How to Improve Old Walls

The Cleanup

• 1

  Remove the layers of wallpaper or damaged areas of plaster using a putty knife. Dig under the wallpaper or plaster at the corner to pry it from the wall. For stuck-on wallpaper, score it first with a wallpaper scorer, and soak it with hot water and wallpaper-remover solution.

• 2

  Scrape the old wall covering off the wall with a putty knife until it is all removed from the wall. Allow the wall time to air dry.

• 3

  Sand the wall smooth with a palm sander. This smooths out uneven paint cracks, damaged plaster and wallpaper adhesive residue.

The Repair

• 4

  Fill in all holes with joint compound and a putty knife. Force the joint compound into the holes and smooth it with a feathering knife.

• 5

  Rebuild the wall's damaged areas with plaster of Paris. This works for large cracks and holes that are small enough to repair without the need for a major wall replacement. Instead of mixing the plaster of Paris straight with water, lengthen its workable time by mixing it well into the joint compound – 1 parts powdered plaster of Paris to 3 parts joint compound.

• 6

  Smooth each plaster repair with the feathering knifes. Instead of scraping the surface of the wall, a feathering knife is laid on its side with the blade pressed against the wall and the handle raised. It is then swiped across the area with pressure to force as much of the compound into the wall, while yielding a flat, flush surface; then it is left to dry.

• 7

  Sand the walls. Sanding removes any raised imperfections in the joint compound and plaster. This makes the wall smooth and ready for the finish.

• 8

  Paint a coordinating color on the walls. Select the color from an inspirational piece in the room. Paint can evoke feelings from warm and inviting to cool and soothing.

Finish with a Wall Treatment

• 9

  Select the desired wall treatment. Add new, updated wallpaper to the wall, or give it a stucco or Venetian plaster finish. Use these finishes to add dimension to the wall or mask any imperfections.

• 10

  Prep the wall. For wallpaper, this includes sanding the wall smooth, and for a wall treatment, a specified primer that makes the treatment adhere to the wall.

• 11

  Apply the wall treatment to the wall. For wallpaper, measure and cut a piece and soak preglued wallpaper in warm water, or apply the glue to the back of unglued wallpaper. Line it up to the wall and smooth it with a wallpaper tool or feathering knife to release any trapped air bubbles. Trim any excess wallpaper away with a utility knife. Apply all of the wallpaper pieces this way.

  For wall treatments such as Venetian plaster and stucco, premix the compound and apply to the wall with a float and putty and feathering knives.