Hi y’all! I recently completed my second project using peel and stick wallpaper, and I basically feel like an expert now (jk but I do think I’ve learned a thing or two)! My first experience with wallpaper was in my laundry room (see that here) and my most recent endeavor was my powder room (see that post here). In both rooms I just did an accent wall because wallpaper is a bit pricey and I felt that just a single wall boasted enough power and ‘wow’ to support each tiny space!
What you’ll need:
-Peel and Stick Wall Paper
-Ruler/Straight Edge
-Scissors
-Scraper
-Tape Measurer
-Xacto Knife/Box Cutter
-Painters Tape
-A level (this is mostly important if you have a geometric paper with straight lines)
Step 1: Remove anything you can from the wall (light switch covers, toilet paper holders, hooks, etc.) and wipe it clean with a damp rag or wet wipe! If you have any holes that you will not be re-using for hanging something else, go ahead and patch those holes.
Step 2: Measure the height of your wall, and cut your first piece of wallpaper with about 2″ of extra length. Use your straight edge to make sure you cut is straight, as this will help when you cut your second piece.
Step 3: Place the corner of your first piece in the top corner of your wall. I find it easiest to line up the paper in a right angle because that makes it super easy to keep it straight as you peel off the backing.
Step 4: Peel off the backing of the paper slowly working down. As you peel off a section, take your scraper and work out the air bubbles. I like to take my scraper from left to right. If you have plugs or lights on the wall, this is a great time to take the Xacto knife and cut around those areas.
Step 5: Once the first panel is up on the wall and there are no air bubbles left, crease the bottom of the paper and use the baseboard or floor to cut the extra wallpaper.
Step 6: Now is where things get difficult, the second and all consecutive panels are much more difficult because you have to line up the pattern. I highly recommend using painters tape to tape the panel onto the walls in the correct spot. Then cut off any excess at the top. I usually use the crease of the ceiling to cut a straight line.
Step 7: Keep the wallpaper taped on the wall and slowly peel back the backing and repeat step 4 until the whole panel is on the wall. You need to be extra cautious to make sure the panel stays straight or else your final panel will be a pain in the butt!
Step 8: Cut off the excess wall paper and repeat step 5.
Step 9: Continue the steps above for as many panels as you need to cover the wall. Once you are at the end of your wall, it is unlikely that you will have a space that is the perfect width. I recommend cutting the final piece to the correct width, but make sure you measure your wall in multiple spots and cut the panel to the widest width. You can always cut off any excess at the end, but the less wallpaper you have to deal with at the end, the better!
Sissy says
That looks great! The paper is gorgeous!