How to Wallpaper Around Corners, Outlets, and Windows

Hanging wallpaper on a flat, uninterrupted wall is relatively straightforward. The real skill — and the point where most DIY installations succeed or fail — is handling the obstacles: corners where walls meet, electrical outlets and light switches, window openings, and door frames. These areas require specific techniques that differ from standard strip-and-smooth installation.

This guide covers each obstacle in detail, with step-by-step instructions that apply to both traditional paste wallpaper and peel-and-stick varieties.

Inside Corners

An inside corner is where two walls meet to form a concave angle — the most common corner type in any room. The critical rule for inside corners: never wrap a full strip around a corner. Walls are rarely perfectly plumb (truly vertical), and wrapping a full strip forces the wallpaper to adjust to two potentially out-of-plumb surfaces, causing wrinkles, bubbles, and crooked pattern alignment on the second wall.

Step-by-Step: Inside Corner

1. Measure the gap. Measure from the edge of your last full strip to the corner at three points: top, middle, and bottom. Take the widest measurement and add 1/2 inch (12mm).
2. Cut the strip. Cut your next wallpaper strip to this width. You are creating a partial strip that will wrap just 1/2 inch around the corner onto the adjacent wall.
3. Apply the partial strip. Hang it as normal, pressing it into the corner with a seam roller or wallpaper brush. Smooth the 1/2-inch overlap onto the adjacent wall.
4. Plumb a new line. On the adjacent wall, measure out from the corner by the width of the remaining piece of your cut strip, minus 1/4 inch (so it overlaps the corner wrap slightly). Use a level to mark a true vertical line.
5. Hang the second piece. Align the remaining piece to your new plumb line, overlapping the corner wrap. This overlap ensures complete coverage even if the corner is not perfectly straight.
6. Double-cut the overlap (optional, for a seamless finish). Using a sharp utility knife and a straightedge, cut through both layers of wallpaper in the overlap. Remove the waste strips from both layers and smooth the seam flat. This creates an invisible butt joint.

Outside Corners

Outside corners — where two walls meet to form a convex angle, like a chimney breast or a column — are less common but more visible, so precision matters even more.

Step-by-Step: Outside Corner

1. Measure from the last strip to the corner, then add 1 inch (25mm) for the wrap.
2. Apply the strip up to the corner, then carefully wrap the 1-inch overlap around the outside corner, smoothing it with a wallpaper brush. Use the brush to press the paper firmly into the corner edge.
3. Plumb a new line on the second wall, as with inside corners.
4. Hang the next strip aligned to the plumb line, overlapping the corner wrap.
5. If the wallpaper is vinyl-coated, use vinyl-to-vinyl adhesive on the overlap area, as standard paste may not bond vinyl to vinyl.

Tips for Outside Corners

• Outside corners take more abuse than any other part of a wall. If possible, position your seam a few inches away from the actual corner edge rather than right on it, so the corner itself is covered by a single piece.
• If the corner is rounded (as in some older homes), the wrap needs to be wider to accommodate the curve.

Electrical Outlets and Light Switches

Outlets and switches are the most common obstacles on any wall. Always turn off electricity at the breaker before working near outlets — you will be cutting near live wires with a metal blade.

Step-by-Step: Outlets and Switches

1. Remove the cover plate before hanging wallpaper. Set the screws aside.
2. Hang the wallpaper strip directly over the outlet box. Let it drape over the opening. Smooth the wallpaper above and below the outlet.
3. Locate the outlet by feel through the wallpaper. Using a sharp utility knife, make a small X-shaped cut from corner to corner of the outlet box.
4. Fold back the triangular flaps created by the X cut. Trim them so the wallpaper extends about 1/4 inch past the edge of the outlet box — this will be hidden behind the cover plate.
5. Smooth the wallpaper around the outlet. Reattach the cover plate over the wallpaper. The plate will compress the trimmed edges for a clean finish.

Pro Tip

For a cleaner look, consider buying slightly oversized outlet cover plates (available at any hardware store). The larger plate covers more of the cut edge and creates a more polished appearance.

Windows

Windows require you to cut the wallpaper to fit around the opening and potentially wrap it into the window reveal (the inner sides of the window frame recess).

Step-by-Step: Windows

1. Hang the strip so it covers the window opening. Let the wallpaper drape over the window.
2. Make a horizontal cut from the edge of the wallpaper to the top corner of the window frame. Make a second horizontal cut to the bottom corner of the frame.
3. Fold the wallpaper flap around the top and bottom of the window, smoothing it against the wall above and below the window.
4. Trim excess along the window frame using a sharp knife and a broad putty knife as a guide. The putty knife provides a straight edge and protects the frame from the blade.
5. For the window reveal: if you want wallpaper inside the window recess, cut a separate piece to fit each surface (top, bottom, sides) and apply them individually, wrapping the edges slightly onto the face wall for a clean transition.

Door Frames

Door frames are handled similarly to windows but are simpler because you only need to cut around the top and one side (the strip will end at the floor next to the frame).

Step-by-Step: Door Frames

1. Hang the strip so it overlaps the door frame.
2. Using scissors, make a rough diagonal cut from the edge of the strip to the top corner of the door frame. This releases tension and allows the wallpaper to lie flat against the wall above the door.
3. Smooth the wallpaper above the door and along the wall beside it.
4. Trim closely along the door frame with a utility knife, using the frame as your guide.

Radiators and Pipes

In older Calgary homes, wall-mounted radiators and exposed pipes present additional challenges:

• Radiators: Hang the wallpaper to the top of the radiator and tuck it behind by about 4-6 inches using a radiator roller (a narrow paint roller on a long handle). You do not need to paper the full wall behind a radiator — it is invisible.
• Pipes: Cut the wallpaper from the nearest edge to the pipe location. Cut a circle slightly smaller than the pipe diameter. Slide the wallpaper around the pipe, smooth it in place, and press the cut edges together behind the pipe.

Essential Cutting Tips

• Change blades frequently. A dull blade tears wallpaper rather than cutting it. Snap off used blade segments every few cuts.
• Cut wet wallpaper carefully. Paste-the-paper wallpaper is weaker when wet. Use gentle pressure and let the blade do the work.
• Always cut from the face side to prevent tearing the printed surface.
• Use a metal straightedge for long cuts. Plastic rulers can be nicked by the blade, creating wobbles.

Ready to tackle your wallpaper project? Use the wallpaper calculator to ensure you have enough material, including extra for tricky cuts and pattern matching around obstacles.