How to Prepare Your Wall for Peel and Stick Wallpaper?

Peel-and-stick wallpaper can add to the aesthetics of your home in more ways than one. It is an effortless and budget-friendly option in comparison to the traditional paint. However, applying the wallpaper is a step that comes much later. Whether or not you approve of the design, the selection of wallpapers depends on the compatibility with your wall. The wallpaper sheets must stick to your wall without creases, bubbles, tears, or poor finishes.

Applying peel-and-stick wallpaper is simple, but it follows a process. And you will need some level of expertise to get the job done. This includes prepping the wall for peel-and-stick wallpaper. Let’s help you finish the job seamlessly and quickly with our easy guide.

The Right Kind of Wall for Sticking a Wallpaper

Before you prep a wall for peel-and-stick wallpaper, you must gauge whether it’s the right kind. A clean and smooth wall is the best wall prep needed for peel-and-stick wallpaper. However, some types of walls aren’t suitable for wallpapers.

• Textured Walls: If you have textured walls, there’s a high chance that the texture of the wall may obstruct the beauty of the wallpaper.
• Freshly Painted Walls: If your walls are freshly painted, the moisture may not allow the wallpaper to stick easily.
• Dirty and Greasy Walls: Walls are prone to collecting dirt and grease. If you apply the wallpaper on such walls, it may sit atop a layer of debris. The wallpaper will start peeling off.
• Extreme Temperatures: This may cause the materials to expand and contract, thus, weakening the adhesive. Moreover, high humidity levels may affect the wallpaper's grip on the wall.
• Subpar Wallpapers: Such wallpapers may come with poor adhesive and will not stick properly. It may eventually come off in a few months, if not sooner.

How to Prep a Wall for Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper

So, there you have it! Clean, smooth surfaces are the best types of walls for peel-and-stick wallpaper. The wallpapers may work on textured walls as well, but the wall will require some additional preparation. You can refer to our simplified process to learn how to prep walls for peel-and-stick wallpaper.

Remove the Old Wallpaper

If you have old wallpaper up on your walls, you need to remove it before applying the new set. But you must do this carefully so that the wall behind stays intact. If there are scrapes, holes, and other blemishes during the removal, the next step is important.

Patch the Holes

Despite all precautions, you might scrape some paint off the wall. Or you might remove the old sheet perfectly, but there are existing holes or cracks in the wall. In both cases, you will need to get them fixed before applying the peel-and-stick wallpaper.

Doing this is easy!

• You’ll need spackling or joint compound to patch them up. 
• Load a putty knife with the spackling or joint compound as the filler.
• Use even pressure and slide the putty knife over the area to spread and balance the material.
• Based on the depth of the crack or hole, you might need to repeat the step a few times.

Pro Tips:

• For Deeper Holes/Cracks: Fill them slowly as it will help build up the thickness of the filler material, one layer at a time.
• Let it Dry: Ensure the area is dry before you move on to the next step. This will help to prep your wall for the peel-and-stick wallpaper.

Smoothen the Surface

You might find some unevenness in the wall's surface even after the blemishes get patched. So, you will need to smoothen these blemishes out. You can use a sanding block to work over the bumps and uneven areas to smoothen them out. Once you are confident the surface is flat, you are ready for the next part.

Prime the Walls

After you have sanded the walls, you need to prime them. You could check your local hardware store for the best primer that will eventually hold the peel-and-stick wallpaper. Once you buy the product, apply a coat of primer and let it dry, typically for about one month. This will allow the wallpaper to better hold on to the wall and prevent it from premature peeling. Moreover, the primer’s texture serves as an excellent backing for any peel-and-stick wallpaper.

Clean the Walls

Whether the wall was fresh with paint or needed primer, you must clean it at least once. Follow these steps which are part of the wall prep for peel-and-stick wallpaper.

• Remove residue from the walls.
• Then, dip a microfiber cloth in isopropyl alcohol.
• Use it to wipe down all surfaces.
• Wait for the wall to dry completely
• Move on to the next step in applying the peel-and-stick wallpaper.

Working with Textured Walls

Want to know how to prep your wall for peel-and-stick wallpaper but you have a textured wall? To help you get started, you can follow the below tips from our experts at The Rug Decor. While peel-and-stick wallpaper would have no trouble adhering to most textured walls, you could do your bit to ensure they stick for a long time.

What Type of Textured Wall do you have at Home?

There are three common types of textured walls, and knowing the type you have at home will help you gauge how well the wallpaper will adhere to it.

Prepping a Painted Wall

A freshly painted wall may still contain moisture. The layers below can be wet even if you do not feel or notice it on the surface. In some cases, the paint might still be outgassing - the process of releasing paint fumes. You can prep your walls for peel-and-stick wallpaper by letting the paint dry for 30 days before application.

Remember: Wipe the walls down with a microfiber cloth dipped in isopropyl alcohol. Let it dry before applying the peel-and-stick wallpaper.

Some Peel and Stick Wallpaper Hacks to Keep Handy

In addition to learning how to prep your walls for peel-and-stick wallpaper, you should learn how to apply it. Following these tips could help get you started.

Take Accurate Measurements

You should always take accurate measurements before ordering peel-and-stick wallpaper. You must,

• Calculate the height and width of all the walls.
• See that both measurements are taken at their widest points.
• Use a measuring tape and jot down the measurements on a notepad.
• Repeat both steps to prep each wall for peel-and-stick wallpaper.

You will also have to calculate the square footage. Do this by:

• Multiplying the height of each wall by its corresponding width.
• Next, add up the square footage of all walls to determine the total square footage.
• If the wallpaper has a pattern, you must account for pattern repeats.
• Measure the length of the pattern and repeat.
• Divide it into the width of the wallpaper roll.
• Round it up to the nearest whole number to avoid running short.
• The same steps help determine the number of wallpaper rolls you need for your wall.

Pro Tip: Always buy a little extra so that you do not run out of wallpaper in the middle of applying it to your wall.

Get the Right Tools

After you prep a wall for peel-and-stick wallpaper, you must keep some tools handy. These tools will help you apply the wallpaper easily. Some items you will need are,

• A smoothing tool to remove bubbles once the wallpaper is stuck.
• A utility knife to make clean cuts when trimming excess wallpaper around the edges.
• A ruler and a level tool to align the wallpaper.
• A pencil to mark measurements or reference points on the wall.

Start From the Center

When applying peel-and-stick wallpaper, do not start from the edges or corners. Instead, use the center as a focal point so that the wallpaper is aligned. It will also reduce the possibility of getting crooked as you apply it to the rest of the wall.

Make a Guide for the First Piece

Before applying the first sheet of wallpaper, you need to make a guide.

• You can measure the width of the peel-and-stick wallpaper.
• Then, transfer the markings to the wall with a pencil.
• Using a straightedge and level tool, draw a line from the ceiling to the baseboard in line with your marks.
• The guide will help apply the first sheet of peel-and-stick wallpaper.

Overlap and Trim Panels

A peel-and-stick wallpaper with a pattern must overlap the previous sheet. You should overlap it enough to ensure the design transitions smoothly. There may even be excess wallpaper at the baseboards or edges. Use the utility knife to trim the excess and a ruler to keep the cuts precise.

Test on a Small Area before Going All In

When you prep walls for peel-and-stick wallpaper, test a small piece of the sheet first. Follow these steps to patch-test the wallpaper:

• Apply a small sheet on a less visible region of the painted wall.
• Leave it there for a few days.
• If there are no bubbles and the sheet has no tears or wrinkles, apply the rest of the wallpaper.

You also need to inspect the removal of this sample. If it peels off easily, it might not have adhered to the wall effectively. So, you may need to look for better options or prep the wall once again.

Create an Aesthetic Wall with The Rug Decor

Prepping walls for peel-and-stick wallpaper is just one part of the process. Buying the wallpaper is another. If you want durable and attractive wallpapers, check out our collection at The Rug Decor.

We have a range of peel-and-stick wallpaper styles. Our Abstract, Floral, Modern, and Striped wallpapers can add an unmatched aesthetic to each room. The Rug Decor’s selection also comes in popular sizes shopped online, such as 1x1, 2x2, 2x4, 2x7 and more. There are even 14x14-inch wallpapers available for you to explore.