ud83dudcda Living Room Renovation Series u2014 12 of 20
u2190 Living Room Renovation Vol.11: Wall Patching & Repair u00b7 Series Index u00b7 Living Room Renovation Vol.13: Door Adjustment Pt.1 u2192
u270fufe0f Originally published: December 18, 2016 / ud83dudd04 Updated: May 8, 2026
2026 Note from DIY Dad: Looking Back on the Living Room Finishing Work
ud83duded2 RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS
Cordless Drill & Driver Kit
The single most-used tool across 15 years of rental property repairs.
The living room renovation was entering its finishing phase: ceiling reinforcement, patching, wallpaper installation, and door adjustment. By this point you can almost see the finish line u2014 and the excitement really builds. ud83dude0a
Tips for Wallpaper Seam Work in the Living Room
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Complete Home Repair Tool Set
A complete kit beats buying individual tools every time u2014 cheaper and always ready.
A large living room means long wall runs u2014 and more seams to deal with. The standard technique for seam joints is the double-cut overlap method.
How double-cutting works: lay the new strip overlapping the previous one, then cut through both layers in a single pass with a utility knife and remove the excess from each. This produces a seamless joint that’s virtually invisible when done right.
Door Adjustment u2014 An Essential Step After Any Renovation
Replacing wallpaper can cause subtle dimensional changes in floors, walls, and ceilings. Doors may start sticking or develop gaps they didn’t have before. The fix is to loosen the hinge screws and shift the door. DIY Dad can now spot a misaligned door and correct it in about five minutes.
As a Landlord: Living Rooms Are Chosen for Atmosphere, Not Square Footage
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Adhesives & Sealants
Keep a stock of these u2014 you’ll use them on every single repair job.
After 15 years as a landlord, I can say that the first impression u2014 bright, clean, inviting u2014 matters far more than the room’s actual size when it comes to signing a lease. For wall color, a warm white to ivory tone is the safe, timeless choice.
Hello u2014 It’s DIY Dad! ud83dudc4b
This is a continuation of the 1F living room renovation series. Now that the substrate is ready, it’s time for the finishing coat u2014 hanging the wallpaper. Tools and materials used: pre-pasted wallpaper, joint caulk, smoothing brush, spatula, roller, utility knife, and a damp cloth.
A full guide to hanging wallpaper would need its own article u2014 I’ll save that for another time. The short version: take your time, work out every wrinkle and air bubble as you go. For more on wallpaper, see Entrance Way Edition Pt.3 and DIY Dad’s Finishing Materials u2014 Wallpaper Edition.
The living room is a big, complex space u2014 there’s a counter, a bay window, and lots of inside and outside corners everywhere. It took far longer than I expected, and the ceiling was the hardest part. At my current skill level, I simply can’t hang long ceiling strips alone, so I called in helpers u2014 family and friends. They held sections up, kept panels from peeling away from the fresh adhesive, and generally saved the day.
Thanks to them, we got it done! ud83dude05
u2191 The reinforced ceiling section. A little bumpy u2014 but the light fixture will cover most of it, so I’m calling it acceptable. ud83dude04
u2191 The patch over the old leak repair. Because I patched this area after the main wallpaper work was done, you can see a slight patchwork look u2014 but honestly, you wouldn’t notice unless you were looking for it. Good enough.
u2191 The walls. Cluttered with materials still, but the wallpaper looks properly clean and fresh, don’t you think?
u2191 The decorative wall section u2014 a maze of inside and outside corners.
u2191 A closer look. Lovely! DIY Dad is fully enjoying this moment of self-satisfaction. ud83dude04 That’s all for today u2014 see you next time! ud83dudc4b
ud83dudcda Living Room Renovation Series u2014 12 of 20
u2190 Living Room Renovation Vol.11: Wall Patching & Repair u00b7 Series Index u00b7 Living Room Renovation Vol.13: Door Adjustment Pt.1 u2192
DIY Renovation Quote Review Manual
How to read, compare, and negotiate contractor quotes. This manual saved me u00a5800,000 on a single renovation project.
ud83cudfe0 More from DIY Father
15 years of landlord experience u00b7 3 apartment buildings u00b7 DIY renovations that saved millions of yen. Browse all articles at diytosan.com
