How to hang a wallpaper border in Hong Kong

Can you give me some tips on hanging a wallpaper border in my child's nursery?

You will need a tape measure, Stanley knife, spirit level, bucket, sponge and an optional steam roller. First. decide whether you want to hang the border near the ceiling or half-way down the wall. If you're thinking of painting the walls in two colours, a mid-way border is a good way of covering up a crossover line. Many of the walls and ceilings in Hong Kong buildings are not truly level, or square, and hanging a level border near a sloping ceiling will only accentuate the fact that it's uneven, In this case you may choose to follow the line of the ceiling, or alternatively, establish a level line further down the wall.

To create a level border, pencil-mark the position you would like the top of the border, by measuring down from the ceiling or up from the floor, whichever is easier. Using the spirit level. mark a line along the wall, making sure the bubble is continually centered,

When you hang the border. start and end in the least conspicuous corner of the room so it will be less noticeable if a pattern doesn't match up. If you're hanging near to the ceiling, above a door is a good spot. If your border has a pattern, cut off a section so that the first edge sits half-way between motifs. When the end strip comes round, matching up the background area will be much easier than trying to match up a motif precisely.

Most borders are pre-pasted where you simply have to dip the border in water to activate the adhesive. If your border isn't pre-pasted, you can use any wallpaper paste. Using a clean brush, paint a thin layer of the adhesive on the back of the border and apply evenly on the wall, smoothing up and down from edge to edge. When you are handling the border, fold the pasted sides together to keep the adhesive moist and stop you getting into a mess. Align the top edge of the border to just conceal your pencil line and press down firmly, using a seam roller or brush to assist you. Wipe away excess glue with a damp cloth or sponge!

All the above tools and powdered paste (Metylan at HK$25 per packet) are available at Yuen Fat Ho, 77 Hollywood Road (tel: 2546 8020).

Does Wallpaper Work Well in Hong Kong's Humidity?

This is one of the most common questions I get asked, and the honest answer is: it depends entirely on the type of wallpaper you choose and how well you prepare the walls. Hong Kong's humidity -- regularly 80% or more from March through to September -- is brutal on standard paper-backed wallpaper. I have seen plenty of wallpaper peeling away from walls within months of being hung, simply because the wrong product was used.

Here is what works and what does not in our climate:

• Vinyl wallpaper -- the best choice for Hong Kong. The vinyl coating acts as a moisture barrier and is easy to wipe clean. Expect to pay HK$200-500 per roll for decent quality.
• Non-woven (fleece-backed) wallpaper -- another good option. It breathes slightly more than vinyl but is still moisture-resistant. Around HK$300-600 per roll.
• Traditional paper wallpaper -- avoid this in Hong Kong unless the room is air-conditioned 24/7. It absorbs moisture, bubbles, and eventually peels.
• Grasscloth and natural fibre wallpaper -- beautiful but a nightmare in humidity. Only suitable for very well-ventilated, air-conditioned spaces.

Before hanging any wallpaper, the wall surface must be properly prepared. Apply a coat of wallpaper primer or sizing first -- this seals the plaster and gives the adhesive something to grip. In Hong Kong, I always recommend using a fungicidal wallpaper paste rather than a standard one. The fungicide prevents mould from growing behind the wallpaper, which is a very real problem in older buildings with poor ventilation. A good fungicidal paste costs around HK$40-60 per packet.

If you already have wallpaper that is starting to peel at the edges, do not panic. You can buy wallpaper seam repair adhesive (around HK$30-50) which you apply with a small brush behind the lifted edge, then press firmly and roll with a seam roller. For borders specifically, this is a very common fix during the humid months.

One more tip: if your building has exterior walls that get damp, do not wallpaper those walls. Hang wallpaper on interior partition walls instead, and consider painting the damp exterior wall with a mould-resistant paint after treating the underlying damp issue.

Where Can You Buy Wallpaper in Hong Kong?

Hong Kong has a good selection of wallpaper suppliers, though you need to know where to look. Here are the places I regularly source from:

• Wan Chai wallpaper shops -- there is a cluster of shops along Queen's Road East and surrounding streets. These stock everything from budget Chinese-made wallpaper (HK$100-200 per roll) to imported European brands (HK$500-1,500 per roll). Most will show you sample books and can order specific patterns.
• Yuen Fat Ho, 77 Hollywood Road, Central -- my go-to for tools, paste, and basic wallpaper supplies. Tel: 2546 8931.
• Home Square, Sha Tin -- several wallpaper and interior design shops under one roof, good for browsing and comparing.
• Online options -- Taobao and HKTVmall both stock wallpaper, though I would always recommend seeing a physical sample before committing to a full order. Colours and textures can look very different on screen.

When buying wallpaper, always purchase 10-15% more than your calculated requirement. Pattern matching eats up more material than most people expect, and borders with motifs are especially wasteful at corners and joins. It is far better to have a roll left over than to discover your pattern has been discontinued when you are one strip short.

For a complete guide to refreshing your walls with paint rather than wallpaper, have a look at my article on rejuvenating colour in your home. And if you want to explore more interior improvement ideas, the full interiors section covers everything from flooring to lighting.

When Should You Call a Professional?

Hanging a simple wallpaper border is well within the ability of most DIY enthusiasts. However, there are situations where calling in a professional wallpaper hanger is the sensible choice:

• Full-room wallpapering -- covering entire walls requires skill at pattern matching, cutting around obstacles, and achieving bubble-free results. A professional wallpaper hanger in Hong Kong charges around HK$30-60 per square foot, depending on the complexity.
• Feature walls with expensive wallpaper -- if you have spent HK$1,000 or more per roll on designer wallpaper, the cost of a professional to hang it is well worth the peace of mind.
• Problem walls -- uneven surfaces, damp patches, or walls with old wallpaper that needs stripping first are best left to someone with experience.
• High ceilings -- many older Hong Kong apartments have ceilings over 3 metres. Working at height on a ladder with wet, paste-covered wallpaper is not for beginners.

I have been hanging wallpaper in Hong Kong homes since 1996, and the most important thing I have learned is that preparation is everything. A well-prepared wall with the right paste and the right wallpaper will last years, even in our climate. Cut corners on preparation, and you will be doing it all again within a year.

Last updated: March 2026