I’ve always loathed this hall bathroom off the kitchen in our house. It was easy to put off, but I was finally ready for a change. I finally took the plunge this summer, and went all out when I decided to try my hand at peel & stick wallpaper.
You’re probably thinking, ‘that sounds hard.’ Believe me, I thought so too. But I got my mom involved and we were able to knock it out in 2 days. And honestly, it wasn’t as hard as I thought it might be! Read on to see my tips and tricks to installing, plus the full reveal.
The Hall Bath Before & After
Peel & Stick Wallpaper Tips
We learned a lot when it came to this project. Everyone keeps asking if it was “hard.” My best answer is this…it’s not hard, but definitely methodical. So while I’m not an expert, I’ll share what NOT to do as you install your own peel and stick wallpaper.
My first piece of advice is to start small and try your hand with a half bath or closet first before going somewhere big.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Peel & Stick Wallpaper (this is the one I used)
- Plastic Smoother
- Level
- Utility Knife
- Ladder
First things first, you’ll want to remove all hardware, lighting and nails from the wall, and patch up any holes. Then, wipe the walls down with a wet towel.
Place the first strip:
We started behind the door, where it was most discreet in case we messed up that first piece. First, draw a level line going down so you have something to line it up to. Also, don’t start at the ceiling seam, peel about 12 in off, and leave a little extra at the top. You can go back later with a utility knife and straight edge to cut off the excess. Assuming you get the first strip straight, the rest should go smoothly since it will be a way for you to line up the remaining strips.
The plastic smoother really saved us on this project. As you press the wallpaper onto the wall, you’ll move from top to bottom peeling the back off and using the smoother to push any air bubbles down.
When you get down to the floor, use the smoother as a guide to run and run along the edge of the baseboard to trim it. Then go over the entire piece one more time with the smoother to make sure all of the air bubbles are out and it’s pressed firmly onto the wall.
Apply more strips:
Follow the same steps above to install the remaining strips. Match the pattern up exactly and use that as your guide so you know it’s straight. The great thing about peel and stick wallpaper is that you can easily lift it back up and readjust it as you go.
More tips:
- When we get to a corner, we found that curving it around the corner looked more seamless instead of cutting it.
- For less mess-ups, I suggest working with a more busy pattern, that way you won’t notice any mistakes that may happen as much. Patterns with straight lines may be harder.
The Reveal + Sources
Source List
Faucet (similar)
Spray Paint (used on vanity handles and wastebasket)
Frame (Interested in the print? It’s my own! Contact me for more info.)
Hand Towel (similar)
I’m still so excited about this project! Every time I walk past the bathroom, it puts a smile on my face. And I’ll definitely be doing it again!! Comment below with any questions you have. I would love to see your finished space 🙂
xoxo,
Laura