How to Hang Peel and Stick Wallpaper

Turn off the power at the main source. Remove all faceplates and socket covers. Use a gentle cleanser and sponge or cloth and to remove dirt from walls. If you’re applying paper in a kitchen, consider using a mild degreaser or dish soap to clean the walls. Allow to dry thoroughly.

A hanging guide will make sure your first strip is straight and even. To make a guide:

• Measure the width of your wall with a tape measure.
• Starting from the left side of your wall, mark the wall lightly on the right with a pencil.
• Put your level on this mark and draw a straight vertical line.
• Use this guide to hang your first strip.
• Measure the height of the wall along this line. Add a couple of inches to this length to allow for trimming.

• Roll your wallpaper out until it is as long as the height of the wall you measured in Step 3.
• Using a straight edge, cut a strip of wallpaper evenly with a razor blade or scissors.
• Repeat until you have enough strips to cover the walls.

Tip: If the wallpaper has a pattern, cut strips a few inches longer to match the pattern.

Hang one strip of wallpaper at a time. To hang:

• Peel back about 12 inches of the backing on one strip.
• Line up the top of the peeled paper with the ceiling or moulding. Make sure the pattern facing you.
• Slowly peel and stick the paper as you make your way down the wall.

• As you hang your wallpaper, use a plastic smoother to get rid of the air bubbles.
• Press the plastic smoother firmly. Don't press it too hard and tear the wallpaper.
• Repeat all along the room.
• If adding paper along a window, line the wallpaper up along the top and side of the window. Cut along the edge, using a utility knife, then smooth the wallpaper down.
• Trim the top and bottom of each strip with a straight edge and razor blade.

Once you've smoothed and trimmed the wallpaper, you can start adding outlet covers back to walls and bring furniture back into the room. Enjoy your newly updated space.

Many people install peel-and-stick wallpaper in their bedrooms or living spaces, but it can be used in other areas of your home, too. If you’re planning to use wallpaper to decorate your bathroom or kitchen, you’ll want to opt for a product that’s moisture-resistant. This will prevent damage if it’s accidentally splashed on. 

If you don’t necessarily want a whole wall of wallpaper, there are also peel-and-stick wallpaper borders that run along the edges of your walls as a fun accent. Or, for a pop of texture, consider using peel-and-stick wallpaper panels. These three-dimensional panels are designed to resemble materials like brick or stone.

You’ll quickly get the hang of installing peel-and-stick wallpaper, but here are a few other ways to ensure your project goes off without a hitch:

• Installing peel and stick wallpaper is much quicker and easier with two people. As you work, one person can hold up the strip and smooth it onto the wall while the other peels the backing off.
• Ceilings aren't perfectly straight. Use a level to create a vertical guideline and align the wallpaper against it.
• Use the wallpaper scraps that you trimmed off the bottom and top of each strip to fill in any gaps or corners.
• Be careful not to pull the peel and stick wallpaper too hard. It can stretch and prevent any pattern from lining up perfectly.