How’s that tired old wall looking? Pretty tired? Well there’s plenty of alternatives to buffing her clean and covering her up with beige paint. One word. Wallpaper. I know it sounds like two words but it’s not. And yes, wallpaper isn’t just for peeling off in strips while you’re sitting on the toilet. No, wallpaper is the perfect way to customise that drab, boring old wall that’s just begging for a bit of personality to be stretched across its face. So in this month’s make column we’re looking at how that custom design or sketchbook creature can be stuck on a wall with a fully bio-degradable and natural glue! 

What you’ll need - Plain Flour. - Tub. A 1 Litre honey tub is perfect but anything with a lid and a handle will do. - Brush. Nice and Big - Art or Design. Yours or someone else’s, it doesn’t really matter as long as you have it on paper and you want it to be seen. - Salt. Preserves your paste and your work.

Step One Make your glue/paste. Add 2.5 cups of water to 1 cup of flour. Stir until homogenous then heat over a low flame until the paste thickens. This will take around 10 to 15 minuets. You must stir the paste constantly or it will stick to the base of the pot. Add 1 tablespoon of salt whilst stirring. Leave the paste to cool and add additional water if the paste becomes too thick. It should be like runny custard. Seal in a tub and store in the fridge.

Step Two Find a wall. It’s a good idea to start with a spot where there are already some other wallpapers or in an obvious spot where people will see your wallpaper. That way you can be sure that it’ll brighten someone’s day and maybe even repair it when it starts to peel. Use the brush to spread the paste over an area of wall just a little larger than your paper. Don’t be shy; it needs to soak through the paper.

Step Three Press the paper to the spot where you’ve spread the paste. Now we should have probably mentioned the paper part earlier but figured it was kind of obvious that this paper contains your motif/design/art yeah? Bingo! Well now that you’ve got your paper on the wall make sure it’s a snug fit. If the wall has a rough texture, really press the paper into it so there are no gaps. Be careful not to tear the paper.

Step Four Spread a little more paste over the top of the paper to soak it all the way through. The paper will expand with the moisture, which might cause bubbles. Use your thumbs to push the bubbles out to the edge of the paper. Finally, give all the edges of the paper a firm press into the wall. Otherwise they’ll be the first spots to peel. Now, step back and enjoy your newly renovated surface.