Once you’ve chosen to go the peel and stick wallpaper route, you’ve already eliminated many installation hassles. Self-adhesive wall coverings are mess-free, paste-free, and perfect for DIY decorators attempting to refresh their living spaces on tight schedules. High-quality wallpapers from trusted sources like WallsByMe are designed for particularly easy installation. All you need to do is follow the instructions accompanying the product and avoid a few wallpaper mistakes.

Today’s post is about the most common mistakes people make while installing their peel and stick wallpaper. Just take care of these, and you’ll be an expert at fixing wallpaper in no time!

8 peel and stick wallpaper mistakes to avoid during installation

Wallpaper mistake 1: Ordering in different batches

You could unknowingly be making a mistake before even getting your wallpaper. Getting that perfect, seamless finish you’ve dreamed of not only depends on proper installation but also on the right calculations before your purchase. Ensure that all your wallpaper comes from the same batch – this will minimize the possibility of minor tonal variations showing up and compromising the look of the wall.

Measure your walls accurately, and ensure that you purchase enough wallpaper to cover them the way you’ve planned to. Check out the different panel sizes we offer and plan their arrangement so you don’t have to place another order later to start fixing your wallpaper.

Wallpaper mistake 2: Not prepping your wall

Every wall surface behaves differently, and some might not be suitable for your peel and stick wallpaper. There are some basic preparations that you should always do before applying our product. These include cleaning the surface and allowing it to dry. If the wall has been painted recently, you should wait for at least 30 days before hanging your wallpaper. We’ve covered these preparatory steps in a dedicated post. The bast way to go about fixing wallpaper is to do it right the first time!

Wallpaper mistake 3: Not testing the wallpaper

Even if you’ve prepped your wall correctly, it’s possible that you don’t get the desired result from your peel and stick wallpaper. Because there are so many different surface textures and other factors, the only way to be sure whether your wallpaper will stick is to actually test it out. We make this easy by enabling you to order a sample of your favorite design. This will not only help you get a feel for the color and finish, but also allow you to apply the product to a small section of the wall and see if it adheres properly.

Wallpaper mistake 4: Cutting the panels before installation

Even if you’ve measured the wall accurately and know you don’t need the entire panel to cover it, don’t cut the panel first. Start cutting or trimming only after all panels are applied to your satisfaction. This will minimize the risk of making a mistake and later realizing you don’t have enough material to try fixing your wallpaper.

Wallpaper mistake 5: Peeling off the entire backing

Removing the entire backing at once will make your wallpaper unmanageable. It will stick to other surfaces and get in the way of a smooth installation. The exposed self-adhesive backing might attract stray dust or fibers, which will hinder adhesion or lead to a bumpy finish and, in turn, require fixing wallpaper later. The correct way to go about this is to place the wallpaper on a flat surface, with the backing side facing you. Peel off only about 6 inches of the backing, and cut the liner. Now start the installation, peeling off the backing bit by bit as you proceed.

Wallpaper mistake 6: Horizontal application

Our peel and stick wallpaper panels should only be applied vertically, starting just a little above the top edge of the wall and slowly moving downwards. This will be easiest to manage, as the wallpaper naturally tends to roll downwards and you can fix a whole panel standing in one place. Horizontal application may cause improper alignment and bubble or crease formation — which means fixing wallpaper will be a project later down the road.

Wallpaper mistake 7: Smoothing from the outer edges

As you go about applying small sections of each panel, use a squeegee to smooth it out from the center outwards. This will move air bubbles towards the edges, where they can escape. If any bubbles start appearing, gently peel back the section and slowly stick it back again.

Wallpaper mistake 8: Forgetting to overlap the panels

After you finish installing the first panel and before you proceed with the adjacent one, make sure the pattern matches perfectly. Our wallpapers are designed to require about a half-inch overlap between panels. Also make sure that you use the same amount of pressure to apply all the panels. This will reduce the risk of stretching one panel more than the other and spoiling the look of your seamless wallpaper.

Check out our quick wallpaper installation guide for more details on fixing wallpapers like a pro!