3 easy peel-and-stick wallpaper hacks if you love the look but don't want to hate yourself

July 2024 · 3 minute read
2023-02-23T18:46:25Z

It's not hyperbole that the best thing I've done for my mental health lately is wallpaper my home office.

I'm lucky enough to work from home, but after moving into a new place last year, our office was left bare and gray, made even more depressing by rainy New York weather.

So I decided to seize the day. I found a deal on peel-and-stick wallpaper — a cheaper, DIY alternative to more traditional wallpaper (plus easier to remove) — and went for it.

The finished product has generated so many positive comments from work colleagues — one even saying that it looked like my background was fake, which is probably the highest compliment one can receive in our new virtual corporate world. I also got a lot of questions, and quickly realized that there were three hacks I swear by if you want to try something similar.

One note: Peel-and-stick wallpaper isn't super complicated, but the biggest gripe I've seen on social media is it peels off the walls. From past experiences, good and bad, you need to make sure your wall isn't textured in any way. 

OK, onto the hacks:

Hack #1: Start in the middle of your wall.

I used a level to make sure my first wallpaper panel was straight before moving on to the rest of the wall. Megan Willett-Wei/Insider

This is my second time using peel-and-stick wallpaper. The first time was in an old apartment and was almost a disaster because I started crooked from the left side, working my way across the wall. I had to peel everything off and start all over again.

Don't do what I did! If you start in the middle of your wall, making sure your first pieces are level, you'll find it's much easier to keep your wallpaper straight as you go along.

Hack #2: Don't worry about matching up your pattern.

Not all my seams match up perfectly, but I'm still alive. Megan Willett-Wei/Insider

I purposefully chose a busy pattern because I knew most people wouldn't be able to tell if certain pieces weren't completely aligned. Because my entire office is wallpapered, my motto quickly became "done is better than perfect," and I stopped trying to match up seams. 

People still ask how I was able to line up the wallpaper perfectly because they can't tell that I simply ... didn't. Unless you're using a chevron pattern or something with straight lines — maybe don't? — my advice is don't worry too much if things are a little off.

Hack #3: Order more wallpaper than you think you need.

I had to stare at this blank section for a few days. Megan Willett-Wei/Insider

This one is self-explanatory, but I short-changed myself and didn't order enough wallpaper. I stared at a bare section for a few days while I waited for more material to ship, kicking myself for not over-ordering the first time around.

Plus, you can do fun projects with extra wallpaper: 

  • Line your shelves.
  • Use it as a fun pop in the back of your cabinets or hutch to mimic a high-end look, like this painted design from Devol Kitchens.
  • Wallpaper a different alcove of your home.

    • You get the idea.

    Ultimately, peel-and-stick wallpaper is a fun, temporary solution. If you keep these tips in mind, hopefully hanging it won't be a horrible experience, too.

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