Removable wallpaper is such a fun way to create an accent wall in any room! If you have ever removed old wallpaper before, you know the process is enough to make you swear that you will never put wallpaper in your house again! Thankfully they now make removable peel and stick wallpaper, which is basically a giant sticker that is easy to remove and does not damage your walls. It’s a low-risk way to try a bold design move in your home!
Although applying peel and stick wallpaper is a pretty simple process, there is certainly a learning curve the first time you try it. In this post I am sharing the tools you will need for a peel and stick wallpaper accent wall , the steps to follow, and my personal tips and tricks to make the application process easier.
Materials you will need:
- peel and stick wallpaper
- plastic putty knife or squeegee
- razor knife
- scissors
- step stool
- screwdriver
- an extra person to help you!
Steps:
Note: I recommend assigning 1 person of this project as the “sticker person” and the other as the “peeler person”.
- Remove any outlet or light switch covers from the wall
- Peel about 6 inches of the backing away from the top of the wallpaper
- Start in the corner and line the wallpaper up with the ceiling and the wall. Unroll the wallpaper (keep the backing attached) all the way to the bottom of the wall and make sure it is lined up correctly before you stick it.
- Use a plastic putty knife or squeegee to smooth out the wallpaper and get rid of any bubbles
- Have the “peeler person” slowly pull down the backing as the “sticker person” smoothes the wallpaper against the wall
- Cut away the backing once you have attached the wallpaper to the full length of the wall
- Use a razor knife to cut the wallpaper straight against the trim and at the ceiling (if needed)
- Repeat this process and overlap each row of wallpaper by about 1/2 inch
My tips and tricks:
- This might sound obvious but make sure to measure the wall you are planning to apply peel and stick wallpaper to. Keep in mind that you will overlap each row and plan to purchase a little extra wallpaper in case you mess up. Check the return policy to make sure you can return any unused rolls!
- Check with the brand of wallpaper you plan to purchase to see if there is any color variation between rolls of wallpaper that were not printed at the same time. For example, I bought a few rolls from the Target store and the rest online. There was a slight color difference and I realized the box said to make sure all of the rolls had the same “lot number” to avoid differences in color.
- Apply a small amount (about 1/4 inch) of the wallpaper to the ceiling and, when you’re finished applying all of the wallpaper, use a razor knife to cut straight across the top. This will ensure that each row of wallpaper touches the ceiling at the same level and looks like one single sheet rather than several separate rows.
- We like to slowly pull the backing down and away from the wallpaper once we have it attached to the wall. We find this gives you more control because the extra material isn’t getting stuck together.
- When you get close to an outlet or light switch, use the razor knife to cut a small opening. Make sure you only cut away a section that your outlet cover will hide!
- You can reposition the wallpaper a few times, but keep in mind that it gets less sticky the more you pull it away from the wall.
- I haven’t had any issues with the wallpaper falling down, but if you are worried about it staying put, you can use tiny push pins or small nails for extra support.
- Don’t worry about it looking perfect! You seriously do not notice the imperfections standing from a distance, especially if your wallpaper has a busy print!
If you would like to see a tutorial on our process for applying a peel and stick wallpaper accent wall, watch this video.
The wallpaper we used in this room is linked here.
Thank you so much reading and happy wallpapering!
Xo, Ciara
Affiliate links are included in this post. If you click on these links I may receive a small commission from your purchase at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!
