How to Hang Village Cricket 01 Wallpaper Without Bubbles

Quick answer

To hang Lick's Village Cricket 01 wallpaper without bubbles, start with a clean, dry, and smooth wall. Use a proper wallpaper paste, apply evenly, and smooth from the center outward with a plastic smoother. Work slowly and lift the paper to reposition if you see air pockets forming.

Before you start: wall preparation

A smooth, clean surface is the foundation of a bubble-free wallpaper job. Fill any holes or cracks, sand them flat, and wipe away dust. If the wall is painted, a light sanding helps the paste grip. For new drywall, apply a primer first to prevent the paste from soaking in too fast.

Measure your wall height and cut each strip of Village Cricket 01 wallpaper with a few inches extra at the top and bottom. This extra length gives you room to match the pattern and trim precisely.

Pasting and booking the wallpaper

Use a high-quality cellulose or ready-mixed paste suitable for the wall type. Apply paste evenly to the back of the paper, then fold the pasted sides together (paste to paste) without creasing. This process, called booking, lets the paste soak into the paper evenly and reduces the chance of bubbles. Leave it to rest for the time recommended on the paste packaging.

Hanging and smoothing the first strip

Start in a corner or next to a door frame. Align the first strip with a plumb line to keep it straight. Unfold the top half and press it onto the wall, then unfold the bottom half. Use a plastic wallpaper smoother to push air from the center toward the edges. Work gently but firmly. If a bubble appears, lift the paper back to that spot and re-smooth.

Matching the pattern on subsequent strips

Village Cricket 01 has a repeating green floral and botanical pattern. When hanging the second strip, match the pattern by aligning the design at eye level before pressing the paper down. Butt the edges tightly without overlapping. Run the smoother over the seam after both strips are in place.

Diagnosis: Bubble Troubleshooting

• Symptom: Small raised air pockets appear after smoothing, or larger bubbles form hours later. Check if the bubble is small and isolated or part of a larger area.
• Likely cause: Uneven paste application, insufficient booking time, or smoothing from the edges inward instead of the center outward. Review your paste coverage and booking time.
• Corrective action: For small bubbles: use a fine syringe to inject a little paste, then smooth flat. For larger bubbles: lift the paper carefully, reapply paste, and smooth again. Act within 10-15 minutes before the paste sets.
• When to stop and restart: If the paper is creased, torn, or the pattern is misaligned beyond repair, remove the strip and start fresh with a new piece. Better to rehang one strip than to live with a visible flaw.

Product used in this guide

• Village Cricket 01: Lick Village Cricket 01 is a green floral and botanical wallpaper designed by Studio Coverdale. This design is both stimulating and inviting, perfect for a hallway. The large-scale botanical pattern means careful pattern matching is essential to avoid misalignment that can look like bubbles or wrinkles.