How to Install Peel and Stick Wallpaper
Before You Begin to Apply Peel and Stick Wallpaper
Tempaper is recommended for smooth surfaces that are in good condition and have been primed and painted with a satin or semi-gloss finish. Clean surface by wiping with a damp cloth or wet rag, making sure surface is fully dried before application. For an easier install, remove switch plates and outlet covers prior to installation making sure to turn off electricity at source prior to removal.
We recommend wiping your intended surface with an isopropyl alcohol + water solution (1:1 ratio) and letting it dry before installation to ensure best compatibility.
Surfaces Not Recommended
- Matte, flat, and low sheen paints
- Textured surfaces
- Exterior surfaces
If you are interested in testing out your textured surface, be sure to read our blog post here first.
Tools
- Craft knife
- Cutting surface
- Level
- Pencil
- Ruler or straight edge
- Step stool
- Squeegee
- Tape measure
Our Tempaper tool bundle can be found here.
Wallpaper Application - Precutting Your Panels
- Measure the height and width of your surface, this will determine how many panels you will need.
- Pre-cut your first panel to the height of your surface adding 2-3 inches of excess material at the bottom.
- Be sure to align pattern with each consecutive panel prior to cutting, numbering the back of each panel as you work.
- Using a level, mark a plumb line* or vertical guide the length of surface.
- Peel back 3-4 ft. of the backing.
- Begin at the top edge aligning paper with your vertical guide to ensure a straight application.
- Use a squeegee to smooth paper to surface working from the center out. Tempaper can be repositioned as needed to ensure pattern alignment and to eliminate bubbling.
- Continue in 3-4 foot increments peeling and smoothing until you reach the bottom edge of your surface.
- Repeat steps 5-8 until the surface has been fully covered.
- Trim where needed with a craft knife to complete your application.
Wallpaper Application - Working From the Roll
- Using a level, mark a plumb line* or vertical guide down the length of surface.
- Place your roll on a soft surface, such as a bath mat or towel, at the bottom edge of starting point.
- Pull paper up from roll to meet the top edge of surface.
- Peel back 3-4 ft. of the backing.
- Begin at the top edge aligning paper with your vertical guide to ensure a straight application.
- Use a squeegee to smooth paper to surface working from the center out. Tempaper can be repositioned as needed to ensure pattern alignment and to eliminate bubbling.
- Continue in 3-4 foot increments peeling and smoothing until you reach the bottom edge of your surface allowing paper to overhang by 2-3 inches and cut paper from roll.
- Repeat steps 2-7 making sure to align pattern with each consecutive panel until the surface has been fully covered.
- Trim where needed with a craft knife to complete your application.
*How to Draw a Plumb Line
In order to ensure that your wallpaper is hung straight, we recommend marking a vertical plumb line on your wall.- Starting at the corner of your wall, measure out from the corner the width of the roll minus .5 inches. For example, for rolls of 20.5 wide you would mark 20 inches from the corner. For rolls 27 inches wide, you would mark 26.5 inches from the corner.
- Place your level at the mark and drawn a straight, vertical line (also known as a plumb line).
- We recommend that you mark a plumb line every time you arrive at a corner or start a new wall.
Helpful Hints for Applying Peel & Stick Wallpaper
- Grab a friend. While it's easy to apply our wallpaper by yourself, it's more fun to tackle a DIY beginner-level project with a friend.
- Be careful not to pull on the paper during the application or else the paper may stretch and won't align properly.
- If air bubbles occur, you can use a safety pin to create a tiny hole in the center of the bubble to release the air.
FAQ's - Installing Wallpaper
- Do I need to overlap peel and stick wallpaper? This method is unique to the brand and type of product. For our peel and stick, sold-by-the-roll products at Tempaper & Co., we don't recommend overlapping the paper. For our panels and murals sold by the square foot, we recommend a 1/8-inch overlap.
- What type of installer do you suggest for peel and stick wallpaper? If you are looking to hire an installer, we don't suggest a traditional wallpaper hanger. We recommend finding an installer that has experience working with vinyl products, signs, and decals. We are happy to help you find an installer if needed.
- Do you need extra adhesive for peel and stick? No, our peel and stick wallpaper at Tempaper & Co. features a self-adhesive backing and does not require any additional adhesive.
Removing Wallpaper
Starting with any corner, firmly peel up or down slowly, parallel to the surface.