The Best Peelable Wallpaper

Peelable wallpaper and contact paper are very similar. Both can be made from paper or vinyl, with peel-and-stick adhesive backings and decorative fronts. While contact paper is designed for smaller, horizontal surfaces like shelves, wallpaper works on that and vertical surfaces.

Peelable wallpaper is made using thicker, more durable materials like heavy vinyl and PVC, and best of all, you don’t have to deal with messy wallpaper paste. Not having to use the paste also means that self-adhesive wallpaper is much easier to remove if you decide to take it down.

You can find these wallpapers in countless colors and patterns, and those that resemble natural materials like stone and wood are very popular these days. Look for ones with realistic colors and details, unless you’re going for another kind of look.

Many self-adhesive wallpapers claim to be waterproof and oil-proof, but you may have to wipe them down from time to time. Higher quality ones will last longer, especially when they’re in rooms that don’t have a lot of humidity; they can tend to peel more in bathrooms.

You don’t have to only use self-adhesive wallpaper on walls, either. It can quickly freshen up a kitchen countertop, backsplash or desktop. Try using it to highlight just one wall in a room; it can turn it into an attractive focal point. Cover up a bookcase and use the extra pieces as book covers.

Installation is straightforward because the wallpaper has grids on the back for ease of cutting. Measure the area first, mark the back and cut with a razor. Then you can peel off the adhesive and stick it onto the surface.

• Clean and dry the area thoroughly before applying the wallpaper; if there are imperfections on the surface, you’ll want to smooth them out.
• When hanging larger pieces, have someone hold one of the other sides.
• Press the wallpaper down with a dry towel or a foam tile grout float to smooth it down.
• If you see air bubbles afterward, you can puncture them with a fine needle.
• For a different look with faux wood wallpaper, hang it vertically instead of horizontally.
• If you order more than one roll with a faux finish, compare them before hanging to make sure the colors, veining or wood grains match up.
• Adhesive wallpaper is a great option to cover ugly walls if you’re trying to sell a home.