If you have decided to paper the walls rather than paint, there are a couple of little tricks I can tell you about, one that makes the job easier and another that mends mistakes. And we all make mistakes sometimes, don’t we?

The first thing to do is remember that the scissors belong on the pasting table. Buy yourself one of those snap-off blade knives and use it for cutting off the excess paper top and bottom and around obstructions. Push the paper well into the corners and then run the knife along the join between wall and ceiling (or whatever else you’re cutting around). This is more accurate and much quicker than using scissors.

The reason for the snap-off blade will soon become apparent. After you have cut a few pieces of paper, the knife will start catching the paper – this is tough work for any sharp edge and it soon becomes blunted. So snap off the end of the blade and carry on with what is effectively a brand new knife. Simple and easy.

If you’re hanging patterned paper that needs to be matched, sooner or later you will make the classic mistake of cutting a piece a bit short. It happens to everyone. But don’t throw the piece away (if you have estimated the number of rolls required correctly, you may well need this piece). Just put it up and allow the bottom to come short of the skirting board.

Now comes the magic. Cut a short piece, making sure that the pattern overlaps the end of the piece already hung. Then cover the bare wall, allowing it to overlap the previous piece by about three or four inches. Then, with a new blade in the snap-off knife, cut a line about an inch down from the top of the overlapping piece, pressing hard enough to go through both layers of paper. Peel off the unwanted piece on top, lift your short piece and remove the excised piece beneath, tamp the piece down again and you will have a perfect join.

It’s what we call in England a “bodge”. But it works and no-one but you will ever see it; in fact, give it a day or two and even you won’t be able to find it!