If you’ve ever tried to decorate a rental, you know that adding color and real style can be tough. After all, you usually can’t paint, you can’t remodel and you can’t change the floors. So when we were trying to get a Boho plant lovers vibe at our condo, I knew it was missing something. I was craving a teal accent wall, but our landlord was not a fan. So instead, I found this Target peel and stick wallpaper, and decided to add it to our entry for a bold pop of pattern that pulled the colors of our house plant family through the space. While you can no longer get this exact wallpaper at Target, no worries. At the end of the post we have some great resources for you to find peel and stick wallpaper you will love! Here are the tips and tricks we came across as we learned how to apply peel and stick wallpaper!
How to Install Peel and Stick Wallpaper
First off, it is always easier to do home decor projects like this with a second pair of hands. That being said, in this case I was on my own and too impatient to wait for Steve, so I went full steam ahead on my own.
First tip? When you start your first length of wallpaper, leave a fold of excess above on the ceiling. Later you will trim that with a craft knife. But no wall and ceiling are fully square, so if you want sharp lines, don’t expect to follow the ceiling line to get it. Line up the edge of the wall paper with the edge of the corner wall you will be papering, and attach it overlapping near the ceiling line.
Do not unroll the whole length of the wallpaper from the roll all at once. Unroll just as you move down the wall, and smooth as you go. This will help keep the wallpaper in line and prevent accidents where it gets stuck to itself, etc… Make small adjustments as you move down the wall to keep it in line with the corner or edge you are following.
Repeat for the next length of wallpaper until you have covered the wall. With most patterns, you can easily match up when you join lengths or ends without it being noticeable, but be aware. Some patterns you may need to carefully match with the the previous length or end. This usually means you will have some waste. When you get to the bottom of each length, leave some excess just as you did at the ceiling. When all the paper is hung on the wall, take a credit card and score the ceiling line and the baseboard line. Then cut this with a craft knife for a clean edge. You can use a straight edge if needed. You can also use the credit card to help burnish the entire wall of peel and stick wallpaper so that it adheres well.
That’s all there is to it! Peel and stick wallpaper is a great way to bring in color and pattern, and you don’t have to be a renter to use it! (Just a decorator who regularly gets bored, like me!) This may be a really small accent wall, but it doesn’t take much to make a big difference in the entire space. Especially when you paper key areas like an entry, a focal point wall or even the inside of bookshelves.
Where to Buy Removable Wallpaper
These are a few places where we have temporary peel and stick wallpaper envy! There is some amazing wallpaper at these stores!
We hope you will take a shot at learning how to apply peel and stick wallpaper! It’s like shelf liner for your walls, but actually pretty! We think you might want to jump right on over to our post on DIY Wood Walls or our Before and After Modern Boho Chic Home Reveal! Also check out DIY Boho Wall Decor over at TBD!
