Why drying wallpaper quickly is the fastest way to ruin it, what the room should be doing for the first two days, and when you can put everything back
Twenty-four to forty-eight hours in ordinary room conditions. Keep the windows closed and the heating at its normal setting while it dries. The single most common cause of open seams is a wall dried too fast, not too slow.
What is actually happening
The water in the paste has to leave, partly into the wall and partly through the paper. As it goes, the adhesive bonds and the paper settles onto the surface.
Force that process and you get a surface that is dry while the bond behind it is not. The paper contracts slightly against an adhesive that has not yet gripped, and the result appears as a line at the seams a day or two later.
The timings
Touch dry: a few hours.
Properly dry: 24 to 48 hours.
Longer in a cold room, a room with no ventilation at all, on a solid external wall, or where the paste was applied heavily.
Heavy-grade paper takes towards the longer end, because it is twice the weight and takes more adhesive.
Peel and stick has nothing to dry. It is finished when it is hung, though it is worth leaving a day before hanging anything on it.
What to do while it dries
Close the windows. A through-draught is the fastest way to open a seam.
Leave the heating as it normally is. Not off entirely in a cold house, and certainly not turned up.
No fan heaters, dehumidifiers or hair dryers pointed at the wall.
Keep radiators off on any wall you have just papered, for 24 to 48 hours.
Leave the room alone. Bubbles and slightly raised seams while it is damp are normal and usually gone by morning.
When can I put furniture back?
After 48 hours, and leave a small gap behind it for the first few days so air can move.
When can I turn the radiators back on?
After 48 hours.
When can I hang pictures or fix shelves?
After 48 hours.
When can I paint the woodwork?
After the paper is dry, and mask carefully. Better still, paint the woodwork first.
When can I use the bathroom normally?
After two days, with the extractor on or a window open.
When can I judge whether something has gone wrong?
Not until 48 hours have passed. A great many faults that look alarming on the first evening have gone by the second morning.
Drying in a cold house
In an unheated room in winter, paste can take considerably longer and may not bond well at all. Bring the room up to an ordinary temperature before you start, keep it there steadily throughout, and allow the full 48 hours.
Steady is the important word. A room that is warm during the day and freezing overnight is worse than one that is consistently cool.
How long does wallpaper take to dry?
24 to 48 hours in ordinary room conditions.
Can I put the heating on after wallpapering?
Leave it at its normal setting. Do not turn it up, and keep radiators on freshly papered walls off for 24 to 48 hours.
Should I open the windows to help it dry?
No. A draught dries the surface before the paste behind it has bonded, and that is what opens seams.
How long before I can move furniture back?
48 hours, and leave a small gap behind it for a few days.
My seams look raised while it's drying: is that a problem?
Usually not. Damp paper is slightly expanded and settles as it dries. Judge it after two days.
How long does peel and stick take to dry?
It does not dry, because there is no water in it. Leave a day before hanging anything on the wall.
Fabulous wallpaper and excellent customer service. This Bronte wallpaper has given my kitchen a new lease of life. Will definitely buy from here again.
This beautiful wallpaper is in my foyer and it sets off the tone of the whole house. In the neighboring dining room I’ve hung Thibaut Iggy wallpaper and the two rooms blend seamlessly.
Excellent!
First Class wallpaper, easy application, the print is exceptional, new it would be ideal for my coffee corner of my new kitchen , arrived well packaged and on time , would highly recommend
This paper was so easy to install! I have used all three types of paper and will never go back to anything but paste the wall. The patterns were correct and easy to Mark and to match and the colors were as true as my samples. This company has been great to deal with and will use them again in the future.
Love this wallpaper! Second time purchasing a Claret & Key wallpaper. The quality is outstanding! The paper is thick and goes on so easily, works great for those new to wallpapering or DIY. The colors are super bright and amazing. They are my go-to wallpaper company now!
I love the quality of this paper, it was easy to cut and correct where I had made mistakes. Its high end vintage style is timeless in my daughter’s bedroom. I love it and will use this brand again!! Thank you so much 🤍🤍
Looks beautiful in my dining room and in a cabinet that I brought in during the remodel. The service was great and came quickly. The paper was easy to install. The only thing I am noticing is that it is pulling up in places. It might be the textured wall that is causing the issues. A high quality paper and I would definitely order again.
Only started with one wall and I’ve decided to do my entire room. It is so stunning and cozy. It made my bedroom look like it’s from a different planet. I bought two more rolls for the room. I am so excited to get those when they arrive !
Love the wall paper. Easy to hang, and I love the fact that you can change the background colours, which for me makes it bespoke. I have recommended to a friend.
Absolutely gorgeous and high quality wallpaper. We got samples from multiple brands and I could tell just by the feel of this one how high quality it is.
The print is a total Florida vibe. It feels vintage, tropical, very old Florida. The 'summer' color way feels bright but isn't overwhelming. Truly love this wallpaper.
Ordered 2 rolls, managed in one roll. Quickest and easiest wallpaper I’ve put up. Hardly any wastage due to repeating pattern. Got a refund for the roll I didn’t use within a few days of returning also. When returning I emailed C&K for instructions and was given promptly and clearly. Would recommend and would buy again.
I've never worked with peel & stick wallpaper before. It was a little tricky to get use to, but I got the hang of it & the process went smoothly! It's sticking great, weeks later, no peeling anywhere! I absolutely love how this print transformed my dining room!
