Easy Stick-on Wallpaper Ideas: Design Pros Reveal Tips for Instantly Impressive Results
It’s never been simpler (or more affordable!) to add a hit of happy to any corner! Here's how to do it
If you’re looking to refresh a dining area, a living room or even a piece of furniture like a dresser, look no further than this decor trend designers are loving: press-on wallpaper. We tapped design pros and DIY bloggers for their best peel and stick wallpaper ideas that will make any space look like a million bucks.
“Press-on wallpaper is amazing,” says DIY pro Jeannine Rose, founder of SweetHumbleHome.com. “It’s a simple and affordable way to update an entire room — or even a smaller home accent like a vase — without the full commitment of traditional wallpaper.” She suggests limiting bold-patterned wallpaper to one accent wall so it doesn’t overwhelm your space. (Bonus: It also keeps costs down). Keep reading for 7 effortless and elegant peel and stick wallpaper ideas…
How to apply peel and stick wallpaper to walls
Unlike traditional wallpaper, which can be tricky (and messy!), expensive and time-consuming, peel and stick wallpaper is surprisingly easy to install. Here’s the easy how-to:
- Measure the wall area and gather the amount of paper needed.
- Peel the backing from the paper and press it on, moving from top to bottom, smoothing and cutting as you go.
- Steer clear of air bubbles by running downward strokes on the papered wall with a plastic smoothing tool (from the hardware store).
Tip: Pick up a bit more wallpaper than needed for your space to account for any tricky areas or redos.
7 peel and stick wallpaper ideas
Keep scrolling for genius ideas for dressing up a wall, furniture, decorative accents — even your stairs!
1. Refresh a living area with a geometric print
“Choosing a wallpaper pattern with sharp lines, like the fun geometric print shown above, lends movement and visual interest to any room,” says Rose. “This is a nice choice for a living space because the pattern’s sharp angles are balanced out with the plush solid-textured seating, and the paper’s brassy sheen plays off the other metallic accents, offering a modern yet inviting vibe.”
2. Refresh a home office with a damask print
Whether it’s for your home office or craft room, adding a damask-style pattern to a blank wall instantly elevates a workspace. “It’s important for our creative spaces to feel airy and welcoming, and choosing a wallpaper with softer lines, like a damask print (Buy at Roommates Decor, $29.99 per roll) offers a hint of feminine sophistication.” For an optional eye-catching touch, hang a trio of shadow box shelves on the wall to stow extra supplies while also giving the illusion of framed art.
Related: Drew Barrymore’s Removable Wallpaper Will Brighten Your Space for Less Than $50
3. Refresh a kitchen area with a diamond print
Looking to bring life to a neutral kitchen wall with more peel and stick wallpaper ideas? A ‘faux splash’ brings character to the heart of your home for next to nothing. “Backsplashes are an important layer of kitchen design, but they can be costly,” says interior designer Jenna Burger. Her wallet-friendly ideas to fake a tile backsplash, which gives your space a focal point and adds texture: Use removable wallpaper in a modern diamond-shaped design (buy at BedBathandBeyond, $34.99 per roll), a chic stencil pattern or even stick-on tiles.
4. Refresh a dining area with a speckled print
A stylish speckled print, called terrazzo, brings cheery energy to a dining area. “This classic print was originally popular in the 1950s and now it’s everywhere again — it’s so bright and brings textural flair to a neutral dining area,” says Rose. For a bright terrazzo like the one shown, try Orange Terrazzo Peel & Stick Wallpaper (buy at BedBathandBeyond, starting at $19.99.) For more ways to pretty up blank walls in your home, check out these brilliant gallery wall ideas!)
5. Refresh a vase or plant pot with a floral print
Covering a pot or vase with floral or paisley stick-on wallpaper turns it into a work of art for any surface — in no time! Here, a vase duo — made by DIY guru Jennifer Maker of JenniferMaker.com — is prettied up with bright patterned paper. To do: Snip a piece of patterned stick-on wallpaper to fit all around your container or snip a few pieces to cover the entire pot or container. Then peel and stick the wallpaper pieces onto the vase, pressing down to smooth out any ripples or air bubbles. Pop a simple plastic-potted plant or even a bunch of pretty paper flowers into vase and display on a tabletop. For extra pizazz and visual interest, place a pot on a pedestal plate or cake stand.
6. Refresh an old dresser with a tropical palm print
An old dresser goes from simple to striking in minutes thanks to tropical palm-print wallpaper! This statement piece was created by the DIY pros behind InHonorOfDesign.com, who craft up peel and stick wallpaper ideas on their blog along with many other beautiful home projects. To recreate this look, remove the knobs from a dresser and rub a piece of fine-grit sandpaper on the front of the drawers to strip off any sheen. Snip pieces of cut-to-fit peel and stick palm wallpaper for each drawer. Peel and press the paper on each drawer. To elevate the dresser even more, swap out the old knobs for new ones, like these Gold Crystal Knobs (Buy from Amazon, $17.99 for 25).
For a simple, step-by-step dresser video tutorial check out this one by Apt2B on Youtube:
7. Refresh an entryway with a sunburst print
“A couple weekends ago, I was able to tackle a few projects and it felt great,” says design blogger Rachel Hoback, founder of SprucingUpMamahood.com. “One of those projects was to give our stairway a makeover by adding peel and stick wallpaper to the stair risers!” She went with a classic California sunburst pattern for her stairs. This print creates warm yet visually interesting detail and sets a welcoming mood when guests enter your home.
“This was a very quick, easy, and affordable project that made a huge difference in the look of our stairway! And the peel and stick wallpaper is also easily removable. So if you decide you want to switch to a different pattern at some point that can be easily done.” To do: Simply snip cut-to-fit pieces of press-on wallpaper to fit each stair riser, then peel and press on. Repeat until done. For a more detailed step-by-step how-to plus tricks on lining up your patterns perfectly on each stair riser, check out Hoback’s tutorial here.
A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, Woman’s World.
For more decorating ideas, click through these stories:
Fall Mantel Decor Ideas: 7 Ways to Add Seasonal Style to Your Space — For Less!
Upcyle Flea Market Finds into Stunning DIY Planters: Pros Share the Easy How-Tos
Gallery Wall Ideas: Design Pros Reveal the Little Secrets That Deliver Impressive Results
