DIY Wallpapering Tips from My Latest Room Project

I’m currently DIY wallpapering Remi’s room, and I’ve received a lot of questions about the process. So today, I’m sharing a full tutorial covering everything from choosing the right type of wallpaper to tools, tricky corners, and my personal patching trick.

If you’re thinking about adding wallpaper to your space, save this post—and don’t forget to check out my wallpaper highlight on Instagram for real-time tips and videos from this project.

Types of Wallpaper: What You Need to Know

Before you dive into your DIY wallpapering project, it’s important to know what kind of wallpaper you’re working with. Here are the four main types:

1. Pre-pasted wallpaper
This wallpaper has adhesive already applied to the back. To activate the glue, you’ll wet the paper with water (using a sponge or water tray), let it sit for a minute or two, then apply it to the wall. Easy, but it can be tricky in corners or humid areas.

2. Peel and stick wallpaper
This kind has a sticky backing, like a giant sticker. Just peel off the protective layer and stick it to the wall. It’s great for renters or quick refreshes, but not ideal for textured walls. Be gentle—stretching can distort the pattern.

3. Traditional wallpaper (paste the paper)
Apply adhesive directly to the back of the wallpaper, then “book” it (fold it onto itself) to let it soak. This can get messy, and the paper may tear if it gets too wet or sticks to itself.

4. Traditional wallpaper (paste the wall)
My preferred method! Apply paste directly to the wall and then apply the dry wallpaper. It’s easier to adjust and reduces the risk of tearing. Especially helpful if you’re working solo or navigating tight corners.

I also have a blog post comparing peel-and-stick versus pre-pasted wallpaper here.

Measuring & Ordering Wallpaper

Start by measuring your space. You can use any online wallpaper calculator to input your room and roll dimensions—here’s one I like. This will give you a good estimate of how many rolls you’ll need. Always order a little extra in case of pattern matching or mistakes.

Tools I Use (and Love)

Here’s a quick rundown of what I’m using:

Application Tips & My Process

I use the paste-the-wall method and apply paste generously with a roller. This gives me enough slip to reposition the paper without it tearing.

For each strip, I cut the wallpaper about 2 inches longer at both the top and bottom. I start by taping the roll loosely to the wall a third of the way down—this keeps it from sticking too early. Then I line up the pattern and smooth the paper down, trimming the excess with a straight edge and razor at the ceiling and baseboard.

Important tip: Always read your wallpaper instructions. Some patterns require overlapping, but most modern wallpapers are edge-to-edge.

The first panel is the hardest—make sure it’s level! I continue checking my laser line as I go.

DIY wallpapering the corner of the bathroom

Wallpapering Corners & My Patching Trick

Corners can be the most frustrating part of a DIY wallpapering job. At the top of the corner, the wall may appear square, but as you move down, you might notice a gap or misalignment—sometimes up to a half inch off! In my case, the wallpaper was hung level, but the wall itself was not. So here’s how I tackle it:

I subtract about an inch from the width of my wallpaper, mark my new line using the laser level (not the corner), and align the paper with that. When wrapping the paper into the corner, you’ll often find it doesn’t lay flat all the way down. To adjust for this, I cut out a wedge or pie shape—thinner at the top, wider at the bottom—so it fits smoothly and maintains the pattern alignment. The pattern alignment may not be exact, but since its a corner the whole designs sort of blends it all together.

Now, here’s the trick the pros don’t always tell you: if you cut the wallpaper too short, you can totally patch it! But let me show you the right way. Rule number one—never cut a straight line. You don’t want the patch to look like a seam, you want it to disappear. So, cut along the pattern as you’re creating your patch. Add your adhesive and overlap the pattern, lining up every detail. Use your spatula to smooth it out and cut off the excess with your razor blade. If you get up really close and know what you’re looking for, you might find it, but otherwise—it disappears!

For more details on how to do this, check out my reel on Instagram.

DIY Wallpapering Textured Wall

In this home, I smoothed the walls before wallpapering. But in my last house, I had textured walls, and yes—you can still wallpaper! I don’t recommend peel-and-stick on texture, but pre-pasted or traditional paper works great. Go with a bold pattern or grasscloth-style print to help disguise imperfections. Avoid delicate designs with lots of negative space.

Where to Buy Good Wallpaper

There are so many great places to buy wallpaper. I’ve used Home Depot (check the reviews!) and love Copper Corners and Rebel Walls for their gorgeous designs and high-quality papers.

wallpapering in my sister's entertainment room

That’s it for now! I’ll keep updating my IG stories with progress, so head there for behind-the-scenes peeks and extra tips. And as always, feel free to reach out with questions!

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