Peel and Stick Wallpaper: 5 Steps to a Perfect Finish

Time needed: 2 hours

I successfully installed my removable wallpaper in just under 2 hours. However, the exact time required to complete this project will vary depending on the size and complexity of the surface area you intend to cover, as well as your familiarity with wallpaper installation. Smaller spaces, like accent walls or closets, are typically quicker to complete than entire rooms.

1. Prepare your walls for optimal adhesion.

   Proper wall preparation is the cornerstone of a flawless wallpaper installation. Ensure the wall surface where you plan to apply your peel and stick wallpaper is completely smooth, meticulously clean, and thoroughly dry. If your walls have any holes, cracks, or imperfections, it’s vital to patch and sand them smooth the day before you intend to wallpaper. You can find detailed wall patching tips here to ensure a perfectly even base.

   Furthermore, consider the color of your existing wall. If your wall is painted a very dark hue and your chosen wallpaper has a lighter background, I strongly recommend applying a coat of primer. This will prevent the dark color from potentially showing through the wallpaper, ensuring your chosen pattern appears true to its intended shade.

   Pro Tip: If you’re looking to paint any adjacent areas or trim with a color that beautifully complements your new removable wallpaper, take advantage of my expert advice on how to accurately match paint colors. If you do prime or paint your walls first, it is absolutely crucial to allow the paint to fully cure according to the manufacturer’s instructions (often several days, not just dry to the touch) before applying your wallpaper. Rushing this step can lead to bubbling, peeling, or poor adhesion, ruining your efforts. Below, you can see what our linen closet looked like before I began this exciting transformation.

2. Prepare your removable wallpaper roll.

   Before you begin, carefully review the specific instructions provided by your wallpaper manufacturer, as preparation steps can vary by brand. For instance, if you’ve ordered your wallpaper from a company like Spoonflower, you will likely need to re-roll your wallpaper. This means unrolling it completely and then rolling it back up so that the patterned side, or the top edge you intend to apply first, is on the outside of the roll. This makes the initial application much easier as you can simply unroll downwards, rather than having to flip or awkwardly maneuver the heavy roll. This small step can significantly reduce frustration during installation.

3. Establish a plumb vertical line on your wall.

   This step is perhaps the most critical for achieving a professional and visually appealing result. Never assume that your existing molding, ceilings, or corners are perfectly straight or plumb. They very rarely are! You ABSOLUTELY MUST use a level (either a traditional spirit level or a laser level) to mark a perfectly vertical plumb line on your wall. This line will serve as your unwavering guide for aligning the very first strip of wallpaper. If your initial strip is even slightly crooked, every subsequent strip will follow suit, resulting in a noticeably wonky and unprofessional finish. Take your time with this step, as accuracy here will save you considerable effort and potential headaches later on.

4. Begin hanging your first strip of wallpaper.

   With your wall meticulously prepared and your plumb line established, you are now ready to commence hanging your wallpaper. Always start from the left upper corner of your wall, aligning the edge of your first strip precisely with the vertical line you marked. For my linen closet project, this meant starting at the top-left corner. Carefully peel away only the top few inches of the paper backing from your wallpaper. Gently press this exposed section to the wall, aligning its edge perfectly with your plumb line. The first piece is paramount; its accuracy dictates the entire installation, so be patient and meticulous.

   The inherent beauty of peel and stick wallpaper lies in its forgiving nature: if you don’t get the alignment quite right on your first attempt (which is perfectly normal, even for experienced DIYers, and indeed, happened to me!), you can simply peel it off gently and reapply. There’s no major catastrophe. Once the top section is correctly positioned, use your squeegee to smooth the wallpaper into place, working from the center outwards. This technique helps to eliminate any trapped air bubbles. Guide any stubborn bubbles towards the nearest edge of the wallpaper until they completely disappear. (You might notice that the ceiling in our linen closet presented a slight slant, which added a minor challenge, but the repositionable nature of the wallpaper made it manageable).

5. Work in controlled increments down the wall.

   To maintain control and prevent the wallpaper from sticking prematurely or becoming misaligned, continue to support the roll of paper with one hand. With your other hand, peel the paper backing off your removable wallpaper only 5 to 10 inches at a time. As you expose each new section, carefully adhere it to the wall, smoothing it firmly with your squeegee. Always work from the center of the strip outwards towards the edges to ensure proper adhesion and to prevent any air from becoming trapped underneath. This incremental approach allows you to correct minor misalignments and smooth out bubbles more easily as you progress down the wall, ensuring a smooth, professional finish for each strip.
   

6. Precisely cut wallpaper around trim and obstacles.

   When you encounter obstacles such as window frames, door trim, electrical outlets, or built-in shelving, careful cutting is essential. Gently press the wallpaper up against the edge of the obstacle to crease it slightly. Then, using your sharp utility or craft knife, make a series of small, strategic relief cuts towards the molding or obstacle. This allows the wallpaper to lay flat around the contour. Once it’s smoothed into place, carefully trim off any excess paper with your knife, using a straightedge or the edge of the trim as a guide for a clean, crisp finish. For instance, I had to meticulously cut around the support brackets for the shelves in our linen closet. While I initially felt a little apprehensive about this step, I found it to be surprisingly straightforward with a sharp blade and a steady hand. Don’t rush; precise cuts ensure a professional, integrated look.
   

7. Trim off all excess wallpaper.

   Once your first vertical run of wallpaper is completely applied and smoothed onto the wall, it’s time to perfect its edges. Use your sharp utility knife and a straightedge to carefully trim any excess wallpaper from the bottom, top, and side edges where it meets the ceiling, baseboards, or corners. Press firmly but carefully along the edge with your straightedge (or the squeegee edge if it’s firm enough) and slice cleanly with your knife. This step ensures a crisp, seamless finish, making the installed wallpaper look like a permanent fixture rather than a temporary solution.
   

8. Repeat the process until your wall is fully covered.

   With the first strip perfectly in place, you will now repeat the entire process for all subsequent vertical runs until your desired wall or area is completely covered. Pay close attention to your particular brand’s instructions regarding pattern matching and whether or not a slight overlap between strips is required. Many peel and stick wallpapers are designed for a butt seam (where edges meet precisely), but some may require a small overlap to ensure the pattern aligns seamlessly. For my chosen wallpaper, a 3/4-inch overlap was necessary for the pattern repeat to match up flawlessly, creating a continuous and visually pleasing design.

   When working with smaller or irregular sections, such as the final strip or areas around corners, you may find it easier to pre-cut a strip slightly larger than the area you need to cover. Then, follow the steps above: peel a few inches, align, smooth with your squeegee, and finally trim the excess wallpaper from both the edge and the bottom for a clean finish. Once again, what might seem intimidating at first, like fitting those last tricky pieces, proves to be incredibly easy with the repositionable nature of the material and a sharp knife. This iterative process allows you to achieve a professional, wallpapered look across your entire space with confidence.