Peel and Stick Wallpaper: The Renter-Friendly Room Transformation

Peel and stick wallpaper has come a long way from the cheap contact paper your grandma used in her kitchen drawers. Modern peel and stick wallpaper looks indistinguishable from traditional wallpaper, goes up in an afternoon, and comes off without damaging your walls.

Whether you own or rent, this is one of the fastest ways to completely transform a room.

Where to Buy (And What to Expect to Spend)

Not all peel and stick wallpaper is created equal. Here are the best sources ranked by quality:

• Tempaper ($35-60/roll) – Premium quality, huge pattern selection, repositionable. This is the gold standard
• NuWallpaper at Home Depot ($30-40/roll) – Great mid-range option with solid patterns
• Spoonflower ($30-50/roll) – Custom and indie designer patterns. Unique stuff you won’t find anywhere else
• Amazon ($15-25/roll) – Hit or miss. Brands like HAOKHOME and Practwall are decent. Read reviews carefully
• Target (Threshold line) ($25-35/roll) – Trendy patterns, good quality for the price

How much do you need? Measure your wall height and width. Most rolls cover about 28 square feet. For a standard 10×8 foot accent wall, you’ll need 3 rolls (always buy one extra for mistakes).

The Best Patterns Right Now

Trends move fast, but these are consistently popular and won’t look dated in 2 years:

• Botanical/floral – Oversized florals on dark backgrounds are having a major moment
• Geometric – Herringbone, chevron, and hexagon patterns add modern texture
• Grasscloth texture – Adds warmth and dimension without a bold pattern
• Solid linen texture – For when you want color and texture but not a pattern
• Board and batten look – Faux architectural detail without the woodworking

How to Apply (Step by Step)

What you need:

• Peel and stick wallpaper (obviously)
• Smoothing tool/squeegee ($5)
• Utility knife with fresh blades ($8)
• Level ($5 at Home Depot)
• Measuring tape
• Step stool or ladder

Step 1: Prep Your Wall

Clean the wall with a damp cloth and let it dry completely. If you have textured walls (like orange peel or knockdown), the wallpaper may not stick well – smooth walls work best.

Important: If your walls were recently painted (within the last 30 days), wait. Fresh paint needs to fully cure or the wallpaper adhesive won’t bond properly.

Step 2: Start From the Top

Use your level to draw a straight vertical line where your first strip will go. Do NOT trust your ceiling line to be level – it probably isn’t.

Peel about 12 inches of backing off the top, align it with your level line, and smooth it onto the wall. Then slowly peel and smooth your way down, using the squeegee to push out air bubbles as you go.

Step 3: Match Your Pattern

For the second strip, overlap it slightly with the first (about 1/4 inch) and match the pattern. Then trim the overlap with your utility knife for a seamless seam.

Pro tip: If you get an air bubble, just peel back to the bubble and re-smooth. That’s the whole advantage of peel and stick – it’s forgiving.

Step 4: Trim the Edges

Use your utility knife to trim along the ceiling, baseboard, outlets, and corners. A fresh blade makes a huge difference – swap blades every 2-3 cuts for the cleanest lines.

Best Rooms for Peel and Stick

• Accent walls – One wall in a bedroom or living room. This is the most popular use and the easiest to execute
• Powder rooms – Small bathrooms are perfect for bold patterns because you can wallpaper the whole room with 3-4 rolls
• Closet interiors – A fun surprise when you open the doors. Low commitment, high impact
• Stair risers – Cut strips to fit each riser for an unexpected design detail
• Behind open shelving – Creates a beautiful backdrop for your styled shelves

Removal Tips

When it’s time to take it down (or if you’re a renter moving out):

1. Start from a corner and peel at a 45-degree angle
2. Pull slowly – rushing causes tears
3. If adhesive residue remains, use Goo Gone or a warm damp cloth
4. Quality brands (Tempaper, NuWallpaper) leave virtually no residue

Renter tip: Test a small piece in an inconspicuous area first. Some paint finishes don’t play well with adhesive wallpaper, and you want to find that out before covering an entire wall.

Cost Breakdown for an Accent Wall

• 3-4 rolls of wallpaper: $75-160 (depending on brand)
• Smoothing tool: $5
• Utility knife: $8
• Level: $5 (if you don’t have one)

Total: $90-180 for a completely transformed room. Compare that to traditional wallpaper installation, which runs $200-500 for professional application alone.

This is one of those projects where the result looks way more expensive and complicated than it actually was. Give yourself a Saturday afternoon and you’ll be done before dinner.