Working with textured walls? See our blog post here.

Ensure your wall is the perfect foundation: clean, dry, and as smooth as possible. 

To clean your walls: remove dust and loose debris using a vacuum or dry microfiber cloth. Next, wash the wall with a mixture of mild dish soap and warm water, followed by a quick wipe-down with 70% rubbing alcohol to remove oils.

Remove old coverings, fill holes, and sand medium-high texture. If needed, apply a wallpaper liner and primer for a flawless finish. Wallpaper loves painted surfaces, or walls primed with wallpaper specific primer. Paint and primer with eggshell, semigloss, or gloss enamels work best. Consider using Shieldz Universal Wallcovering Primer for better installation and removal results. Please note: we do not recommend installing wallpaper on raw or unfinished drywall. 

Remember, don't apply to freshly painted or primed walls—let paint or primer dry for at least 4 weeks, or in accordance with the paint or primer cure time specified on the product itself.

Now, let's gear up! Grab your wallpaper, measuring tape, scissors, straightedge, pencil, level, craft knife with extra blades, smoothing tool (like a squeegee with a felt edge), step ladder, and a trusty apron or some tool-friendly clothing.

See our installation video above! 

Check out this resource on how to avoid visible seams.

Note: Our paper is pre-trimmed and the seams are butt joined

Carefully inspect each roll for defects before starting. Measure the height of the wall and cut the first wallpaper strip accordingly, leaving a bit of wiggle room on the top and bottom for trimming. Before continuing to cut strips, line the next panel up to the previous one, then cut the remaining strips according to the height of the wall, considering the pattern repeat. A sharp razor knife

is your best friend—change that blade often for a slick cut.

Considering your pattern repeat: Most of our designs have a 12”, 24” or 48” pattern repeat. The pattern repeat will be listed on your wallpaper’s label. The pattern repeat is the vertical distance between one point in a wallpaper pattern and where that same point reappears again further down the roll. Locate your pattern’s specific repeat on the label at the bottom of the roll. A note regarding 48” pattern repeats: If your wallpaper has a 48” pattern, you'll need two rolls to see the full pattern. Each of your rolls will be labeled “Roll A” or “Roll B”. You’ll want to alternate between the two in order for the pattern to repeat correctly. 

A note on seams: Seams are a part of wallpaper, especially with darker or higher contrast designs. However, there are some steps you can take to minimize their appearance prior to putting your paper on the walls. See our blog post here for some tips and tricks. Optional: Using an appropriately colored crayon or charcoal to gently color the edges of the wallpaper roll before it is hung on the wall can help blend edges between panels. 

Measure the width of the wallpaper roll and mark a guide, using a plumb line to create a vertical guideline. Position it an inch from the corner, allowing an inch for trimming. Ensuring the first panel is completely level and straight is key to the final look and pattern alignment.

Now, the fun begins! Peel about 12” to 24” of the backing from the top of the paper. Position it on the top of the wall lined up with the plumb line you drew. Let a bit hang over the ceiling (we'll trim that later).

Top to bottom, peel that backing away as you press the paper onto the wall. To make it a bit easier, recruit some help—one person guides, the other holds. Smooth out any bubbles with a plastic smoother.

Repeat the process, aligning the next strip to the right edge of the previous one - be sure to match the pattern and butt seams tightly together without overlapping. If you ever need to reposition, start at the top corners, pull gently and slowly downward. And if you need to remove it, be gentle and avoid letting those adhesive surfaces touch. They can be a bit tricky to separate.

Smooth out air bubbles with your smoothing tool, and inspect for defects after hanging two strips. Repeat Step 8 once all of your strips are hung!

Keep in mind, this paper acts similarly to a fabric. Use caution when stretching the paper too much - this can cause pattern alignment problems.

Time to clean up! Trim off the excess at the ceiling and baseboard using your straightedge and a sharp razor knife. Change that blade as needed for a flawless cut. A dull knife can fray the paper.

Keep it looking spiffy! Our wallpapers are washable—mild detergent and a damp sponge

or cloth will do the trick. Just avoid any scrubbing or harsh chemicals, and you're golden. Enjoy your revamped space!

Keep in mind that peel&stick paper is suitable for many areas, but high-humidity spaces are not ideal.

Questions? Please reach out to our team at 479-315-0104 or via email info@paintedpaper.com