Isla’s list of wallpaper tools

Out of necessity, I do most of the decoration around my own home. I favour the slow room by room approach, rather than the full blown renovation. So when it became increasingly difficult to find tradesman to help me with smaller jobs, I took to YouTube and taught myself. Here is a non exhaustive list of the tools I like to use when putting up wallpaper.

Brewers Decorator Centres

First stop supplies. Brewers is my absolute go to. Their staff give fantastic advice and really know their product lines. It isn’t the cheapest, but their Albany own brand line is good trade quality and their knowledge makes up for this. I try to go after lunch when they are less busy with tradesman, and have more time to help me with my endless questions. Sorry to anyone in the queue behind me. They have on occasion been so honest as to talk me out of projects they feel wouldn’t work. Tip top service.

Lining paper

It's faffy and adds a whole extra weekend to the timeline, but if the walls are bad (and they almost always are in my case) this is a must. I like this Albany Lining paper

Adhesive

I always use Beeline wallpaper adhesive, I recommend it for using with my own wallpaper designs. I usually buy from Brewers because their staff give fantastic advise. Sorry to everyone in the queue behind me.

Paperwhizz Flex

This is a great smoother, I like it far more than the trad wallpaper brushes. They say it replaces a seam roller, brush etc. Not that I would use it as a cutting edge, we’ll come on to that.

Decorators Varnish

In a Bathroom/Kitchen I always use Decorator's varnish, in matt or satin finish, to seal seams from steam and water. In the WC I only used it in areas near the sink. In my London bathroom, I painted the entire walls as it gets steamy!

Cutting Edge Tool

I love this cutting edge tool, you can lean your knife right against the metal ruler, protecting the skirting board underneath and get a very clean edge on your wallpaper cut. My father is more of score and cut with scissors type, you decide!

Knife

A word of caution, these are medical grade scalpels that are the sharpest you’ve known. They make light work of cutting through slightly soggy pasted wallpaper, with a clean line. I am comfortable handling them, because most fashioner designers ( that was me in my previous chapter) use them for making mood boards. But I have seen accidents. If you don’t trust yourself, far better to use a Stanley knife or my father’s method of scoring and cutting with scissors. Stay safe.

Send me a picture of your finished project enquiries@islasimpson.co.uk I’d love to see.

Knife

A word of caution, these are medical grade scalpels that are the sharpest you’ve known. They make light work of cutting through slightly soggy pasted wallpaper, with a clean line. I am comfortable handling them, because most fashioner designers ( that was me in my previous chapter) use them for making mood boards. But I have seen accidents. If you don’t trust yourself, far better to use a Stanley knife or my father’s method of scoring and cutting with scissors. Stay safe.
Send me a picture of your finished project enquiries@islasimpson.co.uk I’d love to see.