Grazing in the Grasscloth

A couple years back, I stumbled upon a vintage treasure at an antique shop in Southern California — an original relief print by Doretta Ensign, circa 1961. The piece is titled “If to the moon one puts a handle - what a splendid fan.” It was one of those works that spoke to me the moment I saw it.

What drew me in was the stylized, playful shapes, the rich blue inks, and a highly textural relief. It has a very Japanese feel to it, not only in the subject matter, but also its wabi-sabi technique and offset registration. At the time, I wasn’t sure where this piece of art would live in my home, but after some deliberation, I decided it would be a welcome addition to the dining room over the Stanley credenza, my favorite piece of furniture.

For a while now, I have been considering different ways to cozy up the dining room. An accent wall of sorts seemed like the right way to go, but I wasn’t entirely sure what that would be. I wanted something that felt calming, period-appropriate, and organic to the space. As I began to envision the finished wall with the artwork in place, a highly textural, organic grasscloth was resonating strongly with me. Through a variety of samples, I chose a natural/tan color. which coordinates nicely with the adjacent Muddox fireplace brick in the living room. This material would not only relate to the mid-century Japanese influence of the art, but also mimic the deep carved background texture.

Installation Insights

If you’ve never installed wallpaper, grasscloth may be an advanced place to start. However, with a few simple tools, preparation, and a little patience, a beautiful finished project is achievable at any skill level. Here are a few takeaways from my experience.

Protect outlets with painters tape to keep paste and moisture out.

Some surfaces may require a wall primer. This is particularly useful for heavy weight papers and walls with light imperfections.

Start by drawing a line from floor to ceiling that is plumb and level. This is your guide for the leading edge of your wallpaper. Take the time to ensure this is right — it’s the foundation of your project.

Take the time to measure accurately. You only get once chance to cut wallpaper at the right length.

For greater control, use a pair or sharp utility scissors for trimming measured sheets.

Marking the top backing of the wallpaper ensures you keep the pattern running in the same direction throughout installation.

For unpasted papers, I recommend applying paste directly to the paper backing for best adhesion.

Firmly press air pockets out of the paper starting at the top, working your way left to right, keeping an eye on that plumb line as you go.

A squeegee is an excellent tool to work out air pockets that also promotes adhesion. Be sure to use a hard plastic squeegee, never metal.

Repeat the pasting and hanging process, using the previous completed edge as your guide.

Lock down edges by firmly pressing seams with a hard plastic J-roller.

A sharp utility blade makes for clean cuts around switch plates and outlets.

For clean cuts in corners, use a wide putty knife as a straight edge. Slide the putty knife along the corner while keeping your utility knife pressed to the wall without lifting as you cut.

When trimming a corner, press a deep crease into the wallpaper as a guide for your cut.

In a smooth, steady motion, run the blade down the crease, resting it against the wall with light pressure. Always use a new, sharp blade for the cleanest cut.

Take your time

Way back when I first acquired my home, I had the textured walls smoothed. To this day, there have been zero regrets on that venture. Smooth walls are essential to a successful wallpaper install. If your desired wallpaper wall is textured, you will need to apply joint compound to the surface, sand, and repeat to properly prepare the wall. Joint compound should also be used to repair any light imperfections in the walls.

Be sure to remove any switch plate covers, and cover outlets with painters tape to keep paste and moisture out.

Stick it to it

With a heavyweight paper selected, I opted to apply a coat of wallpaper primer. This semi-tacky layer promotes adhesion, which I found especially useful during a solo install.

On your mark

The very foundation of your install starts with a guide line. At the center of your wall, mark a pencil line that is both plumb and level. Taking time to ensure this line is correct makes for perfectly straight paper going forward.

Measure twice, Cut once

We’ve all heard that before, and in dealing with expensive wallpaper, it’s especially true. Give yourself an extra 2 inches top and bottom in your overall measurements. You will need this extended material for easier trimming later on. A level or T-square are helpful tools for cutting wallpaper for straight cuts. I also like to mark the top edge of the paper to make sure the grain continues in the same direction throughout installation.

Paste in place

Your wallpaper should come with instructions for pasting. Some wallpapers come pre-pasted, but true grasscloth will likely be unpasted. The best quality options come with a heavyweight paper backing. If your paper is unpasted, I recommend applying paste directly to the paper rather than the wall. Lay down a large sheet of plastic to protect the work surface. This method of pasting ensures full coverage of the paper backing, making for a stronger bond to the wall. I like to make two passes with a small, saturated roller for optimal coverage.

Let’s hang

With the plumb line to the left of the paper edge, begin by hanging your pasted paper with 2 inches overlapping on the ceiling edge, gently pressing the top edge into place. Let the paper hang to the floor, using the plumb line as your guide for paper alignment. Firmly press the paper from left to right, pressing out any air pockets as you go. Work your way down the wall from ceiling to floor. A lightweight plastic squeegee is an excellent tool for helping to smooth wallpaper. If you do use a squeegee on grasscloth, let your hand be light as too much pressure can damage the woven fibers. Repeat the pasting and hanging process for remaining wallpaper strips, using the previous edge as your guide.

Seams simple

Use a seam roller to help tack down wallpaper seams. I prefer a hard plastic J-roller for a little extra muscle. This is also a good time to apply a little extra paste beneath the paper for any areas that may need it.

Cutting corners

Once the paper is dry, use a wide spackling knife and a very sharp utility blade to trim the paper. Wedge the putty knife at a 45 degree angle along the ceiling line. Carefully drag the blade along the knife edge to cut the paper. Never lift the utility blade, only the spackling knife as you drag the blade across the paper for one continuous cut. Lifting the blade will lead to uneven cuts, frayed edges, and damaged paper.

Trim along baseboards and corners with the sharp utility blade at a slight angle. Rest the edge of the blade against the wall corner, dragging down in one smooth motion for a nice clean cut. Carefully trim around outlet areas with utility blade.

If your area is high-traffic, you may want to install a clear corner shield for added protection.

The results of this installation are dramatic, warm, tropical, and inviting — bringing definition to the dining room in a way that feels appropriate to the design and time period of the house. The prized artwork now has a celebrated space to be displayed, feeling intentional to the space with vintage warmth and texture as a backdrop.

With a little preparation and know-how, papering an accent wall is a straightforward task that can be completed in a single day or a weekend. If you give this a go, I’d love to know about your experience. Here’s to making our spaces even more personalized in the New Year.