THE IDEAL SURFACE Wallpaper is easiest to hang on a smooth and sanded wall, but it can also be applied over subpar plaster, tile, paneling, concrete, and, of course, old wallpaper. The secret? Wallpaper liner, a blank prep paper that creates flatness and regularity. It’s so effective at camouflage that most paper hangers use it on everything short of fresh drywall.
BE REALISTIC While installers can minimize the appearance of seams by applying primer tinted to a paper’s exact color, the seams will be visible—and that’s OK. “People see manipulated photos on Instagram with all the seams removed,” says master installer Michael Krawiec, who teaches the craft to pros in training. “That’s not reality! You see the seams on a shirt, don’t you?” If you still view seams as, well, unseemly, try…