Wallpaper in my Home

I’m just finishing up a few projects around our home and wanted to share one of the easiest, high impact changes I’ve added to our decor, wallpaper! Wallpaper is making a huge return to home design and the addition of peel and stick designs makes it a low commitment, high style reward.

I’ve been using peel and stick wallpaper for some time now, it’s perfect for renters or if you have immediate flashbacks of removing room after room of dated paper from the 90s. Wallpaper can work if you’re looking for a colorful, dramatic design or a soft neutral look. I’ve done both over the years and have even been able to reuse some of the paper that we removed when we moved out of our rental last year.

Favorite wallpaper retailers

I’ve used a few different retailers for our wallpapers. Some of my favorite are Urban Walls, Walls Need Love, Spoonflower, Lowe’s Home Improvement, and even Amazon. Urban Walls has a great selection of traditional, bold, and charming children’s designs. I loved using their Brighton Stripe in the boys’ nursery.

Walls Need Love has tons of cheeky, floral, and Art Deco prints. I think they have a lot of great options for a bold statement wall or a fun DIY project. I love their Coastal Chic line of papers, neutral and fun!

Spoonflower is always a quick go-to when you need something personalized or a custom feel. I personally love designer Danika Herrick’s line and have her blue and green print on my wishlist for our half bath.

I stumbled upon some great seagrass print at Lowe’s. It comes in a variety of colorways and is one of the more affordable options. I’ve used the natural color in our playroom hallway, and our basement stair exit. I used the light blue option in the girls’ closet and on the back of a bookcase I refinished.

What to consider before using peel and stick wallpaper

Peel and stick wallpaper is pretty straight forward but there are some considerations you may want to take into account, particularly if you’re a renter. Make sure the walls have been painted, it protects the drywall from the wallpaper adhesive and will limit any damage to your walls.

Consider the location where you’re installing. Peel and stick is not the first choice for rooms with a lot of humidity like the bathroom. Your seams may pull or the paper might not adhere as well. You may want to go with traditional wallpaper if you’re considering a full bath.

Busier or smaller patterns are notoriously difficult to match up. You typically have to buy additional square footage to match the prints up. A laser level is also recommended for installation, particularly for prints or stripes.

Coastal and Print

I love all of the options that are available on the market, it’s easy to sort and select prints that match your home’s personality.

Grasscloth

Grasscloth is one of my favorite wallpapers, traditional or peel and stick. It’s very versatile in the home, it can serve as a backdrop while still adding a pop of color or texture if you go the neutral route.

I would recommend measuring very carefully and adding 10% overage if you’re installing grasscloth so you can be sure to receive all of your paper from the same dye lot. While grasscloth does have some natural variations, it’s best to work with all rolls from the same lot for consistency in color, particularly if you go with a colored grasscloth.

Grasscloth wallpaper gives a great texture to any space and elevates a room while keeping it neutral.

Neutrals

I (obviously) love a neutral home color scheme. Neutral wallpapers can provide some variation, texture, or contrasting interest and tones while maintaining a serene color palette.

Installation notes

Installing peel and stick wallpaper is very easy, and can be managed by one person if necessary. Recommended tools are a laser level, a wallpaper smoother, a sharp blade for trimming, and step stool if working floor to ceiling.

Each brand has specific tips and tricks dealing with their paper, be sure to read their instructions in full before beginning.

Wallpaper Care

Wallpaper should never be sprayed directly with water or cleaning products. If you need to dust or spot clean, use a damp microfiber cloth.