FAQs

About Peel and Stick Wallpaper

About Ordering

About Installation

About Use Cases

How is peel and stick wallpaper different from regular wallpaper?

Peel and stick wallpaper is like the perfect sticker for your walls. To apply, simply peel off the paper backing, then place the sticky side of the panel on your wall smoothing it down from top to bottom. You repeat the process for each panel, matching up the edges (not overlapping the panels). An X-Acto knife is then used to trim the edges and create clean edges. 

Unlike regular wallpaper, to remove peel and stick wallpaper, you peel up the corner of the wallpaper and gently pull off, leaving behind zero residue or mess. Easy as that!

Regular wallpaper is a little more cumbersome (and messy) to both install and remove. To install, typically one must apply a primer before starting the wallpapering process. After priming and cleaning the wall, an adhesive is brushed on the back of the paper and then hung on the wall overlapping about 2 inches onto the ceiling. Air bubbles are then smoothed out. Additional panels should overlap the previous panel. An X-Acto knife is then used to trim the edges and create clean edges. You then use a seam roller to create clean seams. 

Removing regular wallpaper depends on the type, but can range from removing dry, to steaming, to using chemicals and the process can be time consuming.

How is peel and stick wallpaper different from water activated wallpaper?

Peel and stick wallpaper is like the perfect sticker for your walls. To apply, simply peel off the back, stick it on your wall and then smooth it out. You repeat the process for each panel - matching up the edges (not overlapping the panels). An X-Acto knife is then used to trim the edges and create clean edges. 

Unlike regular wallpaper, to remove peel and stick wallpaper, you take the corner of the wallpaper and pull off, leaving behind zero residue. Easy as that!

Water activated wallpaper is a little less messy to install than regular wallpaper, but still requires some prep work. The adhesive is already applied to the wallpaper's back side, but needs to be soaked in water to active it. The application after soaking the panel in water for a few minutes is then fairly similar to traditional paste wallpaper. 

You remove traditional and water activated wallpaper the same. Removal can range from removing dry, to steaming, to using chemicals and the process can be time consuming and messy, requiring repair of the underlying wall.

Does removable wallpaper damage walls?

MUSE peel and stick wallpaper does not damage walls or leave any sort of residue when removing. For best results, do not apply the wallpaper to freshly painted surfaces, or surfaces painted in the last four weeks.

Does your wallpaper contain phthalates, formaldehyde, or chlorine?

Nope! Our material is 100% polyester with an acrylic adhesive, and our inks are eco-solvent, which is a much safer option than traditional solvent inks. We've experimented with even more eco-friendly materials (i.e. recycled paper and water based inks) but the quality is just so much lower and the finished product isn't durable at all. These materials are a happy medium in that they are much safer than more traditional paper and ink options, but they're also supremely high quality. We want to protect ourselves in the print studio, as well, so we are highly motivated to choose safe materials. :)

Is removable wallpaper really removable? How do you remove peel and stick wallpaper?

Yes! Removable wallpaper, also known as peel and stick wallpaper, peels off with just a pull, like the perfect sticker. 

How much should I get?

See our easy size chart for sizing information. Alternatively, to figure out how much you'll need, simply measure the width and height of your wall. The HEIGHT will tell you which size roll you should get. For example, if your wall is 96 inches tall you'll need the 96 inch panel height.

Your wall WIDTH will tell you how many rolls you need. For example, a wall 11 foot wide wall would require six panels. That's because 11 feet (or 132 inches) divided by 25 inches is 5.28, and you'll round up to the next whole number, which is six.

Feel free to send over your wall measurements and we can make a recommendation as to how much you need, or whether a custom size would be best.

My wall is a weird shape — how to I figure out how much I need?

Never fear — we are experienced helping customers order for oddly shaped walls. For fastest turnaround, please send us a diagram of your space (photo of a hand drawn sketch is fine!) as well as a photo or two. Please include the maximum width and height, and any other pertinent information. Email that to us at hello@musewallstudio.com. We'll be happy to help!

How do I order samples?

It's easy. To order a sample, simply select the sample size from the size drop-down menu on any wallpaper or mural we offer, add it to your cart, then proceed with checkout.

Our samples are 9 inches wide x 6 inches high, and are a reduced scale so you can see the full pattern and all included colors. This is super important for color matching! We offer reduced scale samples because most of our wallpapers and murals are larger scale designs and only a tiny portion of the design is visible at full scale within a 6x9 inch piece. Please refer to the website images and product information under each listing to understand the pattern scale.

Can I get a full scale sample, not reduced scale?

Yes! For most of our designs, we recommend purchasing the smallest size roll for a good understanding of the pattern scale. However some patterns are valuable to see at full scale on a sample size piece — namely designs with dots or lines, like our Dalmatian pattern or herringbone designs. To order a full scale sample of one of these, please order the Custom Sample item, then email us with your specific sample request at hello@musewallstudio.com. We'll gladly fulfill your order ASAP!

How can I get wallpaper specially made for my stair risers?

To wallpaper stair risers we have two options: Option A is the fast and foolproof method — we'd cut cut each rise piece for you for ~$18/stair. Exact price depends on the size of your stairs. Option B is for you to cut the rise pieces yourself from multiple 27" high x ~40" wide panels (usually about $40/panel and you can typically get 3 rises per panel). 

We can also reduce the pattern scale by 50% so more of the pattern is visible within each star rise. Send us the details (number of stairs and width/height dimensions of the stair rises) and we'll send you a quote for both options. 

Can you make one big panel to fit my wall?

In short, no. We recommend applying multiple 25 inch wide panels, rather than a single huge panel. We know seam matching the panels is intimidating for some, but sick with us! The reason why we recommend multiple panels, rather than one big panel, is because it's basically impossible to apply one giant removable wallpaper panel. You'll have crazy air bubbles, a crooked panel, and it will just be a bad experience overall. We like to set up our customers for success, so we know you'll be happy going with the standard size panels. 

Can I order a custom color?

Yes! We love making custom color designs. Not every wallpaper we offer can be customized, so please ask us before you make a final decision. You can see our custom color options here. For more information about custom options, check out our Customize page. 

How do you apply peel and stick wallpaper? How do you hang removable wallpaper?

The team at MUSE Wall Studio includes easy application instructions with your order. Simply wipe clean your surface, peel off the top portion of the wallpaper backing, and apply to your surface starting at the top and working your way down. Remove switch plates and outlet covers before application. Quick to install and easy to get a professional look!

Click here for full installation instructions.

I'm nervous...do you have any special tips for a newbie?

We sure do! Almost every day we get an email that goes something like this: "I LOVE this wallpaper but I don't know if I can apply it...I've never done any kind of wallpaper project before and I'm not that handy."

We promise you CAN apply our wallpaper. We know because those "newbies" send us gorgeous photos of the finished results. Here's what we tell all the nervous nellies out there:

  • Go VERY slowly, giving yourself plenty of time.
  • Make sure you start out with the panel as level as possible at the top of the wall. A crooked start makes for a super crooked finish.
  • Be sure you surface is light colored, smooth, and completely dry.
  • If you have an air bubble, deal with it right away. Gently pull up the wallpaper until the air is released, then smooth it back down. Don't plan to smooth out air bubbles after the full panel is on the wall. That can result in air bubbles popping up later on.
  • If you're noticing that the design aligns at the top, but then doesn't align further down the panel, try to make the alignment perfect at eye level and let the slight misalignment happen at the top and bottom of the wall. (This very slight misalignment happens with all wallpaper, and is a result of the paper stretching every so slightly as it's being printed and rolled. The eye-level technique described here is what professional installers do.)

How do you hang wallpaper around a window?

To wallpaper around a window, apply the panel at the top of the wall as you normally would. Once you get to the top of the window, cut the panel (scissors is fine to make a rough cut, leaving a little extra material to do detailed trimming later). 

Then below the window, find a section of the pattern that matches up to the adjacent panel. Trim the top of the panel if there's a lot of extra, just so it's easier to work with. Then place the panel beneath the window, next to the adjacent panel, being careful to maintain seam matching. Use an X-acto knife or sharp blade to trim the top and bottom of the panel so it fits perfectly. 

Can you put wallpaper on textured walls?

Typically, no. Textured walls can pose a problem because the wallpaper either cannot adhere to the wall or the texture shows through the wallpaper even though it is rather thick.

Whether peel and stick wallpaper will work on your walls really depends on how textured the wall is. To determine if MUSE's removable wallpaper will work for your project, we recommend ordering a sample to test it out first. Samples are inexpensive and available in every design found in our shop. 

To learn more about our samples, click here.

Can you use wallpaper in the kitchen?

Absolutely! Our peel and stick wallpaper is a great option for kitchens. It is easy to install and washable with mild soap and water.

Can you use wallpaper in the bathroom?

Yes! Our removable wallpaper is a great way to add personality to a bathroom and holds up even in humidity. IMPORTANT: be sure that when you apply the wallpaper, your bathroom is bone dry. That could mean not running the shower for a several days to let all humidity clear from the room. 

Can I use peel and stick wallpaper on temporary walls?

Of course! As long as the surface is smooth and dry, our wallpaper will go on just fine. If you're not sure, please order a sample to try it out for yourself. Samples are available in every design found in our shop. 

To learn more about our samples, click here.

Can you put peel and stick wallpaper over old wallpaper?

In most cases, no. Our peel and stick wallpaper works best on light colored walls, so a colorful or patterned wallpaper background wouldn't be the best surface to apply to. We recommend ordering a sample to test it out first. Samples are available in every design found in our shop. 

To learn more about our samples, click here.

Can you reuse removable wallpaper?

Technically yes, but in real life application, it can be tricky

Removable wallpaper retains its stickiness when removed from the wall, but when transporting the paper to it's new location it often collects dust, animal hair or other debris keeping it from sticking and being smoothly applied. 

Customers have successfully reused the wallpaper when taking care to prevent debris from sticking to the sticky side. If you plan to reuse the wallpaper, keep the paper backing in a sealed container where dust won't get on it. Then you can reuse the backing to protect the sticky side as you transport to the new location.