My latest and greatest wallpaper exploration was in the master bedroom of my home. I’m absolutely in love with how it turned out…especially now that the small rip I made around the corner of the window has been covered up by newly installed drapes. We love drapes. Anyways, the wallpaper I purchased for this accent wall is considered non-pasted and I’m here to tell you why it’s been my favorite application to date compared to pre-pasted and peel and stick.
Here’s what I found to be the pros and cons to each method:
Non-Pasted Wallpaper
This means it does not have adhesive on the back and you have to apply adhesive yourself (either to the paper or to the wall depending on the wallpaper instructions).
When it comes to non-pasted wallpaper, once you’re ready to apply the piece to the wall, it’s relatively easy to move the paper around to get it perfectly aligned. The ability to maneuver is a must for me because wallpaper will not be perfectly aligned on the first try, I can say that with certainty.
As for the glue, I think it could go either way depending on the person. For me, I like to be in control of glue application. It takes one sheet to figure out how much glue you need (hint: it’s more than you think), but once you get in a groove, it’s easy. I spread the glue evenly across the entire sheet and then had no issues getting the ends of the paper to stick to the wall like I did with pre-pasted (more on that in one minute).
However, the reason I also added glue as a con (or consideration really) is because you have to factor the purchase of the glue into your overall project budget. Some people also complain that the glue makes it messier, so I wanted to list that here, but honestly I didn’t have a problem. I laid down a mat to protect the floor and applied the glue to the wallpaper on top of it. I used a paint brush to apply the glue.
Pre-Pasted Wallpaper
This means the wallpaper has a coating on the back. The glue is activated by either spraying or soaking the back of the paper in water before applying to your wall.
I went with a pre-pasted for my first time installing wallpaper. I used it to create a floral accent wall in my office – also affectionately known as my “she shed” – to infuse feminine elements.
Similar to the non-pasted, you can easily move the paper around on the wall to get it perfectly aligned.
While it’s nice that you only need water to activate the glue, I had a few issues with it. First, I struggled to figure out how much water was needed to activate the glue. I think it depends on the wallpaper, so it’s good to pay attention to the instructions that are included with the paper you purchase. Second, if the material of your wallpaper is paper (vs. vinyl or grass cloth), I find pre-pasted very difficult. Paper is the most delicate wallpaper material and I found that activating the glue with water made the paper heavy and easy to rip.
Lastly, I found the pre-pasted application to be messier than the non-pasted application. Once the paper was in place on the wall, I really had to work to get the glue to the edges of the paper. I used a smoothing tool to get the glue from the middle of the paper toward the outer edges. Then, I used my finger to spread the glue along the edge. There’s probably a better way to do this because my hands were a disaster afterward.
Peel & Stick Wallpaper
This type of wallpaper is a glorified sticker. You peel off the backing and apply the paper to the wall.
We were really lacking storage space for food supplies (we used an extra bookcase in the living room as a pantry for months) so we decided to clean up this closet, add some shelves and install wallpaper to make it a reimagined pantry space that would be both functional and pretty. I went with black and white floral peel and stick wallpaper in here because I liked the pattern and thought it might be interesting to try a different application method.
The number one pro with peel and stick wallpaper is that it’s easy to remove. You can peel it off just like a sticker, which makes it ideal for renters or those who like to change their style frequently. Depending on the retailer, peel and stick is likely less expensive than other application types, but not by much. It also doesn’t require any glue or water activation – everything is ready to go, so there is slightly less prep work involved.
There are however some major disadvantages to using peel and stick wallpaper, in my opinion. In an attempt to make this type of wallpaper easier to use, I think they made it harder to apply. It’s not forgiving if you don’t position it correctly – meaning you can’t move it around to align it like you can with the other types. While it’s easy to peel off if you make a mistake, I found that when I tried to put it back on, it became slightly less sticky and easily wrinkled. For this reason, I think it’s very difficult to work with bigger sheets. Think of trying to get a giant sticker in the exact right place. I think this method makes more sense when you’re working in smaller strips like I did in my pantry, but even then it was infuriating at times.
I should also mention that peel and stick is not as long-lasting as other application methods and tends to be more susceptible to moisture.
Overall, I feel like a closet/pantry is the perfect use of peel and stick wallpaper because it helps to hedge some of these disadvantages. Working in smaller sheets makes it much easier. And if it starts to peel off in some corners over time, I personally won’t notice or care as much as I would if it was on an accent wall in one of the main rooms.
Whichever method you choose, wallpaper is a great way to add contrast and visual interest to a space and it’s very rewarding once you’ve completed it yourself. Now that you know my favorite method and are armed with knowledge on each kind of application method, which would you choose?