Sometimes there is a good reason to save an old historic wallpaper. It may be a rare pattern or a Zuber Scenic; it may exist in a private residence or a house museum; it may be the work of a renowned designer or artist or printer; or, the owners may simply like it a lot and do not want to lose it. Even though old wallpapers often look beyond saving, there is really much that can be done to improve appearance and to secure it to the wall again. The surface can be lightly cleaned of surface dirt, and flaking paint can be relaxed and consolidated back down to the paper. Where cracks in the wall have made cracks in the paper, the crack must be filled and a patch of Japanese paper laid down to carry the wallpaper. Due to settling of the building, draws in corners and cracks in walls, especially on chimneys, are very common. Where paper is loose on the wall, it can be adhered with new paste. Missing paper can be replaced and then these repairs can be toned and painted to continue the design. Where paint has flaked off the wallpaper itself, the design can be in painted using watercolors. The most difficult and disfiguring damage is usually water stains. Often they can be reduced using blotting techniques, and if this fails, they can be disguised using pastels. These techniques gives the wallpaper a new lease on life. In wallpaper conservation, as in other paper conservation, preservation of the original and reversibility of the treatment are the foremost concerns. But from a practical standpoint, it is  very satisfying to improve the appearance of the paper so much that the wallpaper once again becomes a pleasure to live with.