Laura Ashley Wallpaper Accessories

Paste, brushes and tools for wallpaper application

Everything needed to hang Laura Ashley wallpaper — paste, paste brushes, smoothing brushes, seam rollers, cutting tools and measuring equipment.

Wallpaper application tools

Wallpapering is a specific skill with specific tools. The range here covers what you need for a successful application:

Wallpaper paste — ready-mixed or powder-based wallpaper adhesive. Powder paste is mixed with water before use; ready-mixed paste is used direct. Different weights of paste for different paper types (light paper, medium, heavy textured).

Paste brushes — wide flat brushes for applying paste evenly to the back of wallpaper strips.

Smoothing brushes — wide soft brushes for pressing wallpaper to the wall, working air bubbles outward from the centre.

Seam rollers — small wheeled rollers for pressing the edges where adjacent strips meet, ensuring they sit flat without lifting.

Cutting tools — sharp craft knives and trimming blades for cutting paper to length. Straight-edges and steel rulers for clean cuts.

Measuring tools — steel tape measures, plumb lines, spirit levels. Accuracy matters — misaligned strips show up immediately.

Pasting tables — folding tables at working height for laying out strips and applying paste. A standard kitchen table is usually too narrow.

Scissors and trim knives — for cutting around sockets, switches and architectural details.

Paste-the-wall vs paste-the-paper

Modern wallpaper comes in two types:

Paste-the-paper — the traditional method. Paste is applied to the back of the wallpaper strip, which is then folded (booked) to let the paste soak in, then unfolded and hung on the wall. More time-consuming but works with almost any paper type.

Paste-the-wall — newer method. Paste is applied directly to the wall; the dry wallpaper strip is then pressed onto the pasted wall. Quicker and cleaner (less paste mess), but only works with wallpapers designed for this method.

Check the product page of the specific wallpaper to see which method applies. Paste-the-wall papers usually say so explicitly; traditional papers are paste-the-paper by default.

What you actually need for a basic wallpaper job

For a typical room-sized wallpapering project, the essentials:

Paste — enough for the wall area. One standard pack of powder paste mixes to roughly 5 litres and covers 10–15 rolls.

Paste brush — one decent 150mm brush.

Smoothing brush or smoothing tool — one wide smoothing brush; some people prefer a plastic smoothing spatula.

Seam roller — one small seam roller for pressing edges.

Sharp craft knife — with plenty of spare blades. Blunt blades tear the paper rather than cutting cleanly.

Steel straight-edge — for clean cuts.

Plumb line or spirit level — for establishing true vertical on the first strip.

Pasting table — or a large table cleared for pasting.

Bucket of clean water and sponge — for wiping paste off the front of the paper before it dries.

Key application tips

A few things that make wallpapering easier:

Start from an unobtrusive corner — walls aren't always square. Starting near a less-visible corner means any final strip that needs trimming isn't in a prominent place.

First strip must be truly vertical — use a plumb line to mark a vertical line on the wall and hang the first strip against it. If the first strip is off-vertical, every subsequent strip compounds the error.

Book pasted paper correctly — fold pasted strips paste-to-paste without creasing, and leave for 5–10 minutes before hanging. This lets paste soak in evenly.

Work air bubbles outward — smooth from the centre of each strip outward towards the edges, pushing air to the edges where it can escape.

Wipe paste off the front immediately — dried paste on the front of wallpaper shows as glossy streaks. Wipe as you go.

Cut around sockets with the power off — unscrew the socket face, cut paper to fit behind it, screw face back on. Cleaner than trying to cut accurately around a live socket.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use general-purpose paste for Laura Ashley wallpaper?

Yes — any quality wallpaper paste compatible with the paper type (paste-the-paper vs paste-the-wall) works. The Laura Ashley wallpaper accessories range includes appropriate paste options for convenience.

How much paste do I need?

A 200g pack of powder paste mixes to roughly 5 litres, which covers 10–15 rolls of wallpaper. For a typical room (5–6 rolls), half a pack of powder or a single small tub of ready-mixed is usually enough.

Can I DIY wallpaper or should I call a decorator?

DIY is entirely possible for standard wallpaper, though the learning curve is real. For your first project, allow twice as long as you think. For murals or particularly expensive wallpapers, a professional decorator is often worth the cost to get the job right first time.

Related categories

• Laura Ashley Wallpaper — wallpaper range
• Laura Ashley Murals — wall murals
• Paint Accessories — for painting surrounding walls
• Laura Ashley Homewares — full brand range