Compositions for securing pre-pasted and non-pre-pasted wall coverings to a surface that is to be decorated are provided. The present compositions are aqueous colloidal dispersions or polymeric solutions comprising from about 3% to about 30% solids. The present compositions comprise water, an alkali, from about 2.5% to about 25% by weight of an alkali-soluble, polyvinyl acetate-crotonic acid copolymer, a thickener, and a glycol.