Wallpaper & Coverings

For the Trade

Start with the space and how it’ll be used, then the rest falls into place. Tight rooms, awkward runs and busy areas usually narrow wallpaper & coverings by handling, pattern waste and how forgiving the finish needs to be. In larger, cleaner spaces, you can be more selective on look and texture. If you’re moving between jobs, the parent Painting & Decorating range is the quick check for what sits alongside it, but the real call here is whether the product suits the layout and the amount of disruption you can take on.

Lining Paper

Lining paper gives you a flatter, more even base before the finish goes on. Use it when the wall needs correction and a cleaner surface for the final paper or paint.

Heavier wallpaper can hide more, but it brings pattern matching and handling issues with it. Lining paper keeps the job simpler when you want a consistent base.

The trade-off is direct. You add another layer and another material to buy. If the wall only needs a basic finish, you may not need it. If you are trying to tame a patchy wall, Lining Paper is the narrower buy within wallpaper & coverings.

Pasting Tables

If you’re buying for a straight wallpapering job, the first question is whether you need a table that stays put under a full-length drop or just something light for the odd job. A sturdier board and frame matter when you’re cutting and pasting all day, because a table that flexes or rocks slows you down and gets annoying fast.

For smaller jobs or a tighter van, a lighter folding option is easier to carry, but you give up some stability. If you only want the table itself, Pasting Tables is the narrower buy in this range.

Wallpaper

When you’re choosing wallpaper & coverings, start with how much handling the job will take. Standard wallpaper suits straightforward feature walls and repeat patterns where you want the finish to do the work. Heavier coverings make more sense when you want more body and less risk of damage while hanging.

The trade-off is simple. The heavier the product, the less forgiving it can be around awkward detail, and the more poor prep will show. If the wall only needs a cosmetic finish, Wallpaper is the narrower buy in this range.

Wallpapering Tools

Wallpapering Tools is where you narrow things down by the job in front of you, not by the paper itself. If you are doing a lot of cutting and trimming, you want tools that stay true and do not drag the edge. On a bigger run, handling and speed matter more than a fancy finish.

A decent set helps you avoid the small faults that show up later - a nicked edge, a poor cut, a seam that has been overworked. If you are only adding one item alongside wallpaper & coverings, this is the bit that decides whether the job feels controlled or fiddly.

Choosing Materials and Size

For wallpaper & coverings, start with the finish you need and how much handling the job will take. Lighter paper is easier on straightforward runs. Heavier goods give you more body and usually hide minor imperfections better, but they take more effort at the bench and on the wall.

Pattern repeat and waste can change the buy quickly, especially once you start matching across multiple drops. If the job needs more than the covering, Decorating Tools & Equipment is the next stop. The right kit matters as much as the material when you want clean cuts and fewer call-backs.

Completing the Setup

Once you’ve picked the finish, the next call is what the room still needs around it. Many jobs still need lining paper where the wall needs correction before the finish goes on.

A pasting table helps on awkward lengths and keeps the work moving. If you’re running a full room rather than a single feature wall, the right wallpapering tools make the job cleaner and quicker.

Keep an eye on the surrounding paint and prep too. A poor base or a rushed edge is what gets noticed first.