How to Hang Your Wallpaper
Good news, friend: ours is the easy kind. Every roll is pre-pasted – the adhesive is already built into the back, and a quick dip in water activates it. That means no messy paste and no peel-and-stick sheets that quickly wrinkle. You soak, then smooth, then stand back and admire! And when you’re ready for a change down the road? It peels right off, renter-friendly and drama-free. Here’s exactly how it goes.
Six steps, start to finish
- Prep your wall. Start with a wall that’s clean, smooth and dry – a quick wipe to clear dust and grease does the trick. Fresh paint? Give it a couple of weeks to fully cure first. Smooth surfaces are the dream; for anything porous or quirky, a wallpaper primer is your friend.
- Cut your panels to length. Measure your wall height and add a couple of inches of breathing room top and bottom. Cut each panel to size, keeping the pattern in mind so your repeats line up neatly side to side.
- Soak in water. Here’s the magic step. Loosely roll the panel with the printed side in, then submerge it in lukewarm water for about 15 seconds to activate the pre-pasted backing. Pull it out, gently “book” it (fold the pasted sides toward each other) and let it rest a minute. No paste, no fuss.
- Apply, top to bottom. Line the panel up at the top of the wall and let it fall into place. While the paste is wet you’ve got room to slide and nudge – match your pattern to the panel beside it and ease everything into position. Take your time; it’s forgiving.
- Smooth out the bubbles. Working from the center out to the edges, smooth the panel with a soft squeegee or a clean cloth. Chase out any air bubbles and press the seams flat. Wipe away stray water or paste as you go.
- Trim the edges. Once it’s settled and smooth, run a sharp blade along the ceiling, baseboard and outlets for crisp edges. Step back, breathe, and enjoy your handiwork – you just hung wallpaper.
Installation FAQ
How is your wallpaper installed?
It’s pre-pasted and water-activated: soak each panel in water, apply it to the wall, smooth and trim. No separate paste, no peel-and-stick. For the full play-by-play, see our Wallpaper Directions – we’ve got detailed steps for both Smooth Removable and Commercial Grade.
Can I use it in a bathroom?
Absolutely – both our Smooth Removable and Commercial Grade wallpapers are happy in bathrooms. The only rule, like any papered room, is decent ventilation so moisture has somewhere to go.
What surfaces can it go on?
Smooth, clean, dry walls are the sweet spot. You can absolutely apply the Smooth Removable wallpaper to mirrors or wood paneling with a little extra care, and shelves work great as long as they’re porous. For trickier surfaces, a wallpaper primer helps it grab and come off cleanly later.
I’m a renter – can I remove it later without a mess?
Yes!! Our Smooth Removable wallpaper uses a lightweight, non-toxic adhesive. When you’re ready to move on, peel the whole panel off and wipe down any residue with a wet rag. Your deposit stays exactly where it belongs.
Can I take it down and reuse it?
Not for re-hanging, sorry – but we love giving old panels a second life as gift wrap or drawer liners, and our Smooth Removable paper is recyclable too.
Help – I have a weird wall. How much do I order?
Each panel is just over two feet wide (24¾″), with a ¾″ overlap built in so your panels match up exactly. Measure the height and width of every wall or surface you’re covering, then let our Wallpaper Calculator do the math.
Where can I get a sample?
Every pattern offers a sample option in any wallpaper type – pick your favorite, choose the 8″ × 10″ sample, and live with it on your wall before you commit. Wallpaper is made to order and printed in about 3 weeks, so a sample is a lovely way to fall in love first.
Not sure how it will look?
Order a sample first – try any pattern on your own wall before you commit.
