3 Things I Learned Hanging Grasscloth Wallpaperand 1 Big Mistake to Avoid
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Grasscloth wallpaper is notoriously difficult to install. Real grasscloth wallpaper is made from natural fibers like jute, hemp, arrowroot, or seagrass, which are handwoven and backed with paper. The organic construction is super fragile (it tears more easily than vinyl or synthetic papers), and the natural fibers actually absorb adhesive and moisture, which poses the risk of staining or warping. On top of that, grasscloth wallpaper is super difficult to trim because the natural fibers fray when cut, making clean edges very hard to achieve. You also only have one chance to apply it to the wall, as repositioning can stretch or damage the delicate paper backing and fibers.
Now, I have my fair share of experience installing wallpaper. That said: If you’re not experienced with wallpaper, definitely call a professional before attempting grasscloth. Call me crazy, but I actually love putting up wallpaper. I’ve installed almost every kind: ultra-patterned, textured vinyls, peel-and-stick—you name it. But I’ll admit, I was nervous to attempt grasscloth. I knew it can be finicky (and I can be a little clumsy) but I figured that I’m relatively experienced with wallpaper, so I’d give it a shot. Here are the top 3 things I learned—plus one huge mistake to avoid.
Key Takeaways
- Real grasscloth wallpaper, made from natural fibers like jute or seagrass, is extremely fragile and sensitive to moisture, paste, and pressure.
- Prep and precision are everything: successful installation depends on meticulous preparation.
- Patience pays off (but it’s not for beginners). Even for an experienced wallpaperer, installing grasscloth was time-consuming and mentally taxing.
1. Do: Paste the Paper and the Wall
Most grasscloth wallpapers will call for the paste the paper method, where you apply the paste directly to the back of the wallpaper. Actually pasting the grasscloth is probably the stickiest part of the process, figuratively and literally. You need to find the sweet spot. Too much and you risk it seeping out the seams and staining the edges, but you need enough to make the wallpaper pliable and have it actually stick to the wall.
To get the right amount, I used a foam roller to apply the paste (I used Roman’s Ultra-Premium Clear Pro 880), then used a brush to do the edges. I made sure to apply enough that the wallpaper would actually stick to the wall, but not too much that would pool under the paper. Evenly spread coats are key; avoid leaving spots with excess, pooling paste. This will create problems later on.
After I booked the panel (a common paste-the-paper step that allows the wallpaper to absorb the paste and expand before being hung on the wall) I used the roller to apply a small amount of paste (I’m talking an ultra-thin layer) to the wall. This way, I knew my seams would be well-covered and hopefully avoided the need to go back and re-paste the edges. It also gave me a little bit more “give”, letting me very gently slide the wallpaper in place without risking stretching or tearing it. Once its up, use a wallpaper roller (not a flat smoothing tool, which can damage the paper) to smooth it out. Cut the overage with a super sharp knife. If you have any paste that comes out of the sides, use a paper towel to wipe it out and away from the wallpaper. Do not let any paste touch the front of the paper as it’s impossible to remove.
2. Do: Cut Before You Paste
Regular wallpaper (not grasscloth) is usually quite pliable and easy to cut. Grasscloth is not. It’s very (very, very) difficult to work around beams, doorways, and corners. That said: I recommend cutting the wallpaper panels to size before you paste them to the wall. This crucial step seems like a headache but will save you so much time in the long run.
Use super sharp, clean scissors to cut the wallpaper panels, then use a very sharp knife to trim the edges once it’s up. If you’re working in an inside corner, cut two separate panels that join together. (However, if you’re wrapping around a corner, work with a single large panel.) Make sure your knife always stays sharp as you work. Dull knives risk damaging the paper and make for messy, frayed edges.
3. Do: Plan Panels Before You Start
Unlike regular wallpaper, grasscloth is not all the same. Because its handmade from natural fibers, every single roll is different and color can vary from one roll to the next. That said, plan your roll transitions carefully. When you’re wallpapering a large focal wall, use as much of the same roll as you can, with the main panels coming from the same roll. If you were to use one panel from one roll and another from the next in the center of a focal wall, you risk a major color difference right in the middle of the room. While these natural imperfections and color variations are the draw, beauty, and charm of grasscloth, it’s still important to make sure the final look feels cohesive.
Try to plan your room so that you’re transitioning from roll to roll in inconspicuous areas like corners or behind curtains or pieces of furniture. That way, a major color difference or seam ins’t as noticeable. While we want to be able to see each individual panel and the natural changes, major variations can become distracting or even look like a mistake.
4. Don’t: Rush Through It
Grasscloth wallpaper requires patience and precision, and though I’m an experienced wallpaperer, I found it very time-consuming to install. Installing grasscloth is not something to rush, so make sure to give yourself plenty of time to do it. I installed our grasscloth in our primary bedroom, and though it is a large room, three wall alone took me over 2 days. I still have yet to complete the fourth. Good installation is very time consuming, so go into the project planning for double the amount of time you expect.
While grasscloth is definitely more difficult and requires more care during installation than other types of wallpaper, it was much simpler than I expected it to be. With patience and a gentle hand, my grasscloth looks fantastic and I’m thrilled with the results. However, if you’re not confident in your wallpaper skills, I would absolutely suggest hiring a professional.
