Is Peel & Stick Wallpaper worth it? A definitive guide to the pros and cons of peel & stick wallpaper.
Unless you have been living under a rock for the last decade (honestly, mad respect for that life choice if that’s you), you’ve heard of peel & stick wallpaper. Long gone are the traditional, expensive, permanent wallpaper days of the 1980’s. Now there’s an easier way to decorate your walls with trendy styles, bold colors, and large-scale patterns without making a permanent change. Utilizing a special type of adhesive, peel & stick wallpaper promises a quick to install transformational design that has the ability to be removed damage free. It’s a renter’s dream!
Is peel & stick wallpaper really the answer for everyone? Several valid questions have come up about the practicality, safety, and overall value of peel & stick wallpaper, and I am going to aim to answer those major questions to help you figure out if peel & stick wallpaper is a good fit for your unique project.
(Why let a backsplash have all the fun in a kitchen? This customer chose a show stopper wallpaper scaled to fit above her cabinets and range hood. She can change it out easily and it looks fantastic next to her classic white subway tiles.)
What is peel & stick wallpaper?
Peel & stick wallpaper utilizes a special adhesive that provides enough stick to hold a variety of wall covering materials to a wall but maintains removability. At Wallaby Walls, we offer 4 different types of peel & stick wallpaper. Two are made from fabric, and two are vinyl products. Stick around and I’ll get into those differences later.
Where can you put peel & stick wallpaper?
Peel & stick wallpaper works well on certain types of walls and in certain conditions. If you need a temporary mural, peel & stick is worth its weight in gold! If you’re renting, or in a dorm room, quality peel & stick that comes down damage free can’t be beat! If you just like changing your mind and hate painting, peel & stick is an easy way to change the look of a space without a massive painting project. In fact, wallpaper can be the perfect choice for a solid dark accent wall. If you’ve ever gone super dark on a room change, you know that you need at least 3 coats of paint to get it done, and then you’d better like it because changing it light again will take another 4 coats of paint. Our curated Deep Black Wallpaper is a best time seller because you can apply it efficiently without a mess and remove it even faster! Say hello to stylish and modern impactful design!
Smooth walls are the ideal choice for peel & stick wallpaper. If your walls are textured, you might have a hard time finding a product that has a lasting stick. Our High Tack Peel & Stick wallpaper is a premium conforming fabric that was expertly designed with gentle extra adhesive to conform and stick to most textured surfaces including unstained concrete. You will still see the texture of the below surface come through, as well as a little color featuring lighter hues, but it often adds to the pattern of the paper if chosen well. (Think concrete design on a textured wall.)
What prep work is involved with peel & stick wallpaper
Clean walls are an absolute must for peel & stick wallpaper. Think about trying to put a Band-Aid on greasy skin. It will soon fall off because the oil breaks down the glue or prevents it from sticking in the first place preventing a strong adhesive bond. It’s the same with walls. I recommend cleaning your walls with a homemade isopropyl alcohol based cleaner to effectively degrease your walls before application. (our tested recipe link here) Particularly dirty walls might need to be wiped down three times. But that’s it for prep work. Dust free, grease free, dry walls are ready to go!
An important note is that you should not install peel & stick wallpaper onto freshly painted walls. Paint releases gas molecules continually for about a month after you paint. This off gassing creates pockets of air between the wall and the wallpaper. The adhesion could fail if you apply peel and stick wallpaper too soon after painting a wall.
Does peel & stick wallpaper actually last?
This is where choosing a quality paper from a trustworthy company matters. Provided you have prepped your walls correctly and chosen the right material for your wall texture, it is very rare for peel & stick wallpaper to fail. But if it does, Wallaby Walls has a 100 day warranty and will replace your order.
Because there is always a slight risk that peel & stick wallpaper might have an adhesive failure, I recommend choosing either water activated or traditional wallpaper when you are installing above a crib.
We have heard of our fabric peel and stick wallpaper stick and stay stuck for over a decade for many applications!
Is peel & stick wallpaper actually damage free?
Ours is! While a few paint flecks might come down, which is a testament to the quality of the paint job underneath, our product is made with an adhesive designed to be strong enough to hold tight, but gentle enough to not rip down drywall backing. I’ve seen new construction homes and older homes with cheap or bubbling paint jobs that even the gentlest of painter’s tape removes paint. Highly humid spaces will have a harder time holding onto their paint (think steamy bathrooms).
What about air quality?
That is a great question! I’m what many people call a “crunchy” mom. I never want to cause harm to my kids with questionable decor. That’s why I have sourced quality vinyl wallpaper products that are REACH and RoHS-compliant. The fabric options are all PVC free, and I also only use GreenGuard Gold Certified Inks on these products.
(Kids rooms can be whimsical and sophisticated! This mom of twin girls stylized their room with gray ruffled and ruched comforters which looks darling next to our large scale romanic Vintage Pink Roses floral wallpaper.)
Where should you install peel & stick wallpaper?
Wherever you want to! We have seen some incredibly creative uses of wallpaper by our clients including on furniture and in every sort of room. I will add however, that if you are doing a multi wall install that fabric peel & stick is more forgiving than vinyl peel & stick. Vinyl is great for single wall installs, but can stretch too much when you are working around corners or framing.
How difficult is installation?
There is a bit of a learning curve when installing peel & stick. Using a level is key. A laser level is great if you have one. For your first attempt, I recommend just a plain wall without doors or windows to work around. You can also use Roman EZ Hang spray to make the panels glide on the wall which may help the install process go smoother. When you spray it onto your wallpaper or walls, it makes lining up seams a breeze. When it dries, it actually strengthens the adhesive, so I recommend using it for textured walls or any wall that might have some issues with adhesion.
You can see our youtube channel for more information about installation here.
One important thing to note is that many professional wallpaper installers will not use peel & stick wallpaper unless they have experience with the brand. Because the installation method between pasted wallpaper and peel & stick is so different, many just will not take peel & stick jobs. So, keep that in mind if you are planning on hiring out the installation. If your installer will not work with peel and stick, a DIY friendly removable wallpaper to suggest is water-activated which is removed gently with water.
Okay, but what about the cost!
It’s true, wallpaper is an investment. It is going to cost more than paint (however, paint has never recovered its prices from the 2021 Texas freeze that disrupted the supply chain significantly), but wallpaper can do so much more than paint. Gorgeous patterns with intricate details are just an afternoon away. Doing a straight price comparison between wallpaper and paint is like comparing croissants with a cracker. Yes, one is cheaper, but the other is far more complex and beautiful. One is the focal point, and one is the background. What are you willing to pay more for?
I believe that your time is valuable. Wallpaper applies quickly and thoroughly. I have done single wall installs of peel & stick in less than 30 minutes. Wallpaper can’t spill and damage your carpet or other furniture during an install either.
(This cozy basement playroom was jazzed up on a Saturday morning with dark blue large scale buffalo check which the homeowners selected for their little boy.)
Think about the level of service and peace of mind that comes with the price too. When you buy from Wallaby Walls, our designer can answer any questions you might have about what material is best for your space. You also get a free mock up of the paper on your walls to help with your decision. The scale and color of every design is customizable too. Since Wallaby Walls prints to order, you also don’t have to worry about getting a bad color match from the wrong print lot.
TLDR:
Peel & stick is a great option if you want flexibility in your decor. It is safe for your walls and your air. Before you buy, get to know your walls so you choose the right product and right install method. Choose a company that will work with you directly to make sure that you are getting the most out of your investment.