Wallpapering can be a messy job, so you will want to prepare and protect the room beforehand. In addition, because wallpapering requires precision and a steady pace, you will want to have all the tools and supplies you will need at the ready.

Start by taking all lightweight objects and furniture out of the room. Drape dropcloths over anything remaining and then lay dropcloths on the floor. Lay towels over the baseboards and tape them to the floor underneath the dropcloths. Do not use newspapers as protection anywhere because the ink can transfer onto other surfaces if it gets wet.

Next, take down everything that is on the walls, including rods for window coverings. Remove all electrical faceplates and lighting fixtures but not without turning off the power first.

If you have painted any part of the room, such as trim, make sure it is thoroughly dry before starting to wallpaper.

Now that the room is prepared, move in your tools, supplies, and equipment—a ladder, sander or sanding block, 50-grit sandpaper, plastic bags, a bucket, sponges, and trisodium phosphate (TSP), ammonia, or bleach. If the walls are new construction, you may also need a primer-sealer.

If you are not hanging prepasted wallpaper, keep in mind that you will need different adhesives for the walls, seams, and any borders. The types you will need depend on the paper you have chosen, so ask your wallpaper dealer for the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Adhesive that has been premixed is easier to work with than adhesive you have to mix yourself. If you do choose to use dry paste, make sure you mix it with distilled water only. In addition, choose adhesives that are clay-based rather than cellulose- or wheat-based. Though they are a bit more difficult to work with, they provide the best adhesion.