ONE ROOM CHALLENGE WEEK 5: Finding the Perfect Statement Pieces via. The Pacific Standard | www.thepacificstandard.com

We are nearing the end of the ORC and going full steam ahead into today’s post, and it’s a fun one! Between this beautiful textured wallpaper from Tempaper and Vintage Daisy Bordered Blue Rug from Ruggable, the space is truly starting to come to life. The overall theme in today’s post is all about scale and texture, which IMO all well-executed designs need! It’s truly a balancing act, and both play a huge part in helping round out the design space as it transitions through the rest of the home.

The One Room Challenge is hosted twice a year in spring and again in Fall and run for 6-weeks. I’m thrilled to be participating as a guest, and I look forward to starting this challenge and connecting with fellow bloggers! I’ll be posting each week to share our dining space's on-going progress while highlighting our weekly to-do list (more on that below)!

HOW TO REMOVE TEXTURE FROM WALLS

Our entire house has extremely textured walls, which makes wallpaper application tricky. To apply wallpaper and actually have it stick, applying sizing is necessary. Applying joint compound is fairly easy but does present a small learning curve. The easiest way to get started is to ensure you have the correct materials for the job. This task found itself at the end of my timeline for this project, so much of the room was already in place. Because of this, I ensured to cover everything with a plastic drop-cloth properly. The below tools can all be purchased at your local hardware store.

If your walls are heavily textured like mine, you can first knock off some of the higher peaks with a taping knife or a drywall sanding block. I’d suggest purchases a taping knife that is at least 12”.A bigger surface area will get the job done more efficiently. Depending on your wall size, you’ll want to make sure you have enough joint compound (I use this one) on hand to smooth your walls. Using another taping knife (6-8”), you’ll want to scoop out the premixed joint compound into your 12-14” mud pan. It’s important to purchase a mud pan that fits your taping knife, preferably one with a sharp edge from removing excess while you work.

Although the premixed compound's consistency should be ready to use, I find that adding a tiny bit of water (and mixing) removes excess bubbles and gets a better frosting-like consistency. When you're ready to apply the joint compound to your wall, work in smaller 2 ft areas. This allows for a smooth application that is consistent across the surface. The wall I was working on holds a lot of heat, so the compound started to dry as I worked, which meant I had to move quickly. You may find that as you work, ripples or bubbles from the application will appear. It’s a good idea to smooth these out as you find them. This will make for a quick sanding job after everything dries!

Once the joint compound has been applied to your walls, let dry completely. You’ll start to see that the once beige-creamy color begins to dissipate as it adheres and drys. I find that letting it completely set for 24 hrs is the best rule of thumb. Depending upon the texture, you may need to apply a second coat. This might not be necessary if your texture was light to begin with.

For the perfect Tempaper application primer and a semi-gloss, satin, or eggshell. Please continue reading to learn how we applied this gorgeous grasscloth wallpaper to the dining room!

The above images show the smooth wall surface after the joint compound has completely dried, and has been lightly sanded.

HOW TO APPLY TEMPAPER WALLPAPER

If there is any tip I can offer to beginners when hanging wallpaper, it’s to make sure your first piece is straight! This single piece will set the standard for everything else you hang. I’ll be honest wallpapering has taken me many tries to get the hang of it. I typically always utilize painters tape as a guide to ensure my line is perfectly straight. The second crucial tip is making sure you have enough wallpaper to cover your entire wall plus extra! As a general rule of thumb, you’ll want to allow at least 10% extra to pattern matching and excess trim (top/bottom). Below are a few helpful guides to ensure your wallpapering experience is a good one.

Do not start flush with the top of your walls! So often walls are NOT straight or even, especially in order homes like my own. Start the application to allow for space to trim at both the top and bottom. This is another reason why we purchase additional paper.
Don’t start hanging your paper in a corner, but instead work from the middle out. Again, walls are notoriously uneven, and starting in a corner can create additional issues for pattern matching.
Work with Plenty of Light: I have found that lighting is crucial when applying wallpaper, especially for pattern matching and leveling your panels. You can absolutely work at night or in a darker space, but ensuring you have plenty of light directed at your surface will help guide a smoother application.
How to Smooth Bubbles: Similar to what I was discussing with the joint compound, it’s much easier to tackle and remove bubbles as you work rather than trying to remove them at the end. Bubbles or paper ripples can distract from the paper's beauty, and IMO take away from your hard work. Remove bubbles is fairly easy and is my main reason for suggesting using a squeegee(WITH A SOFT EDGE).
Slow and steady: Typically, I only begin a wallpaper project when I know I’ll have plenty of time to work on it. If you start a panel and find yourself out of time, it can really mess up the application. Ensuring you dedicate plenty of time and work slowly (thoughtfully) helps keep things straight!

It’s safe to say that I am OBSESSED with the overall look that the Tempaper adds to the space. It’s nearly identical to my original mood board and really sets the carefree tone to the space. It also adds another layer of texture that the space desperately needs. I can’t wait to reveal the entire space next week! Fingers crossed that the final furniture and styling pieces arrive on time!