Peel & Stick Install (Including Luxe)

Peel and stick wallpaper is the most accessible install in our catalog. No paste, no booking, no brushes, no cleanup. The trade-off is a shorter lifespan than traditional paste-the-wall wallpaper. Done correctly on the right wall surface, a quality peel and stick install holds for 5 to 7 years.

Tools and materials

  • State of the Wall peel and stick wallpaper
  • Plastic smoothing tool
  • Sharp utility knife
  • Plumb line or laser level
  • Step ladder
  • Isopropyl alcohol wipe for surface prep

Step by step

  1. Prep the wall. Smooth surface, primed, painted with eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss. Wait 30 days after any fresh paint.
  2. Wipe the wall with a 1:1 isopropyl alcohol and water solution to remove any oil residue.
  3. Drop a plumb line for the first strip.
  4. Peel back the top 12 inches of backing. Align to the plumb line. Press to the wall.
  5. Smooth from top to bottom, peeling backing as you go. Work bubbles toward the edge.
  6. Trim top and bottom with a sharp blade.
  7. Hang the next strip with a butt seam and pattern-match before pressing.

For the deep dive including troubleshooting, see How to Apply Peel and Stick Wallpaper and Why Does Wallpaper Peel?

The most important step happens before installation.

Peel & Stick failures almost always trace back to wall prep.

Surface checklist

  • Fresh paint must cure minimum 4 weeks
  • Walls must be smooth, clean, dry, and dust-free
  • Lightly sand glossy walls with 220-grit
  • Vacuum and wipe walls after sanding
  • Remove switch plates and hardware

Surface Compatibility

Peel & Stick works best on:

  • Smooth drywall
  • Properly primed surfaces
  • Satin, eggshell, or semi-gloss paint

Avoid:

  • Textured walls
  • Matte/chalky paint
  • Dirty or porous surfaces

Always test first

Apply a sample and wait 24 hours before full install.

Back to Install Guides

Peel & Stick wallpaper installs differently than traditional wallpaper. Read the full guide before starting and follow each step carefully.

A beautiful install is a permanent transformation. Read the entire guide before starting and follow the steps in order.

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Tools & Materials

Before you start

Required

  • Wallpaper smoothing tool
  • Sharp utility knife + extra blades
  • Level or laser level
  • Pencil
  • Clean microfiber cloth
  • Tape measure

Recommended

  • Step stool
  • Gentle seam roller
  • Isopropyl wipe for greasy areas

Before you Start

  1. Unroll the panels and lay them out
  2. Check the pattern repeat. Numbering only matters for murals, where each panel is a different slice of one image and must go up in order. Repeating patterns can be hung in any order, since every panel carries the same repeat
  3. Inspect panels before installing
  4. Leave 2–3 in trimming allowance top and bottom
  5. Turn off electricity to installation wall
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First 3 Steps

Step 1: Plan your starting point

Do not automatically start in a corner.

Choose a starting location that:

  • Keeps final seam in a low-visibility area
  • Prevents thin strip at end of wall
  • Maintains pattern balance

Create a plumb line

  1. Measure one panel width minus ½–1 in
  2. Draw a vertical plumb line
  3. Panel #1 aligns to this line

Step 2: Position Panel #1

  1. Peel back 18–24 in (45–60 cm) of backing
  2. Position at ceiling leaving 2–3 in trim allowance
  3. Align right edge to plumb line
  4. Smooth gently by hand

Step 3: Apply Panel Down the Wall

  1. Peel backing 5–10 in (15–25 cm) at a time
  2. Smooth vertically first, then diagonally
  3. Work from centre outward
  4. Avoid stretching the material
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Steps 4, 5 & 6

Step 4: Install Remaining Panels

Seam method: Overlap seams

  1. Align pattern before smoothing
  2. Overlap panels ~½ in (1–1.5 cm)
  3. Do not trim overlap
  4. Do not stretch panels during install

Step 5: Corners Windows & Outlets

Inside corners

  • Wrap 1–2 cm around corner only
  • Start new plumb line on next wall

Windows & doors

  • Install full panel over opening, then trim.

Outlets & switches

  • Install over opening, trim carefully, reinstall covers.

Step 6: Final Trim

  1. Trim ceiling and baseboards
  2. Change blades frequently
  3. Smooth entire wall once more
  4. Re-check seams after 30 minutes
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After Install & Troubleshooting

  • Press seams again after several hours
  • Avoid cleaning walls for 1 week
  • Ideal adhesion reached within 24–48 hours

Troubleshooting

  • Edges lifting: surface likely not properly prepared
  • Bubbles: smooth outward and re-press
  • Panels falling: wall not compatible or dusty
  • Visible seams: check overlap alignment

You Did It

Your space has changed. That matters.

A thoughtful install is the final step in turning a room into something that feels intentional, personal, and alive. Thank you for taking the time to do it right.

Share your finished space

We would love to see your project and celebrate it with you.

Tag us and share your completed install on social:

Instagram: @state.ofthewall
Pinterest: State of the Wall

Your project helps inspire the next transformation.