceiling. Allow the area to dry.
Step 3: Test the ceiling for loose paint by cutting a one-inch long X into the paint with the razor blade. Place a piece of the tape against this X and quickly remove it. If paint chips are present on the tape, re-sand the ceiling and clean it again with the solution made in Step 2.
Step 4: Use the regular paint roller to apply the acrylic primer. Allow 24 hours for this to dry.
Step 5: A straight line must be created to serve as a marker for applying the first wallpaper run. The width of a roll of wallpaper is 20.5 inches. A line located 20 inches from the ceiling edge leaves some overlap to be trimmed. Use the tape measure to measure 20 inches from the ceiling molding at each end of your ceiling. Pound in a nail at one of the marks with the hammer. Attach the chalk line and run it the length of your ceiling.
Step 6: Roll out your first length of embossed wallpaper on the worktable. Hold this in place, being careful not to press down too hard.
Step 7: Apply wallpaper adhesive to this wallpaper using the paintbrush or wallpaper brush. Allow 10 minutes for the adhesive to set before you apply the wallpaper to the ceiling.
Step 8: Bring the sheet out one inch against the molding on the right side and apply it to the ceiling along your chalk line. Hold only about one foot of paper at a time and press it into place carefully on the ceiling. You may want to have a helper hold the remaining part of the sheet.
Step 9: After 1 foot of wallpaper has been attached, run the wallpaper smoothing brush over it. Apply pressure so the adhesive bonds to the ceiling. Work your way down the length of this sheet, making sure the wallpaper edge remains plumb with your chalk line when you apply and smooth it.
Step 10: Cut another length of embossed wallpaper. Leave 3 to 6 inches extra on each of the ends to match the pattern with the first strip. Apply this wallpaper to the ceiling, matching the pattern and butting the edges of the adjacent sheet without overlapping.
Step 11: Use the trim guard to snugly fit the wallpaper against the molding edge. Cut off excess wallpaper by running the razor blade along your trim guard. Create overlapping cuts to ensure the cut goes through all the way. Pull off the excess wallpaper and remove adhesive from the molding using a clean, wet sponge.
Step 12: Continue applying and smoothing each length of wallpaper until you have covered the ceiling. Use your trim guard and razor blade to remove excess wallpaper from molding edges. The wallpaper may be painted after 24 hours. Painting is necessary because the adhesive leaves discoloration on the wallpaper. The finish of the paint determines the look of the ceiling. Flat latex paint provides a plaster effect, while a dark color of high-gloss latex resembles leather. A metallic look is achieved by using automobile enamel.
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