Are you looking for a quick and impactful way to refresh your space without the commitment or mess of traditional wall coverings? Look no further than temporary wallpaper. This innovative product, often referred to as removable wallpaper or self adhesive wallpaper, is a game-changer for interior design enthusiasts, especially those living in rental properties. It provides the wallpaper peel and stick convenience that makes wall updates accessible to everyone. This tutorial will walk you through preparing your walls and mastering the application of peel and stickwall murals or standard patterns, ensuring a flawless finish.
Gathering Your Essential Tools and Preparing the Surface
Before diving into the application, proper preparation is key to success. For this DIY project, you will need a few basic tools: the peel and stick wallpaper itself, a measuring tape, a pencil, a level, a utility knife with fresh blades, and a smoothing tool (often a plastic smoother or squeegee, sometimes included with the paper).
The most crucial step is preparing your wall. The wall must be clean, smooth, and dry. Wipe down the surface with a damp sponge and mild detergent, if necessary, and allow it to dry completely. A smooth surface is essential; any bumps or textures will show through the self adhesive wallpaper. If your walls have a fresh coat of paint, allow the paint to cure fully—typically a few weeks—before installation to ensure proper adhesion. For renters wallpaper, this preparation ensures that the temporary wallpaper will come off cleanly when the time comes.
Measuring and Cutting Your First Panel
Start by measuring the height of your wall. It is generally best to cut panels slightly longer than needed, adding about four to six inches to the wall height. This excess allows for trimming at the ceiling and baseboard and for pattern matching.
Since most rooms are not perfectly square, do not start your first panel in a corner. Instead, find the straightest, most visible line on your wall, which is usually a few inches from the corner, or center your design on a main focal point wall. Use your level and pencil to draw a perfectly vertical line from the ceiling down. This line is the guide for your first panel. Cutting the removable wallpaper straight is critical, so a large, self-healing cutting mat and straightedge can be very helpful here. Remember to keep all pieces of the peel and stick wallpaper organized and labeled if you are working with a repeating pattern.
Applying the Self Adhesive Wallpaper
This is where the magic happens. Peel back about 12 inches of the backing paper from the top of your first panel. Align the top edge of the wallpaper with the ceiling line and the side edge precisely with the vertical guide line you drew. Press the top section onto the wall.
Slowly peel off a few more inches of the backing paper, working your way down the wall. As you uncover the adhesive, use your smoothing tool to press the wallpaper peel and stick material firmly onto the wall, working from the center outward to push out any air bubbles. Do not pull or stretch the paper, as this can distort the pattern. If you get a wrinkle or bubble, gently peel the paper back to that point and reapply. Continue this process until the entire first panel of your temporary wallpaper is adhered.
Matching the Pattern and Trimming
For subsequent panels, the process is similar, but you must focus on pattern alignment. Before sticking the next panel, carefully butt its edge against the previous panel, aligning the pattern seamlessly. Once the pattern matches, follow the same slow, steady application process. Overlapping is generally not recommended for removable wallpaper unless the manufacturer instructs otherwise.
Once a panel is fully applied, use your smoothing tool to crease the paper sharply along the ceiling and baseboard lines. Then, carefully run your utility knife along these creases to trim the excess. A sharp blade is paramount for a clean cut. For larger designs like peel and stickwall murals, ensure each panel is perfectly positioned to complete the image. Stand back to admire your updated wall, a renters wallpaper triumph that makes a big impact with minimal effort.