How To Hang Half Drop Repeat Wallpaper
In this video from Arte Wallcoverings you’ll learn how to hang wallpaper with a half drop repeat (also called a half drop match), and how to line up the pattern correctly.
Copyright Arte
A half drop repeat wallpaper has a regular pattern, but each drop is shifted vertically by half the repeat so the design steps or staggers across the wall. When several drops are hung next to each other, the point where the pattern meets moves up or down each time.
On the roll label you’ll see a specific half drop match symbol:
The first number below the symbol is the full pattern repeat height (for example 64 cm), and the second number is how far the pattern shifts on every other drop (for example 32 cm).
These diagrams are explained in more detail in the Arte video above.
Step-by-Step: How To Hang Half Drop Match Wallpaper
- Check the label and batch. Confirm that the wallpaper is a half drop repeat, note the repeat and shift (for example 64 cm / 32 cm), and make sure all rolls are from the same batch.
- Roll out the wallpaper and identify the repeat. Unroll a length on a clean surface so you can clearly see how the pattern repeats down the roll.
- Measure and cut the first drop. Measure the wall height, add at least 5 cm at the top and bottom for trimming and decide how you want the motif positioned on the wall. Cut the first drop.
- Cut the second drop with the half drop shift. Roll out a second length beside the first and slide it until the pattern aligns with a half repeat shift (for example 32 cm). Ensure the second drop is at least as long as the first, then cut it.
- Cut the third and fourth drops. Roll out the third drop so it matches the first, and the fourth drop so it matches the second. Continue alternating in this way: odd-numbered drops like the first, even-numbered drops like the second.
- Number the drops and wall positions. Lightly mark the back of each drop (1, 2, 3, 4…) and note the same sequence on the wall so each length is hung in the correct order.
- Hang the first drop on a true vertical line. Using a plumb line or spirit level, mark a vertical guideline and hang the first drop so the edge follows the line exactly.
- Hang the remaining drops and match the pattern. Hang each subsequent drop edge-to-edge (never overlapping), sliding gently until the pattern matches the previous drop with the correct half drop shift.
- Smooth and trim. Use a wallpaper brush or smoother to remove bubbles from the centre outwards, then trim excess paper at ceiling and skirting with a sharp knife.
- Check the finished pattern. When you’re finished, the design should stagger evenly across the wall, with the pattern stepping up or down by the same distance on each drop.
Related Wallpaper Guides & Videos
If you’re comparing different pattern types or learning to hang wallpaper for the first time, you may also find these guides useful:
For complex patterns and designer wallpapers, TM Interiors always recommends using a professional decorator or experienced paper hanger. These notes and videos are intended as a general guide only; we cannot be held responsible for any issues arising from their use.
