What is the best time of the year to wallpaper?

Dear Marianne,
Your friend is absolutely right! When it comes to starting a wallpapering project, the season can significantly impact the end result! Choosing the best time for wallpapering is not just a matter of personal preference, it directly affects the overall success of your project. In my experience, the ideal temperature for wallpapering is between 15C and 20C (60F to 70F) with humidity levels at around 60%. Different adhesives react to temperature and humidity variations in different ways, seasonal changes impact the condition of your walls, and let’s not forget you also need agreeable temperatures to work comfortably and with a steady hand.

Which season is best for wallpapering?

When it comes to starting a wallpapering project, each season brings its unique challenges and advantages. Let me briefly outline them for you:

Spring

Springtime can be a good time for wallpapering, although this season can bring higher humidity levels which are potentially challenging, especially if you already live in a slightly damp environment.

Summer

I personally don’t recommend starting a wallpapering project during the hot and dry summer days. The heat dries your wallpapering paste too quickly, making it hard to position the individual lengths accurately and leading to possible warping and open seams.

Autumn/Fall

All wallpapering professionals agree that autumn (or fall, as North Americans like to call it) is the ideal wallpapering season. Mild temperatures, stable weather conditions and moderate humidity provide an environment that is most likely to result in a trouble-free process.

Winter

Winter is not the best time to install wallpaper. Low humidity and cold temperatures impact both the flexibility of wallpapers and the bonding strength of the adhesive. The uneven distribution of heat produced by your heating system will also have an impact on drying times.

Should I install a wallpaper in spring?

You certainly can start your wallpapering project in the spring. This season provides mild temperatures, making it comfortable to work without being exposed to extreme heat or cold. The days are getting longer, providing better visibility and precision during installation, and the spring air helps with ventilation, allowing the adhesive to dry effectively. However, spring can be humid, and this has an impact on adhesive drying times which slows down the bonding process, so try to pick days with low humidity for your decoration project. If you live in a particularly humid climate, you can consider using a dehumidifier to maintain the right moisture level in the room.

Can I install wallpaper in summer?

Wallpapering in the summer offers some advantages as the extended daylight hours provide more time to tackle your DIY project: when you come home from work, the windows can be kept open, which provides for better air circulation. However, hot weather accelerates the drying process of the adhesive, making it more difficult to position the individual lengths of wallpaper and to correct misalignments. I recommend that you pick a non-woven wallpaper model as they are dimensionally stable, which means they won’t shrink or expand significantly as a result of temperature fluctuations. Schedule your wallpapering project for cooler days, during the early hours of the morning or in the evening, when the temperature is relatively low. Air conditioning can also help to control both temperature and humidity.

Can I install wallpaper in autumn?

Absolutely! Autumn is the best season to finally put up that wallpaper you’ve been longing for! It offers stable temperatures and humidity levels, creating the ideal environment for wallpaper installation. Of course, you’ll have to deal with less daylight hours and you might have to schedule your redecoration project for a weekend, but you will not regret it.

Can I install wallpaper in winter?

When it comes to wallpapering, winter is a mixed bag. On the one hand, winter typically equals low humidity, which is what you want for the application and drying of the adhesive. However, cold temperatures can stiffen wallpaper material, making it less pliable and more challenging to work with. When it’s freezing outside, keeping your windows open might not be an option. If humidity levels are too low, consider investing in a humidifier to increase moisture levels (it should be around 40-60%).

Your wallpaper expert
Isabel