Change Wallpaper

Tastes change, and wallpaper chosen ten years ago can make a room feel stuck in the past. Maybe the pattern clashes with new furniture, the colours have faded in the Cyprus sun or a few seams have started to lift. Changing wallpaper gives you a complete update: the old covering comes off, the walls are put right and your new design goes up in its place.

Treating it as one project makes a real difference. The decorator who strips the old paper sees the condition of the plaster underneath and can prepare it specifically for the new paper you have chosen. There is no gap between trades, no debate over who should fill the cracks, and the room is back in use sooner.

From old paper to new design: the stages

1. Protection: furniture moved or covered, floors sheeted and switch and socket plates dealt with safely.
2. Stripping: scoring, soaking or steaming the old paper and lining, then scraping it away carefully.
3. Residue removal: washing off old paste so it does not react with the new adhesive.
4. Repairs: filling gouges, cracks and blown plaster revealed once the old paper is off.
5. Priming: sealing the surface so the new paper sticks evenly and can come off easily in future.
6. Hanging: setting out from a plumb line, matching the pattern and trimming neatly at every edge.

Surprises hidden behind old wallpaper

Old wallpaper sometimes hides problems. Paper hung directly on unsealed plaster can pull pieces of the surface away. Several layers may have been papered over each other through the years. In older houses in the Nicosia suburbs or in village homes, you may find damp patches, hairline cracks or patched areas that need attention before the new paper goes up. A good decorator will show you what they find and explain the options before carrying on.

If the wall turns out to be badly damaged, a skim of fresh plaster or a lining paper may be the best base. Lining paper also helps on uneven walls, giving thin or dark wallpapers a smoother, more consistent finish.

Factors that shape the price

• Old covering: how many layers there are, and whether it is vinyl, painted over or stuck directly on plaster.
• Wall repairs: the amount of filling, sanding or lining needed once the paper is off.
• New paper: the type, the pattern repeat and whether it is a mural or textured product.
• Room size: total wall area, ceiling height and the number of windows and doors.

Photos of the current walls and a link to, or picture of, the new paper help decorators judge all of this before they quote.

Booking a wallpaper change on FixNow

1. Post your job for free with photos of the current wallpaper and details of the new paper.
2. Receive offers from local decorators who have passed FixNow’s ID and profile checks.
3. Compare what each includes, from stripping to repairs and hanging, then accept one.
4. Pay securely; the payment is released after you confirm the room is finished.

From a dated hallway in Larnaca to a bedroom makeover in Germasogeia, post your job on FixNow and give your walls a fresh new look.