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  4. How To: Wallpaper A Chimney Breast

Interiors & Decorating

Inspiration and advice on interior design, decorating styles, colour schemes and home aesthetics.

Interiors & Decorating

How To: Wallpaper A Chimney Breast

A feature wall is a great way to add a finishing touch to a room, without cramping it with busy patterns all over. If you have a chimney breast, an easy way to add a stylish accent is with striking, on-trend wall paper.

A feature wall is a great way to add a finishing touch to a room, without cramping it with busy patterns all over. If you have a chimney breast, an easy way to add a stylish accent is with striking, on-trend wall paper.

The seasonal colours this year are teals, ochres and greys but as long as you love it, it doesn’t really matter what is fashionable! What’s more, if it is just one chimney breast, you can switch up the wallpaper as often as you like. Check out our simple steps to wallpapering your chimney breast.

You will need

  • Plumb line and chalk
  • Dust sheet
  • Stepladder
  • Tape measure
  • Scissors
  • Pasting table
  • Wallpaper!
  • Wallpaper adhesive (read the instructions on the packet!)
  • Pasting brush
  • Hanging brush
  • Stanley knife
  • Clean cloth

The process

  1. Measure the width of your chimney breast. Note down the width, and mark the exact centre using your plumb line. Then measure the width of your wallpaper and mark the chimney breast so that your first length of wallpaper will go exactly down the middle of the chimney.
  2. Measure from ceiling to mantel and ceiling to floor and note the measurements, giving an extra 10 cm for trimming.
  3. Your first piece will go in the exact middle of the chimney breast, so will need to be measured to fit from ceiling to mantel piece. Place the piece face down on your table and brush it evenly with wallpaper paste. Gently fold in half and leave to soak in accordance with the instructions on the paste. Don’t apply too much paste – this could damage the wallpaper, cause the colours to bleed, rip the paper, or cause it to expand, which will mean that you will have a gap at the seams when the paper dries and shrinks again.
  4. Using the chalked lines as your guide, position your wallpaper in the centre of the chimney. Use the back of your scissors to mark a line where you need to trim; ease the wallpaper away from the wall and trim. Stick the wallpaper to the wall, brushing downwards and outwards to eliminate bubbles.
  5. Use your clean cloth to smooth the wallpaper for a neat, professional finish.
  6. Once the first piece is hung, work your way outwards. If you are using a patterned wallpaper, make sure that the patterns line up and that your seams are tight together.

When you are applying wallpaper, it is important that you take your time so that you achieve a precise, professional finish. If you are not confident in wallpapering yourself, contact a local painter and decorator for a quote. A chimney breast shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours to prepare the surface and paper, and sometimes getting a professional to do it is much simpler in the long run!

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Looking for more interiors & decorating advice?

Find clear, practical answers to common interiors & decorating questions, helping homeowners understand everyday issues, know what checks they can carry out safely, and when it is best to contact a qualified professional.

  • What is the difference between a painter and a decorator?

    A painter focuses on applying paint - walls, ceilings, woodwork. A decorator does all of that but also handles wallpaper, specialist finishes, surface prep, and can advise on colours and materials. Many professionals do both and call themselves painters and decorators. For a straightforward repaint, a painter is fine. If you want wallpaper, something specialist, or someone to help you make decisions about the finish, go with a decorator.

  • How many coats of paint does a professional decorator apply?

    For most walls, it's a primer or mist coat, then two topcoats. New plaster, bare surfaces, or a big colour change might need more preparation or extra coats. Cutting corners on coats or using cheap paint are the most common ways to get a finish that looks fine at first and starts showing its age within a year. A trusted decorator always prepares the surface properly and won't rush between coats.

  • How do I prepare my home before a decorator arrives?

    Move furniture away from the walls and take down pictures, mirrors, and anything fixed to the walls. If you can strip old wallpaper yourself beforehand, it'll save time on site. Make sure every part of the room is accessible and well-lit. Talk through surface prep with the decorator in advance - a good one will tell you exactly what they need before they can start.

  • How do I know if my walls need replastering before decorating?

    If there are significant cracks, areas that sound hollow when you tap them, persistent damp, or large patches that are flaking or badly uneven - replastering first will give a much better result. Decorating over problem plaster looks fine initially but every imperfection tends to show through, especially with modern matt paints. A decorator can assess whether full replastering or careful preparation and skim coating will get you where you want to be.

  • What are the most popular interior design styles right now?

    There's been a pretty clear shift away from the all-grey, everything-neutral look of the 2010s. Warmer tones are dominating - clay, terracotta, stone, off-white - with natural materials like linen, rattan, and solid timber replacing high-gloss finishes. Biophilic design (plants, natural light, organic shapes) has gone from trend to standard practice. There's also a real appetite for spaces that feel personal and collected rather than showroom-ready - bold wallpaper, layered textiles, and period features being celebrated rather than painted over.

  • How long does a full home decorating project typically take?

    A single room in good condition typically takes a professional two to three days. A full house - particularly an older property that needs a little more care beforehand - can take several weeks. The part that often catches people off guard is the preparation: stripping wallpaper, filling, sanding, and priming all take a good amount of time, and doing them properly really does make all the difference to the finished result.

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