Tools & Materials Vol.1: Wallpaper Installation

u270fufe0f Originally published: 2021-07-24 / ud83dudd04 Updated: May 8, 2026

2026 Update from DIY Dad: Tools & Materials Guide for Apartment DIY Renovation

Here I’ll introduce the tools and materials I actually used in my apartment renovations. Knowing what to have on hand is the very first step toward DIY renovation. ^ ^

Tools for Wallpaper (Wallcovering) Installation

Essential Tools

• Wallpaper utility knife (stock up on extra blades)
• Smoothing brush (to brush out air bubbles while hanging)
• Seam guide / wide putty knife (acts as a ruler when cutting)
• Seam roller (to press seams firmly)
• Sponge (to wipe off excess paste)
• Stepladder (for work near the ceiling)

Handy Optional Tools

• Paste machine (greatly speeds up large-volume jobs)
• Wallpaper roller (for removing air from large surfaces)

Once you buy tools, you can use them over and over again. Because DIY Dad renovates multiple rooms in the apartment one by one, the investment pays back quickly. m(_ _)m

Tools & Materials for Cushion Floor (Vinyl Sheet) Installation

Essential Tools

• Utility knife (a heavy-blade type for vinyl)
• Seam guide (for trimming the edges of the vinyl sheet)
• Roller (for pressing after adhesion)
• Saw (for cutting baseboards)
• Paper template (for cutting out complex shapes)

Materials

• Cushion floor sheet (buy with 10u201320 cm extra beyond the room size)
• Double-sided flooring tape (or dedicated adhesive)
• Baseboard (if replacing)

The basic approach is to buy the vinyl in one roll and cut it on site. Seams are visible when you piece sections together, so plan to cover the floor in a single piece whenever possible. ^ ^

Tools & Materials for Wall Surface Preparation

Tools used for wall prep before hanging wallpaper:

• Sealer (stops suction and strengthens the substrate)
• Filler / surface compound (putty)
• Putty knife (to spread the compound)
• Sandpaper (to smooth the surface after the compound dries)
• Masker & masking tape (to protect areas from getting dirty)

Older properties often have fiber walls, sand-finish walls, or juraku plaster u2014 wallpaper won’t stick without preparation. Work through the steps: sealer u2192 putty u2192 sanding to get the surface ready. m(_ _)m

The Importance of Masking & Protection

Masking (taping off areas) is a critical step that determines the quality of your renovation. Taking the time to mask properly means:

• Paint and paste don’t end up where they shouldn’t
• The finished lines are clean and straight
• Cleanup afterward is much easier

Use masker sheets (masking tape with an attached plastic film), drop cloths, and masking tape according to the situation. Thorough masking before painting is especially important. ^ ^

For Those Considering Apartment Investment & Renovation

In apartment renovation, cost-effectiveness is everything. DIY Dad has cut costs significantly by doing the work himself. ^ ^

Marutoku Shop | Renovation Materials & Lumber u00bb

Hello, I’m DIY Dad. ^ ^
Here I’ll introduce the tools, implements, and materials used for wallpaper installation.

Premise

I use pre-pasted wallpaper (with fresh paste applied). If you want to save the time and cost of applying paste yourself, pre-pasted rolls are the way to go.

Tools in Detail

The hand tools I use are: a wallpaper smoothing brush, a wallpaper seam guide (wide blade), a bamboo spatula, a wallpaper seam roller, a utility knife, scissors, pliers, and a towel.

u2192 Wallpaper smoothing brush u2014 used to smooth and flatten the wallpaper as you apply it.

u2192 Wallpaper seam guide (wide blade) u2014 holds the wallpaper in place and acts as a guide for the utility knife.

u2192 Small spatula

u2192 Bamboo spatula u2014 this is a reference photo since I seem to have misplaced mine… The whole point of this tools post, and I lost it! It’s used to press wallpaper into inside corners and edges.

u2192 Wallpaper seam roller u2014 used to press seams down firmly.

u2192 Utility knife u2014 a long-body cutter with an ultra-thin 0.2 mm razor-angle blade.

u2192 Replacement blades for the utility knife

u2192 Scissors u2014 for trimming wallpaper in tight spots.

u2192 Pliers u2014 for snapping off worn, rounded blade segments.

u2192 Towel u2014 for wiping off fresh paste and other messes.

u2192 Joint caulk (seam filler) u2014 used to finish the seams and edges of the wallpaper. It comes in various colors u2014 white, beige, and others u2014 to match the wallpaper.

That’s all for today! (^^)/~~~

DIY Dad’s Recommended Tools

A cordless power driver that makes DIY work more efficient. Compact and easy to use even for beginners.

ud83dudcdd DIY Dad’s Premium note Article
Real-Data Cost & Timeline Database for DIY Renovation
Detailed cost records from full renovations across all apartment and house units u2014 cost comparisons by wallpaper, flooring, and plumbing.
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